the nervous system

The brain, spinal cord, sensory organs, and everything in between

The nervous system is like a network that relays messages

back and forth from the brain to different parts of the

body via the spinal cord, which runs from the brain down

through the back. It contains threadlike nerves that

branch out to every organ and body part.

The Central Nervous System

BRAIN

The brain is the central control module of the body

and coordinates activity. From physical motion to

the secretion of hormones, the creation of

memories, and the sensation of emotion.

BRAIN stem

The brainstem (brain stem) is the distal part of the brain that is

made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. Each of

the three components has its own unique structure and function.

Together, they help to regulate breathing, heart rate, blood

pressure, and several other important functions.

spinal cord

The spinal cord, running almost the full length of the back, carries

information between the brain and body but also carries out other

tasks. From the brainstem, where the spinal cord meets the brain,

31 spinal nerves enter the cord.

Motor commands from the brain travel from the spine to the

muscles and sensory information travel from the sensory tissues —

such as the skin — toward the spinal cord and finally up to the

brain.

The spinal cord contains circuits that control certain reflexive

responses, such as the involuntary movement your arm might make

if your finger was to touch a flame.

 the nervous system

The Brain and its parts

The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain.

parietal lobe
This lobe is also the location of the primary auditory cortex, which

is important for interpreting sounds and the language we hear. The parietal lobe is located in the middle

section of the brain and is associated with

temporal lobe processing tactile sensory information such

as pressure, touch, and pain. A portion of

the brain known as the somatosensory

frontal lobe cortex is located in this lobe and is

essential to the processing of the body's

This lobe is located at the front of the
senses.
brain and is associated with reasoning,

motor skills, higher-level cognition, and

occipital lobe
expressive language. At the back of

the frontal lobe, near the central The occipital lobe is located at the back portion

sulcus, lies the motor cortex. of the brain and is associated with interpreting

visual stimuli and information.

The primary visual cortex, which

receives and interprets information

from the retinas of the eyes, is

located in the occipital lobe.

Damage to this lobe can cause

visual problems such as difficulty

recognizing objects, an inability to

identify colors, and trouble

recognizing words.

cerebral

hemisphere

thalamus
cerebellum

Hypothalamus
spinal cord

pituitary

medulla
pons
the nervous system

The Peripheral Nervous System and its divisions

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all the nervous

tissue that lies outside of the central nervous system (CNS).

The main function of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the rest

of the organism. It serves as a communication relay, going

back and forth between the CNS and muscles, organs, and

glands throughout the body. It has two divisions:

Autonomic nervous system

is responsible for all the activities that go on inside

your body without your conscious awareness or

voluntary participation and has two subdivisions:

The Sympathetic Division that controls

the fight-or-flight response.

The Parasympathetic Division

returns the body to normal after the

fight-or-flight response has occurred.

somatic nervous system

Primarily senses the external environment and controls

voluntary activities in which decisions and commands

come from the cerebral cortex of the brain.

The somatic nervous system is responsible for all of your

conscious perceptions of the outside world and all of the

voluntary motor activities you perform in response.

Whether it’s playing a piano, driving a car, or playing

basketball, you can thank your somatic nervous system for

making it possible.
 the nervous system

The Neuron: The Basic Working Unit

Neurons are cells within the nervous system that transmit

information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells.

cell body

contains the nucleus and cytoplasm.

axon

extends from the cell body and often gives

rise to many smaller branches before

dendrites
ending at nerve terminals

extend from the neuron cell body and

receive messages from other neurons.

Types of Neurons

Sensory neurons help you Motor neurons play a role Interneurons are neural
taste, smell, hear, see, and in the movement, including intermediaries found in your

feel things around you. voluntary and involuntary brain and spinal cord.

movements. They’re the most common

Sensory neurons are

type of neuron. They pass

triggered by physical and These neurons allow the signals from sensory neurons

chemical inputs from your brain and spinal cord to and other interneurons to

environment. Sound, touch, communicate with muscles, motor neurons and other

heat, and light are physical organs, and glands all over interneurons. Often, they

inputs. Smell and taste are the body. form complex circuits that

chemical inputs. help you to react to external

stimuli.
 the endocrine system
The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs located throughout the body.
It’s similar to the nervous system in that it plays a vital role in controlling and regulating

many of the body’s functions.

Hormones are secreted by the glands of the endocrine system, traveling through the
bloodstream to various organs and tissues in the body. The hormones then tell these

organs and tissues what to do or how to function.

Endocrine System Glands

hypothalamus pituitary

produces multiple hormones that control the The pituitary gland is located below the

pituitary gland. It’s also involved in regulating hypothalamus. The hormones it produces affect

many functions, including sleep-wake cycles, growth and reproduction. They can also control

body temperature, and appetite. It can also the function of other endocrine glands.

regulate the function of other endocrine

glands

pineal thyroid

This gland is found in the middle of your The thyroid gland is located in the front part of

brain. It’s important for your sleep-wake your neck. It’s very important for metabolism.

cycles.

parathyroid thymus

Also located in the front of your neck, the Located in the upper torso, the thymus is active

parathyroid gland is important for until puberty and produces hormones important

maintaining control of calcium levels in your for the development of a type of white blood

bones and blood. cell called a T cell.

adrenal pancreas

One adrenal gland can be found on top of The pancreas is located in your abdomen

each kidney. These glands produce hormones behind your stomach. Its endocrine function

important for regulating functions such as involves controlling blood sugar levels.

blood pressure, heart rate, and stress

response.

gonads

These organs are responsible for producing the sperm

and ova, but they also secrete hormones and are

considered to be endocrine glands.

the endocrine system
The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs located throughout the body.
It’s similar to the nervous system in that it plays a vital role in controlling and regulating

many of the body’s functions.

Hormones are secreted by the glands of the endocrine system, traveling through the
bloodstream to various organs and tissues in the body. The hormones then tell these

organs and tissues what to do or how to function.

Endocrine System Hormones

 REFERENCES:

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/brain-nervous-

system.html

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/307076#spin

al-cord

https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-

brainstem

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Book

%3A_Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/11%3A_Nervous

_System/11.6%3A_Peripheral_Nervous_System#:~:text=via%2

0Wikimedia%20Commons).-,Divisions%20of%20the%20Perip

heral%20Nervous%20System,circuits%20of%20nerves%20an

d%20ganglia.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://www.brainfacts.org/brain-anatomy-and-

function/anatomy/2012/the-neuron

https://www.healthline.com/health/neurons#types

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-anatomy-of-the-brain-

2794895

https://www.healthline.com/health/the-endocrine-

system#function

https://www.healthline.com/health/the-endocrine-

system#organs

https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/endocrine/gland

s/gonads.html#:~:text=The%20gonads%2C%20the%20prim

ary%20reproductive,considered%20to%20be%20endocrine

%20glands.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-

diseases/hormones-and-the-endocrine-system