SCIENCE

Lesson 1: Nervous System

 It controls and interprets all the activities that happen in the body
 Functions
a. Gathers information both from the outside world and from inside of the body
b. Transmit information to the processing areas in the brain and spinal cord
c. Processes information to determine the best response
d. Sends information to muscles, glands, and organs so they can respond correctly
 keeps the body working properly despite the constant CHANGES that takes place around it
 These changes are called stimuli (singular: stimulus)

Basic Cells of the Nervous System

Neurons
- basic functional units of structure and function of the nervous system
- They carry information through the nervous system in the form of nerve impulses
- Parts of a Neuron
1. Dendrites - It receives and carry information TOWARD the body cell
2. Cell Body
- largest part of the neuron
- Contains the nucleus (a large dark structure), which control all the activities of
the cell
3. Axon - It carries messages AWAY from the cell body
4. Myelin Sheath - covers the axon, which speeds up the travel of the nerve impulses
5. Schwann Cells - produce myelin or fat layer
6. Node of Ranvier - gaps or nodes in the myelin sheath

Parts and Functions of Nervous System

The Central Nervous System (CNS)
o command center of the entire body; it processes information and sends instructions to other
parts of the body
o spinal cord provides the LINK BETWEEN THE BRAIN AND THE REST OF THE BODY

Brain
 important and delicate organ that is protected by and encased in a bone called skull
 The brain appears gray because it is mostly composed of gray matter, which is because of the
presence of billions of cell bodies
 mass of the brain is about 1.4 kilograms only
 Our brain uses around 20 percent of our body’s total energy
 3 Main Parts
1. Cerebrum

- makes up 85% of the human brain and largest part of the brain
 - surface of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex, which increases the
surface area so that more thinking activities can occur
- shapes the attitudes, emotions, and even the personality of an individual
2. Cerebellum
- Left: knowledge, right: artistic
- second largest part

- located behind the brain stem

- coordinates the actions of the muscles and maintains balance

- Balance, equilibrium, and posture are coordinated by the cerebellum
3. Brain Stem
- connects the spinal cords to the rest of the brain
- coordinates many survival functions of the body such as breathing, heart rate,
sleep, and wakefulness

Spinal Cord
 tubelike organ of neurons and blood vessels
 located inside the backbone and is about 1.8 cm wide
 Impulses from the PNS are carried to the spinal cord, which then brings the message to the brain

Peripheral Nervous System

 The PNS links the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body
 made up of a network of bundled ropelike structures called NERVES, which extend or branch out
from the central out from the CNS to the different organs of the body
 part of the peripheral nervous system that stimulates skeletal muscles under your conscious
control is called SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
 The part of the peripheral nervous system that is not under the direct control of the conscious
mind is called AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
 ANS: directs motor nerve fibers in smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, and the glands
 Autonomic Nervous System
a. Parasympathetic Division - most active under normal conditions; it keeps the body
functioning even when the person is not active
b. Sympathetic Division
- dominates in times of physical and emotional stress
- controls the “fight-or-flight” response
Lesson 2: Endocrine System
 Hormones: partially control or regulate the fast reactions and slow changes happening in your
body
 Happiness Chemicals
a. Dopamine – Reward Chemical
b. Oxytocin – The Love Hormone
c. Serotonin – The Mood Stabilizer
d. Endorphin – The Pain Killer
 Hormones: chemical messengers that carry instructions to cells to change their activities
 Gland: organ whose cells secrete materials to the different parts of the body
 Endocrine Gland
- Endo means “within”, krinein means “separate”
- ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into either the bloodstream or the fluid
around the cells
- brain, stomach, small intestine, kidney, liver, and heart

Endocrine System
 These hormones control nearly all the processes in your body
 body’s functions, from metabolism to growth and development, emotions, mood, sexual
function and even sleep
 Hormones deliver their messages by locking into the cells they are targeting so they can
relay the message
 Your endocrine system continuously monitors the amounts of hormones in your blood
 Homeostasis: self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability
while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival
 Endocrine system is made up of organs called glands
 Glands produce and release different hormones
 Hormones nearly affect every process in your body
a. Metabolism
b. Growth and development.
c. Emotions and mood.
d. Fertility and sexual function.
e. Sleep.
f. Blood pressure

