UNIT 5.

INTERACTION: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS

 INDEX

1. THE INTERACTION PROCESS

2. THE NEURON AND ELECRIC SIGNALS
3. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
4. THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
5. HEALTHY HABITS: DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS AND ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS
1. THE INTERACTION PROCESS
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Central nervous system (CNS)

• Processes information which our body receives

• Interprets this information
• Works out appropriate responses
• Transmits instructions to the effectors
• Co-ordinates the functions of our body´s organs
• Carries out intellectual and mental processes
• Transmits emotions and feelings
 NEURONS

• Types:

• Sensory neurons: transmit electrical signals from receptors to the central nervous system
• Motor neurons: from the CNS to effectors
• Relay neurons: connect sensory neurons with motor neurons
MOTOR NEURON
TYPES OF NEURONS: STRUCTURE
NEURONS AND NERVE IMPULSES
• Neurons transmit impulses from dendrites to axons.
• Small gap between neurons: Synapse
• Impulses are transmitted across a synapse by neurotransmitters
stored in vesicles.
POTASSIUM-SODIUM PUMP
SYNAPSE
TYPES OF SYNAPSE
Quiz on neurons
NERVE PATHWAYS
THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)
Components
• Parts:
• Spinal cord
• Brain
• Types of material:
• Grey matter: made up of neurons and dendrites
• White matter: made up of axons covered in myelin
• And:
• The brain and the spinal cord are surrounded by 3 membranes called meninges
• Between meninges we find cerebrospinal fluid.
SPINAL CORD
• It produces reflex actions (happen automatically without the
participation of the brain)
• It carries sensory impulses to the brain and motor signals from the
brain to the effector organs
BRAIN
 BRAIN FUNCTIONS
• To process information from sensory organs
• To work out responses and commands for effector organs
• To regulate the functions of every part of the nervous system
• To control higher nerve functions like memory, reasoning, conscience
and will.
BRAIN. PARTS
• Brain stem:
• Where the spinal cord joins the brain.
• There, the ascendant and descendant nerves cross over so
that the right hand side of the brain receives information
from the left hand side of the body and viceversa.
• Controls heart beat, blood pressure, breathing and motor
control.
• Hypothalamus:
• It is between the brain stem and the cerebrum.
• It controls sleep patterns, body temperature, thirst, hunger,
visual and auditory reflexes, communication between the
cerebellum and other parts of te brain, and the selection of
the stimuli that are sent to the brain.
• Cerebellum:
• It´s located in the back part of the brain
• Grey matter outside and white matter inside
• It processes information from the ear related to balance.
• It coordinates motor impulses sent by the brain

• Cerebrum:
• It is the largest part of the brain and the most important organ of the
nervous system
• Grey matter outside and white matter inside
• A part of it is the cerebral cortex:
• Outer layer of the cerebrum
• It is responsible for voluntary activity
 THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS)
• It is responsible for connecting the sensory receptors and effectors
with the nerve centres.
• Parts:
• Somatic nervous system
• Autonomic nervous system
NERVES
• Cranial nerves
• 12 pairs
• Sensory, motor or mixed nerves
• They communicate with sense organs and some of the body´s internal organs.
• Spinal nerves
• 31 pairs of mixed nerves
• Each nerve has two roots. The posterior root is made up of sensory neurons and the
anterior root is made up of motor neurons.
THE SPINAL NERVES
 THE SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• It connects the sensory receptors to the CNS and this in turn with the
skeletal muscles.

• Functions:
• Receiving information from external stimuli
• Receiving information from the position of your body
• Transmitting signals for voluntary muscle contractions.
 THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• It regulates and controls involuntary body functions.
• It has two parts:
• The sympathetic system: it controls the majority of the organs in the body so
that they work more effectively under stress.
• The parasympathetic system: It is responsible for maintaining the body´s
organs and systems when the body is at rest or working slowly.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
 NERVE ACTIONS
• Reflex actions:
• Quick and automatic. The brain is not involved
• When a rapid response is required

• Voluntary actions:
• More elaborated. The cerebral cortex is involved
SENSORY RECEPTORS
• They can be simply groups of nerves or
• Special cells which join together to make up sensory organs.
• According to the type of stimuli that they received, they can be
classified into:
• Photoreceptors
• Mechanoreceptors
• Chemoreceptors
• Thermoreceptors