Lesson 7.

7 The Nervous System: The Control System

of the Body

Animal Survival

Jayson C. Porras
Teacher
Objective

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to

• identify the parts and functions of the nervous system.

What makes up the nervous system? How does it
work?
• The nervous system is composed of the brain, the spinal
cord, and the neurons. It is considered as the body’s
storage center and control system. It is mainly
responsible for controlling and coordinating all the organ
systems by sending messages from the brain through
nerve signals. It makes sure that all the parts of the body
are working together efficiently.
• The nervous system is divided into two major parts: the
Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous
System.
• Central Nervous System
• The Central Nervous System (CNS) is composed of the
brain and the spinal cord.
• The brain lies within the skull and shaped like a
mushroom. It is subdivided into four parts: brain stem,
cerebrum, cerebellum, and diencephalon.
• The brain stem consist of the medulla oblongata, pons,
and the mesencephalon continuing down to the spinal
cord. It coordinates motor signals from the brain to the
body and controls life supporting autonomic functions of
the peripheral system. This is also where the facial
nerves, which controls your facial expressions, is located.
• The cerebrum is the bulk of the brain responsible for
administering intelligence, emotion learning, and critical
judgement. It is divided into two cerebral hemispheres.
Each hemisphere controls the body’s activities opposite
that hemisphere.
• The cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain
responsible for fine-tuning the body and limb movements.
• The diencephalon is also known as the forebrain. It
includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.
• Thalamus is responsible for receiving information from the
sensory organs and deliver them to cerebrum for other
processes.
• Hypothalamus is the site of hunger, thirst, anger, and
internal body temperature.
• The spinal cord is a long, thin mass of bundled neurons. It
serves as a bridge between the central nervous system
and the peripheral nervous system. It is responsible for
delivering messages from the CNS to PNS and vice-
versa.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is mainly
composed of neurons.
• Neurons, also known as nerve cells, are the basic units of
the nervous system that communicate within the body by
sending electrochemical signals. Their tree-like structures
called dendrites extend from the cell body to pick up
stimuli from the environment, and the long transmitting
processes called axons extend from the body cell to send
signals to other neurons.
• Nerves are bundles of axons that act as information
highways that carry signals between the brain and the
spinal cord and the rest of the body.
• PNS can be classified into two groups: the Somatic
Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous system.
• Somatic Nervous System (SNS) is responsible for the
voluntary movement of the muscles and organs and the
reflex movement.
• On the other hand, Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is
responsible for controlling the involuntary movement of
the visceral muscle tissue, cardiac muscle tissue, and
glandular tissue. It makes your heartbeat and breathing
constantly working. The neurons of the ANS is classified
into sympathetic neurons and parasympathetic neurons.
• Sympathetic neurons initiate the “fight or flight” response
of the body to stress, danger, excitement, and other
emotions. It increases respiration and heart rate, releases
adrenaline and other stress hormones, and decreases
digestion.
• Parasympathetic neurons initiate the “rest and digest”
response to rest, relaxation, and feeding. It decreases
respiration, increase digestion, and allows elimination of
wastes.
Explore!

• The nervous system is known as the control center

because it has the ability to control every single cell found
in your body. Any damage to your nervous system would
affect the proper functioning of the brain. What are some
examples of diseases that are related to the nervous
system?
What do you think?

• Is the nervous system capable of healing itself?

Key Points

• The nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal

cord, and neurons.
• Neurons, also known as nerve cells, are the basic and
functional units of the nervous system that communicate
within the body by sending electrochemical signals.
• The brain lies within the skull and shaped like a
mushroom.
• The spinal cord serves as a bridge between the central
nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
• The nervous system is divided into two major parts: the
Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System.
• The Central Nervous System (CNS) is composed of the
brain and spinal cord while Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS) is composed of nerves cells outside the CNS.
• PNS can be classified into two groups: the Somatic
Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous system.
• Somatic Nervous System (SNS) is responsible for the
voluntary movement of the muscles and organs and the
reflex movement.
• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is responsible for
controlling the involuntary movement of the visceral
muscle tissue, cardiac muscle tissue, and glandular
tissue.
• ANS is sub-classified into sympathetic neurons and
parasympathetic neurons.
• Sympathetic neurons initiate the “fight or flight” response
of the body to stress, danger, excitement, and other
emotions.
• Parasympathetic neurons initiate the “rest and digest”
response to rest, relaxation, and feeding.
Test Questions

1. It is a part of the brain that coordinates with motor signals

from the brain to the rest of the body.

