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Nervous System
Your nervous system is made up of three parts:
- The Central Nervous System (CNS) -
The brain, the spinal cord and the optic nerves. - The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) -
All of the nerves that run to and from the brain and spinal cord linking up with muscles, skin and joints. Information flows from muscles and sensory organs back through the PNS to the CNS controlling coordination and movement (voluntary and involuntary) - The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) -
Pre- programmed and controlled by the CNS (brain) and is involved with the bodily functions that are involuntary such as:
- Heart Rate
- Blood Pressure
- Urge to pass Urine
Some limited control can be exerted over a few of the involuntary functions.
Usually the CNS -
The brain through the spinal cord and nerve branches controls body movement through its motor output, it is the seat of consciousness and creativity, it receives sensory input from the external environment and from within the body. Much of the brains activity is undertaken unconsciously as it works with the endocrine system to monitor and maintain other body systems.
Although the entire nervous system is extremely complex it has only three functions:
- Sensory Input (sensory neurons) -
provides information to the central nervous system and assists organs to adjust to the surrounding environment, both inside and outside the body. - Integration -
it has to make sense of the input it is receiving. Interneurons integrate input from sensory nerves into the central nervous system. - Motor Output (motor neurons) -
respond to information received by the sensory neurons.
Purpose.
To stimulate muscles and glands.
The nervous system determines when the endocrine system should secrete or withhold a particular hormone.
Cranial and Spinal Nerves
communicate between the CNS and the rest of the body
Voluntary
Input from Sense Organs
Associated with the voluntary control of body movements through the action of skeletal muscles, and with reception of external stimuli which helps keep the body in touch with its surroundings
Output -
X
The human brain contains about 100 billion interneurons.
Involuntary
Input from Internal Receptors
Much of the nervous system is concerned with routine, involuntary jobs, such as homeostasis, digestion, posture, breathing, etc. This is the job of the autonomic nervous system, and its motor functions are split into two divisions, with anatomically distinct neurones
Output -
Motor Nerve Fibres (Efferent)
Conduct electrochemical impulses from the CNS to effectors -
Somatic and visceral sensory nerve fibres conduct electrochemical impulses from receptors to the CNS
