TRANSMISSION OF NERVE IMPULSES FROM RECEPTOR TO EFFECTOR

TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION ACROSS A SYNAPSE

Neurones are not connected to each other.

There is a space between axon terminal of neurone and dendrite of other
neurone called synapse.
Nerve impulse from the axon terminal of a neurone can only be transferred
by chemical signal called neurotransmitter.
Some of the examples of neurotransmitter: acetylcholine, noradrenaline
and dopamine
Role:
o Transmits information from one cell to another (from nerve to nerve
or from nerve to muscle)
o Causes nerve impulses to travel in one direction only
Synapse allows nerve impulses to be transmitted only in one direction
because,
o synaptic vesicles only present at synaptic terminal (axon terminal)
o thus, only presynaptic membrane discharge neurotransmitters

furthermore, the receptors only can be found in postsynaptic

membrane of dendrite

VOLUNTARY, INVOLUNTARY, AND REFLEX ACTION

A) SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

1. A part of PNS that associated with skeletal muscle voluntary control of body
movement

2. Function: to control all voluntary muscular systems within the body and
process of reflex action

i. VOLUNTARY ACTION

A conscious and controlled action by skeletal muscle

Action caused by __________ stimuli
Information integrate and interpret by ____________
Examples: eating, reading and walking

ii. REFLEX ACTION

An automatic, rapid, spontaneous, unconscious, and uncontrolled action by

skeletal muscle
Action caused by ___________ stimuli
Information integrate and interpret by __________ ______
Prevent injury and harm and adapt to changing environment
Examples: withdrawal of the hand from a hot object, knee-jerk reflex when it
is hit
Involved two or three neurones
The pathway of nerve impulse from receptor to effector in certain reflex
action is called __________ _____

B) AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

1. A division of PNS that influences the function of internal organs
2. A control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions
3. Consist of two divisions:
SYMPATHETIC
PARASYMPATETIC
Activates the body in times of stress
Prepares the body for relaxation and
or emergencies to produce fight or
conservation of energy
flight response
For example,
For example,
Decrease breathing rate
Increases breathing rate
Decrease heart rate
Increase heart rate
Decrease blood pressure
Increase blood pressure
Both systems are connected to the same organs in the body and act in
opposition to maintain homeostasis.
The two systems work antagonistically to each other.
3. Function: to control involuntary action
INVOLUNTARY ACTION

An automatic, unconscious and uncontrolled action by

_______ muscles, _______ muscles, internal organs and
________
Caused by __________ stimuli
Informations are integrated and interpreted by:
o Medulla oblongata, consists of reflex centre that
controls peristalsis, blood pressure, salivation,
swallowing and sneezing.
o Hypothalamus, consists regulatory homeostatic
centres linked to the autonomic nervous system.
It is involved in the regulation of body
temperature, thirst and sleep.
Example: heart beats, peristalsis, breathing, hormone
secretion

VOLUNTARY ACTION

INVOLUNTARY
ACTION
Unconscious,
uncontrolled

REFLEX ACTION

Description
of action

Conscious,
controlled action

Caused by
Information
interpreted
by
Effector
involved

External stimuli
Cerebrum

Internal stimuli
Medulla oblongata
and hypothalamus

Skeletal muscle

Smooth muscle,
cardiac muscle,
internal organs and
glands

Unconscious,
uncontrolled, rapid
action
External stimuli
Spinal cord

Skeletal muscle

Examples

DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

TYPE OF
DISEASE
PARKINSONS
DISEASE

CAUSE

ALZHEIMERS
DISEASE

Dopamine-producing
neurones in brain
_____________
Lack of dopamine (a
neurotransmitter) in the
brain which is important in
movement control
_______of neurones in the
areas of the brain for
memory & other mental
ability
_____ levels of
neurotransmitter

SYMPTOMS

Shaking of hand at rest

Weakness & stiffness of
muscles
Slowness of movement
Poor balance

a.k.a getting senile

Cannot remember &
behave abnormally
Patient begins to have
problems speaking,
understanding, reading,
and writing
Later becomes anxious &
aggressive and wanders
away from home