A system that controls all of the

activities of the body.

The nervous system is made of:
The brain The spinal cord

The nerves
 Consists of two divisions
1. The Central Nervous system-
comprises of brain and spinal cord
2. The Peripheral Nervous system- divided
into :
A. Somatic or voluntary nervous system
B. Autonomic-Involuntary nervous
system.
 The nervous system also allows you to
react to a stimulus.

A stimulus is a change in the environment.

Example: A hot stove

Or… tripping over a rock
1. Control all motor,
sensory, autonomic,
cognitive and behavioral
activities..
 It has approximately 10 million
sensory neurons that sends
information about the internal and
external environment to the brain.
There are 500, 000 motor neurons
that controls muscles and glands.
 Your reactions are automatic.

Automatic means that you do not

have to think about your reactions.

Example: If a bug flies by your eye,

you will blink.
Variety of cells that react to stimuli
in the environment

Control of the body is achieved

through effectors which consist of
muscles and glands which the nervous
system is connected
 The basic functional unit of the
nervous system
A cell consisting of dendrites, a cell
body and an axon; the basic
structural unit of the nervous
system
 CYTOPLASM- the living material
forming the body of the cell.
Nucleus- the center of the cell
Ganglia or Nuclei- nerve bodies
occurring in clusters.
Center- a cluster of cell bodies
with the same function
Neuroglial cells- smaller type of
nerve cell, support, protect, and
nourish neurons.
Axons- long fibers, conducts
impulses away from the
cell body of neuron
Dendrites-Shorter fiber,
conducts impulses
towards the cell body
Cell Body or Soma - The control
center of the neuron.
Function: Directs impulses
from the dendrites to the
axon
Myelin Sheath - An insulating
layer around an axon. Made up of
Schwann cells.
Nodes of Ranvier - Gaps
between schwann cells.
Function: Saltatory
Conduction (Situation where
speed of an impulse is
greatly increased by the
message ‘jumping’ the gaps
in an axon).
the smallest are probably less than a
millimeter in size.
the largest may be more than a meter
in length.
They communicate messages from one
neuron to another or from a neuron
to specific target tissue. They are
manufactured and stored in synaptic
vesicles
The action of neurotransmitters is to
potentiate , terminate or modulate a
specific action, it can either excite
or inhibit the activity of the target
cells
Ex. Acetylcholine- found in autonomic
nervous system, excitatory , they
stimulate heart action
Serotonin- found in brain stem,
hypothalamus and dorsal horn of the
spinal cord, inhibitory, helps controls
mood and sleep.
Ex. Dopamine – found in basal ganglia
and substantia nigra, inhibitory,
affects behavior ( attention, emotion
and fine movements
Norepineprine- major
neurotransmitter of the sympathetic
nervous system; found in brain stem,
and hypothalamus; excitatory
affects mood and over all activity.
Ex. Enkephalin, Endorphin- nerve
terminals in the spine, brain stem,
thalamus , pituitary gland.;
Excitatory pleasurable sensation,
inhibits pain sensation.
1.Irritability- ability of the neuron
to respond to stimulation.
Firing- process wherein the
chemicals normally kept out of the
neuron are allowed inside the cell
boundaries, while chemicals kept
within are allowed to escape.
2.Conductivity- ability of nerve to
relay impulses or stimulation from
one point in the body to another.
Absolute Refractory Period-. The
period during which the cell cannot
fire again regardless of how
strongly it is stimulated. It similar
to “ exhaustion” period
Relative Refractory Period- the cell
will fire again if stimulated, although
it will take more than the usual level
of stimulation to fire it.
All or none Principle- the neuron when
stimulated may either fire or not
all.
1. Afferent/ Sensory Neuron-
 Neurons located near receptor
organs (skin, eyes, ears).
Function: receive incoming
stimuli from the
environment
Unipolar in nature
2. Internuncial /Associative Neuron/
Interneuron
responsible for what we commonly call
thought . These carry information within
the system.
Neurons that relay messages between
other neurons such as sensory and motor
neurons. (found most often in Brain and
Spinal cord).
3.Efferent/ Motor Neuron
conduct nerve impulses from the
decision point to the effectors
Neurons located near effectors
(muscles and glands)
Function: Carry impulses to
effectors to initiate a response
SYNAPSE-
the place which the dendrites of one
nerve fiber connects with the axon
of another
1

