Nervous system

The nervous system is made up of;

a)Central nervous system ( the brain and spinal cord)

b)Peripheral nervous system (cranial and spinal verves)
 The cranial nerves emerge from the brain; end in the skin and other organs within the head.
 Spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord; end in the sensory organs in the rest of the body.
 Where nerves end, they may be scattered as those which detect heat, pressure, touch, pain
and cold in the skin.
 Or they are grouped together and other structures added to the nerve endings or receptors
to increase their efficiency such as those in the eyes, tongue, nose and the ears.
 Structures in which nerves end and therefore have sensory receptors are called sensory
organs.

Common terminology

 Stimulus; this refers to a change within the environment of an organism which provokes a
response (it makes an organism to react, e.g. change in temperature, light intensity etc.)
 Response; an action carried out by an effector organ upon receiving motor impulses.
 Effector; a muscle or gland which carries out an action upon receiving a motor impulse.
 Receptor (sensory cells); these are cells or tissues which detect a stimulus (normally found
in sensory organs) and convert it to electrical impulses for this reason receptors are called
transducers.
Examples of receptors;
 Thermo receptor; detects changes in temperature in the skin.
 Photoreceptor; detects changes in light in the eyes.
 Mechanoreceptor; respond to mechanical stimuli such as touch, pressure, vibration (mainly
found in the skin and ear.)

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  The stimulus in our example is the hot flame.
 The receptor is the heat sensor in the skin.
 The impulse travels to the spinal cord along the sensory neuron.
 In the spinal cord the impulse is passed on to the relay neuron.
 The motor neuron carries the impulse to a muscle in the arm. The muscle is the effector.
 The muscle contracts to remove the hand from the hot object. This action is the response.

Comparison between the sensory neuron and the motor neuron

Comparison factor Sensory neuron Motor Neuron

function Impulses transported from the
receptor organs to the central
nervous system.
Cell body -Has no dendrites
-Situated outside the central
nervous system and form a
ganglion
-Situated along the neuron
Nerve fibre In the form of both the
Dendron and the axon.
End plate In the central nervous system
Impulses conducted from the
central nervous system to the
effectors.
- Has dendrites
- Within the central nervous
system
- At the beginning of the
neuron.
In the form of a Dendron.
Synapses with the effector.

REFLEX ACTIONS

Reflex action refers to rapid and automatic response to a stimulus. Reflex actions are under the
control of the spinal cord.

Examples of reflex actions;

Knee jerk reflex, swallowing

Coughing and sneezing.

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The pathway followed by the impulses in a reflex arc.

Voluntary actions

This action is under the conscious control of the brain.

The brain has to make a decision before sending motor impulses towards the appropriate effector.

Comparison between the nervous and endocrine systems.

Comparison factor Nervous system Endocrine system

Nature of message
Mode of transmission
Rate of transmission
Target organ
Route of transmission
Type of effect
Electrical impulses
Through a nerve cell
rapid
One target eg. Muscle or gland
Impulses sent directly to target
gland or muscle.
Brings about short lived effects
or responses.
Chemicals called hormones
Through blood
slow
May target several organs at
once.
Hormones dispersed
throughout the body.
Bring about both short lived
and long term effects.