A. brain stem
B. forebrain
C. cerebrum
D. cerebellum
2. What subdivision of the autonomic nervous system
encourages rest and digestion?

A. sympathetic neurons
B. parasympathetic neurons
C. peripheral nervous system
D. somatic nervous system
3. Voluntary responses are controlled by which group of the
Peripheral Nervous System?

A. Autonomic Nervous System

B. Sympathetic neurons
C. Parasympathetic neurons
D. Somatic Nervous System
4. Which of the following is true about the Central Nervous
System?

A. CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord.

B. CNS is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
C. CNS can be classified into Somatic NS and Autonomic
NS.
D. CNS is mainly composed of nerve cells outside the PNS.
5. Which of the following statements are true?
I. Autonomic Nervous System is responsible in controlling
the visceral and cardiac muscles.
II. Sympathetic neurons initiate the "rest and digest"
response of the body to rest and feeding.
III. Somatic Nervous System initiates voluntary movement
of the body.
IV. Peripheral Nervous System is classified into Somatic
and Automatic NS.

A. I and III B. II and IV C. I and II D. I and IV

6. Which of the following statements are true about the
brain?
I. The brain is subdivided into four major parts: brain stem,
cerebrum, cerebellum, and diencephalon.
II. The brain is housed within the skull and has a complex
structure.
III. The brain stem includes the medulla oblongata.
IV. The brain is a central processing organ composed of
neurons.

A. I and II B. I, III, and IV C. II and III D. I, II, and IV

7. Which of the following are true about the parts of the
Central Nervous System?
I. The thalamus is responsible for receiving information from
the sensory organs to the cerebellum.
II. The cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain
responsible for fine-tuning the body and limb movements.
III. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain responsible
for critical judgement and emotion learning.
IV. The hypothalamus is the site of hunger, thirst, and body
temperature.

A. I and II B. I, II and III C. II, III and IV D. II and IV

Bell's palsy is the paralysis on one side of the face. It is
characterized by a droopy appearance around the eye and
mouth of the affected area, pain around the ear, and
alteration in the sense of taste. In this disorder, the facial
nerves swell resulting in an inflammation disrupting the
nerve's proper functioning.
8. Which major part of the nervous system is mainly
affected?
A. peripheral nervous system
B. central nervous system
C. somatic nervous system
D. autonomic nervous system
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which causes seizures
or the disruption in the electrical communication between
neurons. Seizures can also be termed as convulsions
where a person's body shakes rapidly and uncontrollably.
During this state, palpitations, and irregular heartbeat, as
well as apnea or cessation in breathing, are experienced.
9. Which of the following statements are true?
I. Epilepsy is a disorder in the Central Nervous System.
II. Epilepsy only affects the Peripheral Nervous System.
III. Epilepsy affects the nerve cell activity in the brain.
IV. Epilepsy affects the Autonomic Nervous System.
A. I and II B. I, II and III C. I, III and IV D. II and IV
Mr. Grey is diagnosed with schizophrenia, a serious mental disorder
characterized by symptoms such as visual and auditory
hallucinations.
10. Which of the following statements are true?
I. The Central Nervous System of Mr. Grey is mainly affected by
schizophrenia.
II. The Peripheral Nervous System of Mr. Grey is mainly affected by
schizophrenia.
III. The brain is mainly affected, and Mr. Grey's senses are altered
due to schizophrenia.
IV. Both Central and Peripheral Nervous System are mainly affected
by schizophrenia.
A. I and II B. I and III C. II, III and IV D. II and IV