3 4
2
1.Electrical current travels down the axon
2.Vesicles with chemicals move toward the
membrane
3.Chemicals are released and diffuse toward the
next cell’s plasma membrane
4.The chemicals open up the transport proteins
and allow the signal to pass to the next cell
Brain vs spinal cord vs peripheral nerves
About how many neurons are in
the human brain?=15 billion
About how many neurons are in
the spinal cord?=1 billion
1,000 to 10,000!!
Sometimes a stimulus requires an
immediate response. This is called a
reflex action. It is an involuntary
response and we do it without thinking.
These automatic responses do not have
to be learned. They can be very
important in preventing injury to
ourselves.
The nerve pathway taken in a
reflex action is called a reflex
arc. The nervous message goes
to the spinal cord, then a
message passes from the spinal
cord directly to an effector to
give an immediate response.
Sometimes
called a
relay or
Connector
neuron
Our sense organs contain special receptor cells which
will detect a change in our surroundings (a stimulus)

The receptor cells will change the stimulus into an

electrical impulse which is passed along nerve cells
The message will usually go to the brain which will then
process it
The brain then sends a message along nerves to an
effector organ (usually a muscle or a gland)

The effector organ will then give a response (e.g. a

muscle will move, or a gland will produce a hormone)
The Central Nervous System is made
of the brain and the spinal cord.

The Central Nervous System controls

everything in the body.
The Peripheral Nervous System is made
of the nerves

Nerves
Messages carried throughout the body
by nerves.
You have a nerve along your whole arm.

The “funny bone” is the only place on

the arm where the nerve is not
protected.
The “funny bone” is on the elbow.
* The Central Nervous System controls
all of the body’s activities.

* The Central Nervous System is

made of two main organs.
1. The brain

2. The spinal cord

 •It is the decision maker
•Myelin Sheat- white protective substance
that covers the nerve cells
* White Matter- refer to the parts of
the nervous system where
fibers dominate
. Gray Matter- parts of the nervous
system where cell bodies
dominates
* The spinal cord sends messages to the
brain.
* The spinal cord is the part of the
nervous system that connects the brain
to the rest of the nervous system.
* An organ that controls your
emotions, your thoughts, and
every movement you make.
* The human brain accounts for
approximately 2% of the total body
weight
•Young adults – brain weighs
approximately 1,400 grams
*
• Elderly person- brain weighs
approximately 1,200 grams
* The brain is made of more than 15
billion nerves!

* The brain is composed three

principal sections.
*HINDBRAIN- is closest to the spinal
cord
*Brain stem- can be found at the
lower part of the hindbrain, at
the top of spinal cord.- It
. relays afferent messages from
many of the sensory organs to
the higher levels in the brain.
*HINDBRAIN- perform number of
reflex actions like blinking of the
eyes
*Brain stem- controlled most
basic processes of the body like
. breathing, heart rate and blood
pressure
*MIDBRAIN- Located above the
hindbrain, forming the upper part of
the brain stem.
•It serves as relay afferent and
efferent messages.
. • Perform some reflex responses that
are controlled by the hindbrain.
• It also controls more complex
responses such as walking
*FOREBRAIN- the more complex and
the biggest part of the brain
•It is composed of three parts the
thalamus, the limbic system and the
cortex
.
* THALAMUS- relay station where
afferent messages pass.
•It serves as the major :switching
point”. Messages from all the senses
except smell are relayed directly from
here to the cortex the highest part of
the brain
* THALAMUS
* LIMBIC SYSTEM- its most
important portion is the hypothalamus
which is involved in variety of complex
human processes
Hypothalamus- controls eating,
. drinking and certain sexual activities ,
as well as the more fully automatic
adjustments such as temperature.
It controls operations of the body ‘s organs
* LIMBIC SYSTEM-
* THE CORTEX- most complex part of
the forebrain.
It is made of four lobes which are separated
by deep valleys or fissures.

