NERVOUS SYSTEM

OBJECTIVES
Identify parts of the Nervous System
Explain the function of Nervous System
Differentiate Central and Peripheral Nervous
System
Identify and explain parts of the Brain
 INTRODUCTION
In biology, the nervous system is the 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, then works in
tandem with the endocrine system to respond to
such events.
 NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nervous system is:
A physically connected network of cells,
tissues and organs that allow us to
communicate with and react to the
environment and perform life activities.
Master controlling and communicating
system.
 TRIVIA
A man's brain has 6.5 times more gray matter
compared to women, but a woman's brain has 10
times more white matter compared to men.
Your nervous system cannot function properly in
the absence of potassium and sodium ions.
 TRIVIA
There are more nerve cells in the human brain
than there are stars in the Milky Way.
If we lined up all the neurons in our body it would
be around 599 miles long.
There are 100 billion neurons in your brain alone.
 FOUR PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF
NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Sensing the world - Vision, Hearing, Smell, Taste,

Touch
• Transmitting information
• Processing information
• Producing a response
TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS
– Central Nervous System (CNS)
Made up of the brain and spinal cord.

– Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Made up of all the nerves that lead into and out of
the CNS.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
– The central nervous system is composed of
two major interconnected organs:
The brain
The spinal cord
- Receives, interprets and sends signals to PNS
PARTS OF THE BRAIN
 BRAIN
Brain
Weighs about 3 pounds in adults
75% water
20% of oxygen
Contains over 100 billion neurons
Controls bodily functions and
interactions with the outside
world
 FOUR PARTS:
Cerebrum
Diencephalon
Brain stem
Cerebellum
BRAINSTEM:
Composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
MIDBRAIN: Plays a role in visual reflexes.
PONS:
Found between the midbrain and the medulla oblongata.
Regulates specific respiratory functions.
MEDULLA OBLONGATA:
Houses centers responsible for controlling heart and lung function,
as well as actions like swallowing, coughing, vomiting, and
sneezing.
CEREBELLUM
This region is responsible for coordinating musculoskeletal
movements to uphold posture, balance, and muscle tone.
It is located beneath the occipital lobes of the cerebrum.
Positioned behind the pons and medulla oblongata.
CEREBRUM
Located above the cerebellum.
Comprises two hemispheres, featuring an outer layer known
as the cerebral cortex.
 The two hemispheres are connected by a bridge of nerve
fibers that relay information between the two hemispheres
called the corpus callosum.
The left and right lobes are each divided into four lobes or
parts:
– Parietal lobe
– Frontal lobe
– Temporal lobe
– Occipital lobe
DIENCEPHALON
The diencephalon forms a central core of brain tissue
completely surrounded by the cerebral hemispheres.
Enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres.
Made of three parts
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
THALAMUS
The thalamus makes up 80% of the diencephalon, consists of paired
oval masses of gray matter.
The relay station for sensory impulses that reaches the sensory
area of the cerebrum.
The thalamus is the major relay station for most sensory impulses
that reach the primary sensory areas of the cerebral cortex from the
spinal cord and brain stem.
The thalamus also relays nerve impulses between different areas of
the cerebrum and plays a role in the maintenance of consciousness.
HYPOTHALAMUS
Small part of the diencephalon located inferior to
the thalamus.
The hypothalamus controls many body activities
and is one of the major regulators of homeostasis.
EPITHALAMUS
A small region superior and posterior to the thalamus,
consists of the pineal gland.
The pineal gland is part of the endocrine system
because it secretes the hormone melatonin.
As more melatonin is liberated during darkness than
in light, this hormone is thought to promote sleepiness.
SPINAL CORD
Extends from the medulla oblongata of the brain to the area around
the first lumbar vertebra in the lower back.
Nerves from the peripheral nervous system extend out from the spinal
cord.
Protected by:
Vertebral column
Cerebrospinal fluid
Meninges
Meninges are three layers of membranes that cover the brain and
spinal cord.
LAYERS OF MENINGES
Dura mater
Outer tough fibrous membrane.
Arachnoid mater
Middle weblike membrane containing CSF.
Pia mater
Innermost layer containing several blood vessels.
NEURONS
NEURONS
Cell Body
The main processing center of the cell.
Dendrites
Thin branching extensions of the cell body that conduct nerve
impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
A single branch (in most neurons) which conducts nerve
impulses away from the cell body.
Myelin sheath and neurilemma are coverings.
NEURONS
Impulse Transmission
Terminal end fibers are located at the ends of
the axon and they transmit impulses leaving the
neuron across a synapse to the next neuron.
THREE TYPES OF NEURONS
Efferent (motor)
Conveys information from the CNS to muscles and
glands.
Afferent (sensory)
Carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS.
Interneuron
Carry and process sensory information.
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the division of
the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie
outside of the central nervous system (CNS).
Primary role: relay information between the brain and the
body. It controls voluntary actions, like walking, and
involuntary actions, like breathing.
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
The peripheral nervous system is at work all the
time, even when we sleep. It sends messages to
the heart to keep it beating, to the muscles that
we use for breathing, and to the digestive
system to keep food moving along.
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

PARTS:
SOMATIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM
AUTONOMIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM
 SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible
carrying sensory and motor information to and from
the central nervous system. derives its name from the
Greek word soma, which means "body."
responsible for transmitting sensory information as
well as for voluntary movement.
 SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
contains two major types of neurons:
sensory neurons (or afferent neurons) - carry information
from the nerves to the central nervous system
motor neurons (or efferent neurons) - carry information
from the brain and spinal cord to muscle fibers
throughout the body.
 AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• is the part of the peripheral nervous
system responsible for regulating
involuntary body functions, such as blood
flow, heartbeat, digestion and breathing.
 AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
further divided into two branches:
sympathetic system regulates the flight-or-
fight responses
parasympathetic system responsible for the
body's "rest-and-digest" response
 COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that
slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and
eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest
tasks. In most people with Alzheimer's,
symptoms first appear later in life.
COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
 COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

- also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a
disease that breaks down motor
neurons, which results to the loss of the
ability to move any of the muscles in the
body.
COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE
- Inherited, progressive disease
causing uncontrollable physical
movements and mental
deterioration.
 COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

AMNESIA
This kind of damage affects the memory,
caused by damage in the frontal lobe.
Sufferers have memory blanks when
relating to past experiences in their life.
 COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
APHASIA
A type of brain damage affecting the
communication abilities of a person. This can
range from the inability to construct a sentence
either in voice or on paper, to the inability to
recognize speech itself. This happens when there
is a damage on the frontal part of the brain.
 COMMON DISEASES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
HYDROCEPHALUS
Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up within the
fluid-containing cavities or ventricles of the
brain. The term hydrocephalus is derived from
the Greek words “hydro” meaning water and
“cephalus” meaning the head.
THANK YOU!
QUIZ!