The Nervous System Cell body

 With nucleus.
Functions of the Nervous System  Integrates incoming signals and
 Control center for all body generates outgoing signals to
activities the axon.
 Utilizes electrical impulses Dendrites
in influencing cellular  Fibers that receive messages
activities. from other neurons.
 Responds and adapts to Axons
changes that occur both  Fibers that send messages to
inside and outside the body other neurons
(stimuli). Myelin Sheath
 (Ex: pain, temperature,  Lipid rich membrane that
pregnancy) covers the axon of a neuron.

Two processes that takes place

Two Classification of Cells in within nerve cell.
Nervous System
1. Afferent process
1. Neurons Happens when dendrites receives
- Conducting cells. stimuli from other neurons and
conduct this stimuli to the cell body.
2. Neuroglia or Glial cells
- Supportive cells. 2. Efferent process
Happens when axons conducts
Central Nervous System impulses away from the nerve cell
Neurons/nerve cells: body.
 Microscopic nerve cells that
make up the brain, spinal Classification of Neurons
cord, and nerves. according to Function
 Receives stimuli and
transmit impulses to other Sensory neurons
neurons other organs such  Carry sensory impulses to the
as muscles. spinal cord or to the brain.
 Serves as the primary
functional and anatomical Associative neurons ( Interneurons )
unit of nervous system.  Neuron that connects sensory
and motor neurons.
Anatomy of a Neuron  Facilitates communication
between motor neurons and
sensory neurons.

Motor neurons
 Carry motor impulses from the
brain or spinal cord to the
target muscles.
Neurons do NOT touch; there is a gap
between them called a synapse
Each
neuron contains:
Messages are sent across the  There is enough electrical
synapses by special chemicals called current in the brain to power a
neurotransmitters. flashlight

Neuroglia
 Also known as the glial cell. Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Supportive cell of the nervous  Primarily controls intelligence,
system that forms the 40% of sensory, and motor activities
the brains bulk. involving muscle tone, balance
and coordination.
Five types of Glial cells
 Astrocyte Central Nervous System
 Oligodendrocyte Brain:
 Microglial cell  A mass of 100 billion neurons
 Ependymal cell located inside the skull.
 Schwann cell  Act as the control center of the
body.
Astrocytes
 Supply nutrients to neurons Divided According to Position
and help maintain their ability 1. Forebrain in front
to transmit impulses. 2. Midbrain at the middle
3. Hindbrain at the back
Ependymal Cells
 Produces the cerebrospinal Forebrain
fluid and bath the brain and  Largest part of the brain.
spinal cord.  Houses the nerve center that
 A protective cushion. controls motor and sensory
functions, intelligence,
Oligodendrocyte personality, memory and
 Produces the myelin sheath understanding of language.
that act as the protective
armor of axon. Anatomy of the Brain
 purpose is for the insulation of Cerebrum
axon.  Largest part of human brain

Microglial cells Responsible for:

 Help in removing debris and  Thought
bacteria from the central  Language
nervous system.  Senses
 Memory
Schwann cells  Voluntary movement
 One of the most important
functions of the Schwann cell is  The two hemispheres are
to myelinate the axons of the joined together by a thick band
PNS.  of fibers called the corpus
callosum.
Communication Between Neurons  Each hemisphere has
 The use of neurotransmitters numerous folds called gyri.
causes an electrical current Grooves are called sulci
(singular: Sulcus)
 messages from the
 The cerebrum is made up of autonomous nervous system,
four distinct lobes: frontal, controls the heart rate, blood
parietal, temporal and pressure, body temperature
occipital. and peristalsis.
 Plays an integral role in
homeostasis.
 The outer portion of the  Controls production of
cerebrum is called the cerebral numerous hormones and
cortex and the inner part is sleeping and walking cycles.
called the medulla.
Mid Brain
 The cortex consists of the cells  It is a small portion of the brain
of the neurons and appears that serves as a relay center for
grey in color areas and motor sensory information from the
areas. ears to the cerebrum.
 It is also called the grey matter.  It also controls the reflex
movements of the head, neck
 Cerebrum is responsible for the and eye muscles.
intelligence, thinking, memory,  It provides a passage for the
consciousness and will power. different neurons going in and
coming out of the cerebrum.

