SCIENCE VI

MODULE 10
Chapter 4
Lesson 1 What is the nervous system?

In this module, you are expected to:

 Define nervous system
 Describe the parts and functions of the nervous system; and
 Know how the nervous system woks

The Nervous System

Your nervous system is always on the go. It can be described as a complete

communication system that relays messages to and from your brain to all the parts of your
body.It is a highly developed system that does many things. This characteristic of the
human nervous system makes you more advanced than the other forms of animals.
The nervous system regulates and coordinates the activities and functions of all the other
organ systems.It governs all your conscious activities like thinking, reasoning, and
learning. Even when you are sleeping, it is still working. It is responsible for your emotions
such as love,anger, and fear. It controls the involuntary functions of some organs like
heartbeat, and peristalsis of the intestine.It helps you interpret and respond to the
messages received by your sense organs.It regulates reflex actions.

Basic Unit of the Nervous System

Neuron
The basic unit of the communication system of the body is a highly specialized cell
called the neuron or nerve cell. It consists of an irregularly shaped cell body, an axon, and
numerous dendrites. The cell body contains a nucleus and cytoplasm. The axon is a long,
slender projection of the nerve cell that carries impulses away from the cell body. The
dendrites are many short, branching nerve fibers that carry impulses towards the cell body.
Neurons vary in size. The largest neuron would look like a dot. They do not increase in
number as you grow old. Dead neurons cannot be replaced. This is why the memory
weakens when a person grows older.

Types of Neuron
A neuron receives and transmits nerve impulses. A nerve impulse is an electrochemical
reaction that travels through a neuron.Each neuron may have as many as 50000 incoming
and outgoing impulses to handle every minute. There are three types of neurons:

1. Sensory or afferent neurons-they send impulses from sensory

receptors(eyes,ears,nose,tongue,and skin) toward the central nervous system(brain
and spinal cord)
2. Motor or efferent neurons-they send impulses away from the central nervous
system to muscles or glands
3. Interneurons or association neurons-they send information between sensory
neurons and motor neurons. Most interneurons are located in the central nervous
system.

Synapses
Neurons are not directly connected to one another. There is a tiny gap between
them. Impulses jump from an axon of one neuron to the dendrites of another
neuron. The space over which impulses jump is called synapse.
Nerves
A nerve is a bundle of sensory and motor neurons through which impulses pass
between the brain and spinal cord and other parts of the body. You have 12 pairs of
cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.

Division of the Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS)

This system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. It is responsible for all your
responses to external as well as internal stimuli.

Brain
The brain is the main organ of the nervous system and the spinal cord is the major
line that connects to the different parts of the body.Your brain is made up of three
main sections: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain

Forebrain
The forebrain consists of the cerebrum and other structures beneath it. The
cerebrum has folds and grooves that give it a wrinkled appearance.It also has left
and right halves called cerebral hemispheres. The left hemisphere controls the right
side of your body, while the right hemisphere controls the left side.
Beneath the forebrain are the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. The
thalamus carries information from the sense organs to the cerebrum. The
hypothalamus controls your emotions.pulse, sensations of hunger and thirst,
appetite, and sleep patterns.The pituitary gland makes hormones that control many
processes inside your body, such as growth and metabolism.

Midbrain
The midbrain is located under the forebrain. It coordinates all the information going
in and out of the brain through the spinal cord.

Hindbrain
The hindbrain is located under the back end of the cerebrum.It consists of the
cerebellum,pons, and medulla oblongata. The cerebellum is also called the little
brain because it looks like a small cerebrum.It controls your balance,movements,
and muscle coordination. The pons and medulla coordinate all impulses going in
and out of the brain. The medulla also regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood
pressure.

Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that extends from the lower part of the
brain down through the spine.It is protected by the backbone.It receives messages
from the sense organs and relays them to the brain.From the brain, responses are
carried to the different parts of the body.The spinal cord is also responsible for
inborn behaviors called reflexes.Reflexes are your immediate response to
stimuli.Stimuli, such as heat,light,or sound, are detected by receptors in your sense
organs.They are carried by sensory neurons and travel in the form of nerve
impulses to the spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
This system consists of a network of sensory and motor fibers that connect the CNS
to all the parts of the body. The PNS is further divided into somatic and autonomic
nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls the actions of voluntary
muscles like the muscles of your arms, legs, and face. While the autonomic nervous
system is responsible for the functions of the heart, lungs,glands, blood vessels,
and smooth muscles of the digestive system.The actions of these organs are not
under the control of your will.

How your Nervous System Works

The nervous system enables you to respond to stimuli with the help of your sense
organs.The nerves in these organs carry the impulses to your brain.Then, the
specific areas of your brain interpret these impulses.The optic nerve sends
messages to your brain from your eyes so that you can see. The auditory nerve
enables you to hear all kinds of sounds. The different kinds of smell are detected by
your nose through the olfactory nerve. Your tongue makes you enjoy the taste of
food through the glossopharyngeal and facial nerves. You can sense texture,
temperature, and can chew or bite because of your trigeminal nerve.
 ACTIVITY

Name:________________________________ Score:_________

Enumerate what is being asked.

List five parts of the brain

1.____________________
2.____________________
3.____________________
4.____________________
5.____________________

List the two major divisions of the nervous system

1.______________________________

2.______________________________

Name the three types of neuron and state their functions

1. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________
 SUMMATIVE TEST

Name:_________________________________ Score:_________

Answer the following questions:

1. Name the different parts of the nervous system.

2. Briefly discuss how the nervous system works.
3. Differentiate central and peripheral nervous systems.