Science10 Q3

Module3-wk3 FEEDBACK MECHANISMS

Lesson 1 Nervous System: Parts and Functions

What I Need To Know

In this particular lesson, you will to gain information about how the nervous
system coordinates and regulates feedback mechanisms to maintain homeostasis.

Competency: Describe how the nervous system coordinates and regulates these
feedback mechanisms to maintain homeostasis (S10LT-IIIc-36)
Objectives: At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Identidfy the different parts that composes the Nervous System; and
2. Trace the process how feedback mechanisms work in a nerve cell.

What’s In

In Grade 9 Science, we learned about the different systems that work together to
transport nutrients, gases and other molecules to and from the different parts of the body.
In this module you will be discovering how the body’s feedback mechanisms will help
the organism maintain homeostasis in order to survive.

What’s New

You perform different activities from the time you wake up in the morning to the time you
sleep at night. Do you know what coordinates all of these actions? This system makes you
feel, know, and do anything. In this lesson, you will study the control system of all your body
functions – your nervous system.

What Is It
The nervous system uses special cells to keep in touch. These cells help the body
communicate with other body parts.

The Nerve Cell

The basic unit of the nervous system is

the nerve cell. Nerve cells are called
NEURONS. Study figure 1 and look at the
different parts of the neuron. There are billions
of neurons in the body. Some exist alone.
Others are joined together to form organs like
the brain and spinal cord.

Figure 1. The Neuron

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 In fact, there are twelve to fourteen billions of neurons in one part of the brain
alone. Yet, no two neurons are alike. They are like snowflakes that they vary in size
and shape. But all neurons have a common structure. A neuron has a cell body
containing the nucleus. Projecting out from the cell body are root-like threads. These
are the DENDRITES and AXON.

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. Look at the parts of the nerve cell below.

Figure 2. The
Nerve Cell
Axons carry impulses away from the cell body. Axons pass impulses to the
dendrites of other neurons.

THE PARTS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Levels of Organization Example
Cell Neuron

Tissue Nerve

Organ Brain, Spinal Cord

Neurons can be grouped together into bundles called nerves. Thus, nerves are tissues.
A nerve is like a telephone cable with smaller wires bound together, as shown in figure 2.

Stimulus - (plural: stimuli) is any information received by the nervous system about a condition
in the environment. The nervous system also receives information about conditions
inside the body. In order to survive, an organism must be able to receive stimuli from
inside and outside the body.

Response - is a reaction to a condition or stimulus. A stimulus is received by the body and a

response is made. To survive, an organism must be able to respond to a stimulus.
A Stimulus Causes A Response
The nervous system is assisted by five organs - the eyes, ears, nose, tongue,
and the skin. The sense organs are constantly receiving information from the
environment and sending messages to the brain.
The Nerve Impulse
Neurons are cells with the special ability to carry signals or
impulses. It may be difficult to believe, but thoughts, emotions,
learning and many body functions are controlled by nerve impulses.
And the nerve impulses are carried by 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. It is
more correct to say that a nerve impulse is an ELECTROCHEMICAL
charge moving along a neuron.
Imagine that you have a board with a row of switches. Quickly
click each switch in the row on and off. This will give you an idea of
how a nerve impulse travels along a neuron

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 A nerve impulse cannot jump from one neuron to another. The space between
neurons is called SYNAPSE. When a nerve impulse comes to the end of an axon, it
causes a chemical to be released. The chemical crosses the synapse and stimulates
the nerve impulse to start the next dendrite.

The nervous system is the body’s mission control center. The nervous system
consists of a BRAIN, a SPINAL CORD, and many NERVES (Figure 1). These organs
and tissues form a complex communications network that can send messages very fast
and very efficiently. The function of the nervous system is to keep the life-support
systems functioning together.

THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The Brain
The brain is the main control
center of coordination. It is about the
size of a small head of a cauliflower. In
some ways it even looks likes a head of
cauliflower with ridges and furrows over
its surface. The brain weighs about 1.4
kilograms and is protected by the skull.
The brain is made up of three
areas. These are the CEREBRUM,
CEREBELLUM, and MEDULLA. Each
area of the brain controls a specific
activity. The cerebrum is the center of
intelligence. The cerebellum keeps the
muscles coordinated. The medulla
controls and coordinates the activities
of the internal organs . Figure 4. The Brain

The Spinal Cord

Examine the diagram of the human spinal column on

the right.

The spinal cord extends down from the medulla. It is an

organ made up of tightly packed neurons, which are mostly
connecting neurons. It is about forty-five centimeters long and
is tapered at both ends. The spinal cord runs down a person’s
back and is surrounded and protected by the rings of each
vertebra.

