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The Nervous System in Cats

The nervous system of cats has a central nervous system including the brain and spinal cord, and a peripheral nervous system of nerves throughout the body. The brain is divided into the brain stem, cerebrum, and cerebellum. Neurons are the basic functional units and connect via electrical signals along neurological circuits. There are sensory neurons that carry information to the brain, motor neurons that carry responses from the brain to the body, and autonomic neurons that regulate basic functions like heart rate.

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54 views

The Nervous System in Cats

The nervous system of cats has a central nervous system including the brain and spinal cord, and a peripheral nervous system of nerves throughout the body. The brain is divided into the brain stem, cerebrum, and cerebellum. Neurons are the basic functional units and connect via electrical signals along neurological circuits. There are sensory neurons that carry information to the brain, motor neurons that carry responses from the brain to the body, and autonomic neurons that regulate basic functions like heart rate.

Uploaded by

adierin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Nervous System in Cats

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and several different kinds
of nerves that are found throughout the body. These create complex circuits through which
animals experience and respond to sensations.
A familiar type of nervous system circuit is a reflex. Reflexes are simple networks found in the
nervous system of all animals. For example, when the eyelid is touched, it closes; when the toe is
pinched, the foot pulls away automatically.
Many different types of diseases can affect the nervous system, including birth defects, inherited
disorders, infections, inflammatory conditions, poisoning, metabolic disorders, nutritional disorders,
injuries, degenerative diseases, cancer, or unknown causes. Neurologic diseases are often more
common in a particular breed or sex, or tend to occur at a certain age.

Parts of the Nervous System in


Cats
The central nervous system includes the spinal cord and the brain. The brain is divided into 3
main sections—the brain stem, which controls many basic life functions, the cerebrum, which is
the center of conscious decision-making, and the cerebellum, which is involved in movement and
motor control. The spinal cord of cats is divided into regions that correspond to the vertebral bodies
(the bones that make up the spine) in the following order from neck to tail: cervical, thoracic,
lumbar, sacral, and caudal segments. Specialized tissues called meninges cover the brain and
spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.
The  peripheral nervous system  consists of the nerves that are found throughout the rest of the
body.

Neurons

Both the central and peripheral nervous systems contain billions of cells known as neurons. Neurons
connect with each other to form neurological circuits. Information travels along these circuits via
electrical signals.

All neurons have a center portion called a cell body and 2 extensions called dendrites and axons.
Dendrites receive signals from other neurons and transmit electrical charges to the cell body. Axons
transmit the electrical charges away from the cell body. When the current reaches the end of the axon,
the axon releases chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters pass the signal to the dendrites
of other neurons, or to muscles or glands.

Neurons in the peripheral nervous system combine to form pairs of spinal nerves and pairs of cranial
nerves. The spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord and extend axons outward into the front and hind
legs and to the bladder, anus, and tail. These nerves subdivide into smaller nerves that cover the entire
surface and interior of the body. The cranial nerves include sensory and motor neurons that connect the
head and face to the brain.

Types of Neurons

Sensory neurons carry information from the body to the spinal cord or brain stem, and then on to the
cerebellum and cerebrum for interpretation. Sensory information includes sensations of pain, position,
touch, temperature, taste, hearing, balance, vision, and smell.

Motor neurons carry responses to the sensory information from the spinal cord and brain to the rest of
the body. Inside the spinal cord, the axons of motor neurons form bundles known as tracts, which
transmit this information to motor peripheral nerves going to muscles in the limbs. Motor neurons are
important for voluntary movements and muscle control.

A specialized set of neurons controls and regulates basic, unconscious bodily functions that support life,
such as the pumping of the heart and digestion. These neurons make up what is called the autonomic
nervous system, which sends axons from the brain stem and spinal cord to various areas of the body,
such as the heart muscle, the digestive system, and the pupils of the eyes.

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/cat-owners/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders-of-cats/parts-of-
the-nervous-system-in-cats

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