Science - Upper

The peripheral nervous system

collects information from the sense
organs such as the eyes and the
nose. His information is transmitted
to the organ of the central nervous
system which deliver decisions to
the body parts that will act on the
message.
It is made up of nerves that branch
off from the spinal cord and extend
to all parts of the body.
The peripheral nervous system is
divided into two main parts:
 The autonomic nervous
system and the
 Somatic nervous system

Teachers: Liliana Huamán & Elmer Briceño

 Science - Upper

Teachers: Liliana Huamán & Elmer Briceño 2

 Science - Upper

The autonomic nervous system controls or

regulates body´s internal environment including

the body temperature pulse and respiration rate

and blood pressure.

These are the vital signs. Vital signs reflect the

condition your internal organs are in.

The autonomic nervous system has two

divisions:

 The sympathetic and the

 Parasympathetic nerves.

The sympathetic nervous system is typically associated with expending energy and the “fight or
flight” response, which is a general response to alarming or threatening situations that involves
increasing the ability of the body to act.

The nerves that make up the sympathetic nervous system originate in the thoracic and lumbar spinal
cord.

Teachers: Liliana Huamán & Elmer Briceño 3

 Science - Upper

The parasympathetic nervous system is typically associated with energy conservation and
processes like digestion and elimination of waste products from the body.

The nerves that make up the parasympathetic nervous system originate in the brainstem and the
sacral spinal cord.

When a sympathetic nerve produces an effect

the parasympathetic nerve opposes it.

For example, if the blood pressure is too high a

message to the brain stimulates the
parasympathetic nerve to slow down the heart rate
thus reducing blood pressure.

Both systems are directly involved in maintaining

normal functions of cells.

Teachers: Liliana Huamán & Elmer Briceño 4

 Science - Upper

1. Complete the following diagram.

2. Complete these sentences of the peripheral nervous system.

Teachers: Liliana Huamán & Elmer Briceño 5

 Science - Upper

The somatic nervous system is associated with activities

traditionally thought of a conscious or voluntary maintaining normal
functions of cells.

The primary function of the somatic is to connect the central

nervous system to the body´s muscles to control voluntary
movements and reflex arcs. The somatic nervous system
contains the afferent and efferent nerves.

The afferent nerves (sensory The Efferent nerves (motor

neurons) send information to the neurons) send information from
brain and spinal cord made of the brain which contain motor
sensory neurons that inform the neurons responsible for voluntary
central nervous system about our five movements such as walking or
senses. lifting an object.

Teachers: Liliana Huamán & Elmer Briceño 6

 Science - Upper

The neuron or nerve cell is the function unit of the

nervous system.

The neuron has three parts: The dendrites,

Cell body, axon.

1. The dendrites are the short fibers

around the cell body. They carry
massages into the nerve cell.
2. The cell body is the main component
of neuron. It maintains the health of
the neuron.
3. The axon is the long fiber of the
neuron.

There are three types of neurons: the sensory

neurons, interneurons and motor neurons.

The sensory neuron is typically having long

dendrites and axons. It carries messages from the
receptor organs (skins, eyes, nose, ears and
tongue) to the nerve center.

The motor neuron has short dendrites and long

axons. It receives information from the nerve
centers and transmits it to the effector organs
(muscles or glands).

Interneurons are found only in central nervous

system (brain or spinal cord). They connect sensory
neurons to motor neurons.
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