Major Endocrine Glands

1. Hypothalamus
o At the base of the brain
o Link between the nervous system and the endocrine system
o Determine when to tell other glands, including the pituitary gland, to produce hormones
2. Pituitary Gland
o Hypophysis
o in the center of the skull
o Referred to as the “master gland” because it produces hormones that control many
activities of the other endocrine glands
 o made of two lobes, the anterior and posterior glands
3. Thyroid Gland
o under the larynx or voice box
o three hormones: triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin
o Both T3 and T4 contain the element iodine
o maintaining heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tone, and reproductive functions
o An insufficient amount of these hormones in the body can lead to hypothyroidism,
which causes weight gain, lethargy, and intolerance to cold
o Parathyroid Glands
- These four tiny glands control the level of calcium in your body
- release the parathyroid hormone
4. Adrenals
o The word adrenal means “above kidney”
o located at top each of your kidneys
o inner adrenal medulla and the outer adrenal cortex
o inner adrenal medulla
- produces adrenaline which plays an important role in the body’s coping
mechanism
- part of the body’s emergency action team
- gives the body a strength that could be considered “superhuman”
5. Pineal Gland
o located near the thalamus of the brain
o produces melatonin (a hormone that causes you to feel sleepy)
o synchronizes daily rhythms, regulates body systems, and helps the body adapt to
seasonal changes
6. Pancreas
o produces two types of hormones: insulin and glucagon
o Insulin: keeps the levels of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream under control
o Glucagon: increases the level of sugar in the body by speeding up the conversion of
glycogen into sugar in the liver
7. Ovaries
o ovaries release sex hormones called estrogen, progesterone
8. Testes
o make sperm and release the hormone testosterone

Conditions and Disorders affect Endocrine System

1. Diabetes
 chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy
 Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released
into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to
release insulin.
 Glucose meter/ Glucometer
 3 types of Diabetes
a. Type 1 diabetes: need to take insulin injection for lifetime
 b. Type 2 diabetes
- Insulin Resistance: The body produces minimal insulin or the body’s cell
do not react to insulin, a condition
- 90% of diabetes cases
- Diet exercise, and taking antidiabetic tablets
c. Gestational diabetes
- Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, a pregnant woman’s cell is
less responsive to insulin
- As more glucose enter the placenta and is absorbed by the baby, it can
lead to condition known as macrosomia or “fat baby”
2. Thyroid Disorders
 Hypothyroidism happens when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones
 Hyperthyroidism occurs when it creates too many hormones.
3. Hypogonadism
 Low Testosterone
 In men, hypogonadism can cause erectile dysfunction
 testes do not produce enough of the sex hormone testosterone
4. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
 irregular periods, abnormal hair growth, excess acne and weight gain
 The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to
regularly release eggs.
 Having PCOS does not mean you can't get pregnant. PCOS is one of the most common,
but treatable, causes of infertility in women.
5. Osteoporosis
 When a woman’s ovaries don’t produce enough estrogen, bones become brittle and
weak
 People with an overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism) may also have weak
bones.
6. Dwarfism
 Pituitary dwarfism: body’s insufficient production of growth hormones
 Dwarfism is short stature that results from a genetic or medical condition
 Some people prefer the term "short stature" or "little people" rather than "dwarf" or
"dwarfism."
 Disproportionate Dwarfism and Proportionate Dwarfism

Lesson 3: Infections of the Nervous System

1. Encephalitis is an acute infection and inflammation of the brain.
2. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges and the membranes surrounding the brain and
the spinal cord.
3. Rabies is a viral infection transmitted through bites by infected animals such as dogs and cats.
4. Tetanus is a disease caused by certain bacteria found in soil contaminated with animal waste. It
is often introduced into the body via open wounds
Nervous system and Neurodegenerative Disorders
 Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by damage or death or death of neurons in
specific parts of the brain or spinal cord which could lead to dysfunction and disabilities.
 2 classes
a) Parkinson’s disease –is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects the
patient’s movement. It is named after English physician James Parkinson who first
described the disorder.
b) Alzheimer’s disease- is a condition characterized by severe mental deterioration which
get worse over time.
 Epilepsy is a brain disorder associated with seizures, involuntary movement, and loss of
consciousness.