Chapter 4 – Nervous System

Subject - Science Class V

Nervous system
The nervous system is a system in the body which sends signals around the body.
It lets people and animals respond to what is around them. ... The structure of the
system includes the brain and spinal cord, which together are called the central
nervous system.

The nervous system is a highly complex part of an animal that coordinates its
actions and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from different
parts of its body. The nervous system detects environmental changes that impact
the body.

The vertebrate nervous system is divided into a number of parts.

The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.

The peripheral nervous system consists of all body nerves.

Motor neuron pathways are of two types: somatic (skeletal) and autonomic
(smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands).

The nervous system has three main functions:

1. To collect sensory input from the body and external environment.
2. To process and interpret the sensory input.
3. To respond appropriately to the sensory input.
Brain
A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all
vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close
to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a
vertebrate's body.
The brain works like a big computer. It processes information that it receives
from the senses and body, and sends messages back to the body. ... Brain tissue is
made up of about 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) and one trillion supporting
cells which stabilize the tissue.

The brain has three main parts:

Cerebrum: is the largest part of the brain and is composed of right and left
hemispheres. It performs higher functions like interpreting touch, vision and
hearing, as well as speech, reasoning, emotions, learning, and fine control of
movement.

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. Located in the front and
middle part of the brain, it accounts for 85% of the brain’s weight. Of the
three main parts of the brain, the cerebrum is considered the most recent to
develop in human evolution. The cerebrum is responsible for all voluntary
actions (e.g.: motor skills), communication, emotions, creativity, intelligence and
personality.

Cerebellum: The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. Located in the
front and middle part of the brain, it accounts for 85% of the brain’s
weight. Of the three main parts of the brain, the cerebrum is considered the most
recent to develop in human evolution. The cerebrum is responsible for all
voluntary actions (e.g.: motor skills), communication, emotions, creativity,
intelligence and personality.

Brainstem: The final section of the brain is a mass of tissue and nerves called the
brain stem. Located underneath the cerebrum and cerebellum, the brain stem
connects the brain to the spinal cord. All information that goes from the brain to
the body (or vice versa), must pass through the brain stem to reach its
destination. The brain stem accounts for the remaining 5% of the brain’s mass,
and is (along with the cerebellum), the oldest part of the brain. The brain stem is
responsible for regulating the heart and lungs, communications between the
brain and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves of the body), our sleep
cycle, and coordinating reflexes.

Medulla oblongata helps regulate breathing, heart and blood vessel function,
digestion, sneezing, and swallowing. This part of the brain is a center for
respiration and circulation. Sensory and motor neurons (nerve cells) from the
forebrain and midbrain travel through the medulla.

Sense Organs

We have all heard about the five senses i.e see, hear, smell, taste and touch. To
see we use our eyes, to hear we use our ears, to smell we use our nose, to taste
we use our tongue, and we touch with the help of tongue. So basically, human
beings have five sense organs i.e. eyes, ear, nose, tongue, and skin.

Eyes: Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide animals with vision,
the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo
response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and convert it
into electro-chemical impulses in neurons.
Nose: The organ for the sense of smell is the nose. Nose has nostrils, we breathe
in through nostrils. The olfactory system is responsible for our sense of smell and
the nose is also known as an olfactory organ. Usually, animals have a stronger
sense of smell than human beings. However, human beings can also smell
thousands of various odors and fragrances. The nose is also an organ which helps
us in the sense of taste. For example, we can smell a gas leak. Read about
Respiratory Organs here.
Ears: The organ for the sense of hearing is ears. Hearing or auditory
perception is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations, changes in the
pressure of the surrounding medium through time, through an organ such as the
ear. For example, we hear music through earphones which are inserted into our
ears. Total or partial ability to hear is known as hearing loss.

Skin: The organ for the sense of touch is skin. Skin is the largest organ as it is
located throughout the human body. Various receptors are used for different
situations like pain, temperature, pressure, etc. For example, when we touch
something hot like a hot cup of tea or coffee, we instantly move our hands away
from it.

Tounge: The organ for the sense of taste is the tongue. The tongue has various
receptors (taste buds) which can detect whether the item consumed is salty,
sweet, bitter or sour. The behind part of the tongue detects bitter taste, the front
most part detects salty taste, the side part detects sour taste and the middle and
front part detects sweet taste.
Refelx Action
A reflex, or reflex action, is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement
in response to a stimulus. A reflex is made possible by neural pathways called
reflex arcs which can act on an impulse before that impulse reaches the brain.
It is a way for the body to automatically and rapidly respond to a stimulus to
minimise any further damage to the body. It follows this general sequence and
does not involve the brain: stimulus → receptor → sensory neuron → relay
neuron → motor neuron → effectors → response.

In simple words, Reflex action is a sudden and involuntary response of effectors

(muscles and organs) to a stimulus.
Withdrawal of hands when touched by hot things, watering of mouth on
seeing favourite food, coughing, sneezing and blinking of eyes are examples
of reflex actions.

Nerves
Your nervous system is composed of a network of nerves and nerve cells that
carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. A
nerve is a bundle of fibers that receives and sends messages between the body
and the brain.

Sensory Nerves: Sensory nerves also known as afferent nerves, carry impulses
from sensory receptors towards the brain. The sensory function of the nervous
system involves collecting information from sensory receptors that monitor the
body's internal and external conditions.
Motor Nerves: Motor nerves also known as efferent nerves, carry impulses
away from the brain to muscles and glands. A motor nerve is a nerve located in
the central nervous system (CNS), usually the spinal cord, which sends motor
signals from the CNS to the muscles of the body.

Motor nerves act as nerves which carry information out from the CNS, as
opposed to sensory nerves, which send signals from sensory receptors in the
periphery to the CNS.

Mixed Nerves: There are also nerves that serve as both sensory and motor
nerves called mixed nerves. Mixed nerves are the nerves that perform both the
action of sensory nerves as well as a motor nerve. They transform electrical
impulses from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body.

Questions and Answers

Q1. What are the parts of brain? Which part is known as centre of intelligence?

A1. The brain has three main parts: Cerebellum, Cerebrum and Medulla.
Prefrontal cortex is known as the centre of intelligence.

Q2. How is the brain protected?

A2. Brain is protected by the bony box-cranium, also called as skull.

Q3. How do ears help us to listen?

A3. The inner ear is shaped like a snail and is also called the cochlea. Inside the
cochlea, there are thousands of tiny hair cells. Hair cells change the vibrations
into electrical signals that are sent to the brain through the hearing nerve. The
brain tells you that you are hearing a sound and what that sound is.

Q4. How does nose act as filter for the air we breathe in?
A4. A mucous membrane lines your nasal cavity and it helps keep your nose
moist. Little hairs inside your nasal cavity help filter the air you breathe in, and
block dirt and dust from getting into your lungs. When you breathe in through
your mouth, or oral cavity, the air is moistened, but not filtered.

Q5. Mention three ways to take care of our eyes?

A5. Eyes are very delicate. We must take proper care of our eyes:

1. Wash your eyes by splashing water.

2. Maintain proper distance between your eyes and the book.
3. Make sure you are in the right posture while reading and writing.