Nervous System

nervous system – consisting of the brain, spinal cord and nerves, which coordinate the body’s actions.
A basic function of nervous system is to transmit signals from one part of the body to another.
Key points to remember
1. A nerve impulse is an electrical signal that is used to convey signal in the nervous system.
2. Neurons are cells in the nervous system that can transmit impulses.
3. Neurons consist of two main parts: a cell body with a nucleus and cytoplasm, and long narrow
nerve fibers extending out from the cell body. (If you find mention of three main parts; please
include dendrites which is the branch-like part present at the beginning of neuron)
4. A junction between two neurons is called a synapse.
10. Nerve impulses cannot pass across a synapse and instead a chemical signal is used. The
chemical is called a neurotransmitter.
Neuron:
Parts and functions of neurons

Nervous system
The nervous system is body's communication network which includes the brain, spinal cord, and
nerves, working together to send messages and control everything we do, from moving our
muscles to feeling emotions.
Nervous system can be classified into two parts

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

1) Central nervous system (CNS): Consisting Brain and Spinal cord
2) Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Consisting Nerves and receptors

Central nervous system

• The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum integrates
movement and regulates temperature.
• Brain stem is responsible for many vital functions of life,
such as breathing, consciousness, blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep.
It has three parts Midbrain, Pons and Medulla oblongata (MPM).
• The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movement and balance.
• The spinal cord helps carry electrical nerve signals throughout
your body.

- Basal Ganglia: Primarily associated with motor control and procedural learning.
- Nucleus Accumbens: Central in the brain's reward system, contributing to pleasure, reinforcement, and
motivation.
- Amygdala: Involved in emotional processing, fear response, and the formation of emotional memories.

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

Cerebrum can be divided into 2 hemispheres; a) left and b) right. Having
2 lobes in each, being 4 lobes in total; each serving different functions

Action to stimulus and Reflex action

A stimulus is a change in an animal’s surroundings, and a response is a reaction to that change.
stimulus → receptor → coordination → effector → response

Reflex action is any involuntary, rapid, automatic response to a stimulus.

Whenever our eyes look from a dim light to a bright one, the iris rapidly and automatically adjusts the
pupil size. This is an example of a reflex action.

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

What happens when you touch something hot?

When you touch a hot candle (stimulus), sensory neurons in your fingers detect the heat
and send nerve impulses to the spinal cord through a reflex arc. Relay neurons in the spinal cord
quickly transmit this signal to motor neurons, prompting the muscles to contract and swiftly move

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

your hand away from the source of heat. This reflex arc is a rapid, involuntary response designed
to prevent harm without requiring conscious thought.
Eye
The eye is a sense organ containing receptor cells that are sensitive to light (rod cells)
and colour (cone cells).

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

 • In dim light, the pupil dilates (becomes larger) to allow more light to enter the eye to
improve vision.
• In bright light, the pupil constricts (gets smaller) to allow less light to enter the eye to
protect the retina from damage.

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

 Eye Accommodation: Extended
Accommodation: The function of the eye in focusing on near and distant objects
• The way the lens brings about fine focusing is called accommodation
• The lens is elastic and its shape can be changed when the suspensory ligaments attached
to it become tight or loose
• The changes are brought about by the contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscles
When an object is close up:
• The ciliary muscles contract (the ring of muscle decreases in diameter)
• This causes the suspensory ligaments to loosen
• This stops the suspensory ligaments from pulling on the lens, which allows the lens to
become fatter
• Light is refracted more

When an object is far away:

• The ciliary muscles relax (the ring of muscle increases in diameter)
• This causes the suspensory ligaments to tighten
• The suspensory ligaments pull on the lens, causing it to become thinner
• Light is refracted less

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher

Prepared by Joyeeta Tahseen Khan, MYP-Biology Teacher