THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

LEARNING COMPETENCY

 Describe how the nervous system coordinates and

regulates these feedback mechanisms to maintain
Homeostasis S10lt-iiic-36
WHAT IS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM?
The control system of the body
is a complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to
and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body.
It is considered as the body’s storage center of information and
also the body’s control system.
It is mainly responsible for controlling and coordinating all the
organ systems by sending messages from the brain through nerve
signals. It makes sure that all the parts of the body are working
together efficiently.
 MAJOR DIVISIONS AND PARTS OF THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM

Central
Nervous System

Peripheral
Nervous System
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

BRAIN

CEREBRUM

CEREBELLUM

MEDULLA OBLONGATA

SPINAL CORD
I. Central Nervous System (CNS)
 serves as the main processing center of the nervous system.
 The CNS receives and processes all of the information from all
parts of the body. In other words, it controls the entire organ
system of the body.
 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Brain : a mass of 100

billion neurons located
inside the skull

-Learning occurs as more

and stronger
connections are made
between neurons
A.BRAIN
-is an organ located within the skull that
functions as organizer and distributor of
information for the body. It has three
main parts:
1. Cerebrum is the large, upper
part of the brain that controls
activity and thought.
2. Cerebellum is the part under the
cerebrum that controls posture, balance,
and coordination.
3. Brain stem connects the brain
to the spinal cord and controls
automatic functions such as
breathing, digestion, heart rate, and
blood pressure.
B. Spinal cord
 serves as a channel for signal
between the brain and the
majority of the body parts, and
controls some simple
musculoskeletal reflexes even
without the processing of the
brain.
 The spinal cord is about 40-50
cm long. Responsible for:
 Conducting impulses between
the brain and the rest of the
body
 *Impulses may travel as fast at
268 miles/hr
 PERIPHERAL
NERVOUS
SYSTEM (PNS)

Somatic Nervous Autonomic

System Nervous System

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Spinal Nerves Cranial Nerves
Nervous System Nervous System
II. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
 connects the central nervous system to the organs and
limbs.
 It carries impulses from the sensory nerves to the CNS
and from the CNS to the motor nerves.

It has two main divisions:

A. Somatic Nervous System is associated with the

voluntary control of body movements and has two
main parts:
1. Spinal Nerves
 carry motor and sensory signals between the spinal
cord and the body.
2. Cranial Nerves
 are nerve fibers that carry information into and out of
the brain stem.
Nerves : visible
bundles of axons and -Responsibilities:
dendrites that extend - Sensory nerves -
from the brain and carry messages from
spinal cord to all body to brain (pain,
other parts of the pressure, temperature)
body
- Motor nerves – carry
messages from brain to
body to respond
B. Autonomic Nervous System
 is associated with the involuntary control
of body movements and has two
subdivisions:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System is activated
when the body is in a
dynamic role or stress. (e.g., increased heart
rate and breathing, dilation of pupil,
sweating)
 It is known as the “fight or flight
response "which controls the internal
functions of the body in times of
stress.
2. Parasympathetic
Nervous System
 maintains body functions
and restores the body to
normal or relaxed mode.
 It is known as the “rest
and digest” which is the
opposite of the
sympathetic nervous
system.
The Nerve Cell
The nerve cell is the basic
unit of the nervous system and it is
also called as neuron.
There are billions of neurons in
the body.
Neurons : microscopic nerve cells
that make up the brain, spinal cord,
and nerves
30,000 neurons can fit on a
pinhead
 3 TYPES OF NEURONS

 Sensory Neurons: carry impulses from inside and outside the body to
brain and spinal cord.
 Interneurons: found within brain and spinal cord, process incoming
impulses and pass them on to motor neurons.
 Motor Neurons: carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord.
Each neuron contains:  Neurons do NOT touch;
- Cell body with there is a gap between
nucleus them called a synapse
- Dendrites : fibers that
receive messages from  Messages are sent across
other neurons
the synapses by special
- Axons : fibers that chemicals called
send messages to other neurotransmitters
neurons