What is the

basic unit
of the
nervous
system
there are billions of
neurons in the body.

Some exist alone.

Others are joined
together to form organs
like the brain and
spinal cord.
There are twelve
to fourteen
billions of
neurons in one
part of the brain
alone
The basic parts of a neuron
Cell body /Soma it is the
central part of a neuron
Dendrite the branchlike structure of
the neuron that extends from the cell
body to receive an impulse
- root-like structures or treelike
extensions
Dendrites
carry impulses towards the cell body.
A cell may have as many as 200
dendrites carrying impulses toward the
cell body. A single dendrite can be
over one meter long.
Axon the part of the neuron
that transmits impulses
away from
the cell body
-root-like structures
Axon carry impulses away from the cell
body. Axons pass impulses to the
dendrites of other neurons or cell
body of muscle cells. Axons can be
grouped together into cable-like
bundles called nerves
Control of Body Processes through the
Nervous System
The nerve impulse
Neurons are cells with the special
ability to carry signals or impulses.
Thoughts, emotions, learning, and
many body functions are carried by
nerve impulses in the neurons.
A nerve impulse is a combination of an
electrical charge and a chemical reaction
A nerve impulse is not a flow of
electricity, but
an electrochemical signal
moving along a neuron
Impulse an
electrochemical
gradient moving
along a neuron
A nerve impulse cannot jump
from one neuron to another.
When a nerve impulse comes to
the end of an axon, it produces
the chemical, called
neurotransmitter, to be
released.
The chemical crosses the space
between
neurons called synapse and
stimulates the nerve impulse to
start in the next
dendrite.
The nerve impulse is sent by
neurotransmitters from one neuron to
another through a gap called synapse
Which part of the body receives information?
The nervous system is assisted by
five sense organs - the eyes,
ears, nose, tongue, and skin.
These sense organs are constantly
receiving
information from the environment
and sending messages to the brain
A stimulus (plural: stimuli) is any
factor in the environment that may trigger
a nerve impulse.
Stimuli - Anything that can causes an
organism to react
A response is a reaction to a
stimulus.
A stimulus is received by the body
and a response is made.
An organism must be able to
respond to a stimulus in order to
survive.
Messages do not travel in both
directions along the same
neuron. Only the axon of the
neuron releases
neurotransmitters that cross
the space between neurons.
 Reaction time is the
length of time between
application of a stimulus
and detection of a
response
Use your body’s senses to detect the
stimuli in your
environment and execute the
corresponding response
How Fast is Your
Reaction?
Objective:
• Measure the length of time
of response to catch a
dropped object
Q3. With which hand did you catch
the ruler faster when your eyes
were open?

Q4. With which hand did

you catch the ruler faster
when your eyes were
closed?
Q5. Did you catch the ruler faster
with your eyes open or closed?

Q5. The ruler was

caught faster with eyes
open
Q6. Explain why a message
moving along nerve pathways
takes time.
Q6. The message travels from one
neuron to another until it reaches
the brain. Then, the brain’s
response is also transmitted by
another set of neurons.
.

Q7. Describe the nerve pathway that

the message followed when you saw
the ruler fall
First, the eye sees the ruler, then sends a
message to the brain. The brain sends a
response through the muscles in the
hand. Finally, the muscles contract to
allow the person to catch the ruler.
KEY CONCEPT TO EMPHASIZE:
Neurons have the special
ability to carry signals or
impulses.
A nerve impulse is an
electrochemical signal moving
along an active
neuron.
The space between neurons is
called synapse.
A stimulus is any factor in the
environment that influences
behavior.
A response is a reaction to a
condition or stimulus.
To survive, an organism must be
able to respond to a stimulus.
Reaction time is the length of
timem between application of a
stimulus and detection of a
response.
Performance Task:
Design a flyer that will
disseminate information about
the different diseases affecting
the human nervous system.

NOTE: ALL HANDWRITTEN