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Nervous System

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), with the CNS comprising the brain and spinal cord. It consists of three types of neurones: sensory, relay, and motor, which facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses between sensory organs, the CNS, and effectors. Reflex actions are automatic responses to stimuli that bypass the brain for quicker reactions, and the brain has various parts responsible for functions such as learning, movement, and homeostasis.

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Nervous System

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), with the CNS comprising the brain and spinal cord. It consists of three types of neurones: sensory, relay, and motor, which facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses between sensory organs, the CNS, and effectors. Reflex actions are automatic responses to stimuli that bypass the brain for quicker reactions, and the brain has various parts responsible for functions such as learning, movement, and homeostasis.

Uploaded by

tadichigiyegiye
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system transmits information in the form of electrical impulses also known as
nerve impulses.

The nervous system is divided into two: central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral
nervous system (PNS)

The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.

The PNS consists of all the other nerves which connect the CNS to all parts of the body.

The nervous system has 3 types of cells (known as neurones):

Sensory neurone: it carries nerve impulses from receptors in sensory organs to the CNS.
Relay / Multipolar neurone: it connects sensory neurones to motor neurones. They are only
found in the CNS.

Motor neurone: it carries nerve impulses from the CNS to effectors.

Sensory organs are body organs with structures which detect stimuli from the environment
eg eyes, ears, skin, tongue.

Receptors are structures which detect stimuli from the environment.

Effectors are structures which bring about the response to stimuli eg muscles and glands.
(muscles respond by contracting to cause movement, glands respond by producing
hormones)

A sensory impulse is a nerve impulse which travels from sense organs to the CNS.

A motor impulse is a nerve impulse which travels from the CNS to effectors.
Reflex action

It is an automatic response to stimuli. Its purpose is to protect the body from harm

Examples: blinking to protect the eye, coughing to stop choking, knee jerk to protect the
foot.

In a reflex action a nerve impulse from a sense organ does not reach the brain. Instead it
reaches the spinal cord and returns to the effector.

Pathway taken by nerve impulse in a reflex action:

Since the nerve impulse does not go to the brain it travels a shorter pathway and therefore
produces a quicker response.

The spinal cord


The spinal cord has two regions: white matter and grey matter.

All the cell bodies (whose nuclei appear grey in colour) are concentrated in the central
region called the grey matter.

The white matter consists of nerve fibres of sensory and motor neurones surrounded by
myelin (fat) sheath (which appears whitish in colour).

The brain

Brain parts and functions

Cerebrum / cerebral hemisphere: learning, memory, reasoning, emotion

Cerebellum: movement, balance

Medulla: controls breathing rate, heart rate, muscular actions of the digestive system,
swallowing, vasoconstriction of arterioles

Hypothalamus: controls homeostasis and metabolic functions

Pituitary gland: controls all endocrine glands

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