The spinal cord has two main functions. First, it carries

nerve impulses from all over the body to and from the brain.
Second, it controls many of the body’s INVOLUNTARY
ACTIONS. An involuntary action is a movement that does not
require any thought or interpretation. Figure 5. Spinal Cord

The brain and spinal cord make up the central switchboard, or coordinating
center of the nervous system. It is here that messages are interpreted. There are
nerves that branch off from the spinal cord. These nerves feed information to the brain
and spinal cord and carry messages away from them.

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Reflex Action
Any message received by your body must go to the brain before you can react to it.
Think of what happens when somebody is about to strike you with an object. You raise your
arms after the message that is headed your way reaches your brain. Some messages do not
make it to the brain. They go directly to the muscles. The body therefore reacts in a very short
time. Quick reactions that don’t use the brain are called reflexes. How does a reflex work?

Imagine what happens when you accidentally touch a hot object.

1. The skin on your finger receives the message that the object is
hot.
2. The message goes up your arm by way of a body nerve
pathway.
3. The message reaches and enters your spinal cord. The
message leaves the spinal cord by way of a different nerve
pathway.
4. The message makes your arm muscle contract and your finger
is pulled away.

You must remember that reflexes are involuntary, very quick, and help protect the body
from further harm.

The brain and the spinal cord consists the Central Nervous System.

THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The peripheral nervous system of humans has thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves, which
connect with the spinal cord. It also has twelve pairs of cranial nerves, which connect directly
with the brain. Some nerves of the peripheral system carry only sensory information.
The optic nerves, which carry visual signals from the eyes are like this. Other nerves
contain both sensory and motor axons. For example, the vagus nerves have sensory axons
leading into the brain as well as motor axons leading out to the lungs, gut, and heart.

Somatic Autonomic Subdivisions

The peripheral nervous system has two subdivisions called somatic and autonomic. The
somatic is concerned with the movements of the body’s head, trunk, and limbs. Its sensory
axon carries signals inward from receptors in the skin, skeletal muscles, and tendons while its
motor axons carries signals out to the body’s skeletal muscles. The autonomic system deals
with the “visceral” portion of the body – that is, the internal organs and structures. Its sensory
and motor axon carry signals from and to smooth muscles, cardiac (heart) muscle, and the
different regions inside the body.

The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nerves

The autonomic nervous system is entirely involuntary and automatic. It is composed

of two parts, one of which is called the sympathetic system. This system includes two rows of
nerve tissues, or cords, which lie on either side of the spinal column. Each cord has a ganglia,
which contains the bodies of neurons. Fibers from the sympathetic ganglia nerve cords enter
the spinal cords and connect with it and with the brain, as well as one another. The
sympathetic nervous system helps to regulate heart action, the secretion of ductless glands,
the blood supply in the arteries, the action of smooth muscles of the stomach and the intestine,
and the activity of other internal organs.

The parasympathetic system opposes the sympathetic system and thus maintains a
system of checks and balances. The principal nerve of parasympathetic system is the vagus
nerve, and abdomen. To illustrate how the check-and-balance system works, when there is fire
you can carry heavy loads down your house to save them from getting burned, but you will need
the help of several persons to bring back these things after the fire.

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 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Division of Bohol

SCIENCE 10: QUARTER 3-LIVING THINGS

MODULE 3: Nervous System, Parts and Functions
STUDENT’S ANSWER SHEET

Name: ________________________________ Barangay: ______________

Grade & Section: _______________________ Purok: ________________ SCORE:

What’s More

Put a  if the statement is correct and X if not.

___1. The function of the nervous system is to keep the life-support systems functioning together.
___2. The nervous system is assisted by five organs - the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and the skin.
___3. A response is any information received by the nervous system about a condition in the
environment.
___4. A stimulus is a reaction to a condition .
___5. A nerve impulse cannot jump from one neuron to another.
___6. The brain and spinal cord make up the central switchboard, or coordinating center of the
Endocrine System.
____7. Reflexes are involuntary, very quick, and help protect the body from further harm.
____8. Quick reactions that don’t use the brain are called synapses.
____9. The brain is composed of cerebellum, cerebrum and medulla oblongata.
___10. The autonomic system is concerned with the movements of the body’s head, trunk, and limbs.

What I Have Learned

Imagine touching a frying pan which is hot. Arrange the flow on how a reflex work.
Write the number of the sequence.
_____1. The message reaches and enters your spinal cord. The message leaves the spinal
cord by way of a different nerve pathway.
_____2. The message goes up your arm by way of a body nerve pathway.
_____3. The skin on your finger receives the message that the object is hot.
_____4. The message makes your arm muscle contract and your finger is pulled away.

What I Can Do
Upon knowing how important the Nervous system is in our body, what two
ways can you do as a way of showing your care to your Nervous system’s parts?
1. __________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________