.
•FRONTAL LOBE
• The largest lobe, located in front of
the skull.
• Major functions are concentration,
abstract
. thought, information storage
or memory and motor function.
•FRONTAL LOBE
•FRONTAL LOBE
• It also contains the Broca’s area –
critical for motor control of speech.
• Responsible in a large part for a
person’s
. affect, judgment , personality
and inhibitions
•BROCA’S AREA
* PARIETAL LOBE- Predominantly
sensory lobe; located near the crown of
the head.
Analyzes sensory information and relays the
interpretation of this information to the thalamus
and other cortical areas.
.Essential to a person’s awareness of the body
space as well as orientation in space and spatial
relations.
* PARIETAL LOBE-
* OCCIPITAL LOBE- contains primary
visual center and an association
area for visual recognition.
It is the area that receives the impulses
bringing information of sensory stimulation
throughout the body, including pain receptors
. in the skin and other part of the body and
kinesthetic or “ movement” sense in the
muscles or joints. Adjacent to this area is
the visual reading association which
coordinates reading activities
* OCCIPITAL LOBE-
* TEMPORAL LOBE- contains the
auditory receptive areas located around
the temples.
. Contains a vital area called the interpretative
area that provides integration of somatization,
visual and auditory areas and plays the most
dominant role of any area of the cortex in
thinking.
* TEMPORAL LOBE-
* The Brain has three major areas…
1. The Cerebrum

2. The Cerebellum

3. The Brain Stem

•The Cerebrum is the largest part of the
brain, and composed of two hemispheres
• 1.The thalamus ; hypothalamus
.•2. The Basal ganglia
Connections for the Olfactory ( Cranial Nerve I) and Optic
Nerve ( Cranial Nerve III) are found in cerebrum
1. The cerebrum controls your thinking.

2. The cerebrum controls your memory.

3. The cerebrum controls your speaking.

4. The cerebrum controls your movement and identifies

the information gathered by your sense organs.
* The cerebellum is located under the
cerebrum and behind the brain stem.
1. The cerebellum controls you balance.

