The Nervous system

The Nervous System

What are its component parts?

• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Nerves

What does it do?

• Enables you to control
your body
• Gives you feedback
about the world
Look away if you’re squeamish…

A dissected
brain, spinal
cord and
sections of
major
nerves.
The Cells of the Nervous System -
Neurones
The route impulses take
 The route impulses take

Sensory Relay
neurone neurones
(in brain or
spinal cord)

Effectors –

Motor neurone
The Spine
You don’t need
to know any of
these little
details – just
remember that
the spinal cord
carries messages
to and from the
brain.
The spine – the message
motorway
 Effects of a spinal cord injury on
breathing
• With a spinal cord injury of C4 and higher, all the muscles which control
breathing will be paralysed. These are the intracostal muscles, the
diaphragm and the abdominal muscles. In order to breathe, the person
will need a machine called a ventilator to breath for them. In order to
cough, the person will need help by way of a carer performing an assisted
cough procedure.
• Injuries between C4 and T6 will leave the person able to breathe on their
own. However, because the intracostal muscles may be weakened or
paralysed depending on the level of injury, breathing may be done solely
or mainly by the diaphragm. Again, coughing may also be a problem.
• Injuries between T6 and T12 do not normally affect breathing. However
the ability to cough will be impaired.
• It is only with injuries below T12 that normal breathing and cough reflexes
are preserved.
 Left:
sensory
neurone

Right: motor
neurone
Above: Sensory Neurone
Below: Motor Neurone
Diagrams and Drawings in Biology
Not until A-level!
Nerves – bundles of neurones
Close-up of a nerve
Single neurones in cross-section
How Impulses Pass from Neurone
to Neurone – the Synapse
Synapses
A Neuro-Chip
Reflex Reactions – bypassing the
brain for extra speed
 Reflex Reactions
Can you think of any?

• Startle reflex – moving away, contraction of

arm and leg muscles, blinking, breathing
changes
• Withdrawal reflex – moving away from
potentially harmful influences (e.g. high
temperature)
• Iris reflex – pupil becomes smaller in bright
light
Knee Jerk Reflex
 Why the knee jerk reflex?
• This reflex is quite useful for walking.  Every
time you put weight on your foot, your
muscles contract to support you.  Without this
reflex, we would all look silly staggering
around, having to consciously think about
working our muscles for each step, but with
the muscles reacting too hopelessly late to be
useful.  Chewing gum at the same time
would be out of the question.