Retrieval of a Memory Hind Brain

 A memory is not a snapshot It consists of cerebellum, pons and
stored in the brain – it must be medulla oblongata.
put together from information
stored in various parts of the Cerebellum
brain  At base of brain
Responsible for:
 Muscle coordination
Medulla  Balance
 The medulla consists of the  Posture
fibers of the neurons and is
white.  It consists of outer grey cortex and
 The cortex is highly convoluted inner white medulla.
which increase the surface  It is responsible for maintaining
area. the balance while walking,
 The cerebrum has sensory swimming, riding, etc.
areas, association areas and  It is also responsible for precision
motor areas. and fine control of the voluntary
movements.
Thalamus
It is an area which coordinates the Pons
sensory impulses from the various  It serves as a relay station
sense organs between the lower cerebellum
and spinal cord and higher
Hypothalamus parts of the brain like the
 It receives the taste and smell cerebrum and mid brain.
impulses, coordinates
  The pons, while involved in the  Swallowing
regulation of functions carried  Heartbeat
out by the cranial nerves it  Blood pressure
houses, works together with
the medulla oblongata to serve Spinal Cord
an especially critical role in  Column of nerves from brain to
generating the respiratory tailbone, protected by
rhythm of breathing. vertebrae of spine
 Active functioning of the pons  Cylindrical structure enclosed
may also be fundamental to by the vertebral column.
rapid eye movement (REM)  It connects the brain to the
sleep. nerves from all over the body
and controls involuntary
Medulla Oblongata movements called spinal
 It is a small region of the brain. reflexes.
 It is hidden as it is well
protected because of its Responsible for:
importance.  Conducting impulses between
 It has the cardiovascular center the brain and the rest of the
and the breathing center. body
 It also controls activities such  Impulses may travel as fast at
as sneezing, coughing, 268 miles/hr
swallowing, salivation and
vomiting.
 The medulla oblongata or
simply medulla is a long stem-
like structure which makes up Reflex
the lower part of the  Involuntary reaction in
brainstem. response to the stimuli
 It is anterior and partially transmitted to the CNS.
inferior to the cerebellum.  Allows an individual to react to
 It is a cone-shaped neuronal a stimuli more quickly, without
mass responsible for any brain involvement to
autonomic (involuntary) ensure protection of the body
functions, ranging from from an injury.
vomiting to sneezing.  Involves spinal cord and
 The medulla contains the brainstem.
cardiac, respiratory, vomiting
and vasomotor centers, and Reflex arc
therefore deals with the Basic pathway of the nervous system
autonomic functions of which is responsible of receiving
breathing, heart rate and blood stimulus and yielding a response.
pressure as well as the sleep
wake cycle. Five Components of Reflex Arc
1. Sensory Receptor
2. Sensory Neuron
Brain Stem 3. Interneuron
 Connects brain to spinal cord 4. Motor neuron
Responsible for: 5. Effector organ
 Breathing Patellar reflex
  Striking of the patellar tendon Visible bundles of axons and
with a reflex hammer just dendrites that intend from the brain
below the patella stretches the and spinal cord to all other parts of
muscle spindle in the the body
quadriceps muscle.
 This produces a signal which
travels back to the spinal cord Cranial Nerves
and synapses (without Named after their function.
interneurons) at the level of L3 (Photo in Notion)
or L4 in the spinal cord,
completely independent of Spinal Cord Nerves
higher centers. Named after the vertebral bone from
 From there, an alpha motor which they emerged.
neuron conducts an efferent
impulse back to the quadriceps Two Major Division of PNS
femoris muscle, triggering
contraction. 1. Somatic Nervous System
 This contraction, coordinated  Connects CNS to voluntary
with the relaxation of the muscles.
antagonistic flexor hamstring  It has nerves that carry
muscle causes the leg to kick. messages from the outer areas
 There is a latency of around 18 of the body.
ms between stretch of the  Nerves are connected to the
patellar tendon and the voluntary muscles.
beginning of contraction of the
quadriceps femoris muscle. 2. Autonomic Nervous System
 This is a reflex of  Supplies nerves to the smooth
proprioception which helps muscles of internal organs,
maintain posture and balance, cardiac muscles, and glands.
allowing to keep one's balance  Associated with involuntary
with little effort or conscious functions in the body.
thought.  Supplies nerves to the
involuntary organs, tissues and
glands.
Peripheral Nervous System  ANS nerves are also known as
visceral efferent nerves, it
Peripheral Nervous System carries messages to the
 Connects the CNS to the limbs and internal organs from the brain
organs, essentially serving as a stem to and endocrine
relay between the brain and spinal regulators.
cord and the rest of the body.
 Made up of peripheral nerves. Two Division of ANS
1. Sympathetic Nervous system
Consist of:  Prepares a person for
 12 pairs of sensory and motor physical activity.
cranial nerves from the brain.  Referred as the “Fight or
 31 pairs of sensory motor Flight system” wherein
nerves from the spinal cord. person prepares to face
a threat or leave quickly.
Nerves
  Activates when a person
is subjected to an Alzheimer’s Disease
unfavorable conditions.  A gradual shrinking of the
neurons in the cerebrum
Response of Sympathetic Nervous  Symptoms: memory loss,
System: emotional disturbances,
1. Increasing heart rate inability to function on own,
2. Increasing blood pressure death
3. Increasing sugar level in the
blood stimulating perspiration.
Epilepsy
2. Parasympathetic Nervous Abnormal transmission of messages
system between the neurons in the brain
 Stimulates vegetative Symptoms: seizures
asctivities such as digestion,
defecation and urination.
 Acts opposite to the SNS by
calming the body, conserving
energy and returning the body
funtions into normal level.

Responses of PNS
1. Decreased blood pressure
2. Decreased heart rate
3. Inreased digestive actiivities.

Problems of the Nervous System

Concussion
A temporary disturbance of the
brain’s ability to function due to a
hard blow to the head

Paralysis
A loss of sensation and movement of
part of the body due to an injury of
the spinal cord or brain

Parkinson’s Disease
 The brain does not produce
enough of the
neurotransmitter that
transmits messages from the
brain to the muscles
 Symptoms: tremors, rigid
muscles, shuffling walk, and
loss of facial expression