2. The cerebellum controls your posture.

* It includes the midbrain, pons, medulla
and connections for Cranial Nerve II,
and IV and through XII.
* The Brain Stem connects the brain to
the spinal cord.
* The nerves in the brain stem control
your heartbeat, breathing, and blood
pressure.
* is a thick collection of nerve fibers that
connects the two hemispheres of the brain
and responsible for transmission of
information from one side of the brain to
another.
* Information transferred includes
sensation, memory and learned
discrimination.
 Right – handed people and some left- handed
people have cerebral-dominance on the left
side of the brain for verbal, linguistics,
arithmetical, calculating, and analytic
functions.
* The non- dominant hemispheres is
responsible for geometric, spatial, visual
pattern and musical functions.
 They are masses of nuclei located deep in
the cerebral hemispheres that are
responsible for control of fine motor
movements, including those of the hands and
lower extremities.
 Lies on either side of the third ventricles
and acts primarily as relay station for all
sensation except smell
All memory sensation and pain sensation
impulses pass through this section of the
brain
 Located anterior and inferior to the
thalamus
It maintains fluid balance and temperature
regulation by promoting vasoconsriction and
vasodilation
Site of hunger center and is involved in
appetite control
Controls respiration, digestion and
circulation
Skull - protects the brain from injury
Meninges- fibrous connective tissue that
cover the brain and spinal cord, provides
protection, support and nourishment to the
brain and spinal cord the layers of the
meninges are the dura, arachnoid, and pia
matter
 Dura matter- the outermost layer, covers
the brain and spinal cord. This is rough, tough
and in elastic fibrous and gray.
Arachnoid- the middle membrane; an
extremely thin delicate membrane that
closely resembles a spinal web. It appears
white because it has no blood’s supply
 Pia matter- The innermost membrane; thin
transparent layer that hugs the brain closely
and extends into every fold of the brain’s
surface.
Cerobrospinal Fluid ( CSF) - a clear,
colorless fluid with specific gravity of 1.007,
is produced in the ventricles and circulated
around the brain and spinal cord through the
ventricular system.
*Approximately 45 cm (18 in) long
and about the thickness of a
finger
Cauda equina- “ horse tail”
•FUNCTIONS:
• Serves as pathways through which nerve impulses
from sensory organs (affectors) pass to the brain
and impulses to the brain ( effectors) return to the
muscles and glands
• It governs certain types of reflex movements. It
processes sensory impulses and send impulses to
the effectors without the assistance from the
brain.
 *Produce automatically by the body and
they serve to protect the organisms and
preserve its life.
Ex. Knee jerk , pupil constriction,
Withdrawal of the body or any parts
from a very hot or cold objects.
Scratching, breathing and stretching
•Surrounds and protects the spinal
cord and normally consists of:
• 8 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 Lumbar
•5 sacral
•1 coccygeal/ coccyx
* It includes the cranial nerves,
spinal nerves and autonomic and
somatic nervous system.
* The 31 pairs of spinal nerves each of
them has a ventral and dorsal root.
The dorsal roots are sensory and
transmit sensory impulses from
specific areas of the body known
as dermatoses to the dorsal ganglia
*dermatomes
*
* The Sensory fiber - may be somatic,
carrying information about pain,
temperature, touch and position sense
(proprioception) from the tendons joints,
and body surfaces; or visceral, carrying
information from the internal organs.
•The Ventral roots - are motor and
transmit impulses from the spinal cord to
the body and these fibers are also somatic
or visceral.
• The visceral fibers- include autonomic
fibers that control the cardiac muscles and
glandular secretions.
12 pairs emerge from the lower surface of
the brain and pass through the foramina in
the skull. 3 are entirely sensory (I,II,
VIII) , Five are motor ( III, IV, VI, XI and
XII) and Four are mixed ( V, VII, IX and X)
because they have both motor and sensory
functions.
 CRANIAL NERVES TYPE FUNCTION
I ( OLFACTORY) Sensory Sense of smell
II.( OPTIC) Sensory Visual acuity and
visual fields
III.( OCULOMOTOR) Motor Muscle that move
the eye and lid,
pupillary
constriction, lens
accommodation
IV. (TROCHLEAR) Motor Muscles that move
the eye

V. (TRIGEMINAL) Mixed Facial sensation,

corneal reflex,
mastication
 CRANIAL NERVES TYPE FUNCTION
VI. (ABDUCENS) Motor Muscle that move
the eye
VII.( FACIAL) Mixed Facial expressions
and muscle
movements, salivation
and tearing, taste
and sensation in the
ear.
VIII. ( ACOUSTIC) Sensory Hearing and
equilibrium
IX. Mixed Taste sensation in
(GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL) pharynx and tongue,
pharyngeal muscle
swallowing
 CRANIAL NERVES TYPE FUNCTION
X. ( VAGUS) Mixed Muscle of larynx,
pharynx and soft
palate, sensation in
external ear,
pharynx, larynx,
thoracic and
abdominal viscera,
parasympathetic
innervations of
thoracic and
abdominal organs
XI. ( SPINAL Motor Sternocleidomastoid
ACCESSORY) and trapezius muscle
XII. ( HYPOGLOSSAL) Motor Movement of the
tongue
•2 Main Division
• Autonomic
• Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
• Somatic- involuntarily
 * Regulates the activities of the
internal organs such as the heart,
lungs, blood vessels, digestive
organs and glands.
*. Maintenance and restoration of internal
homeostasis is largely the responsibility
of the autonomic nervous system.

controls
 •Predominantly excitatory
responses , most notably the
“fight and flight response”
• The main neurotransmitter is
norepinephrine ( adrenalin)
* Effects :bronchioles dilate, increased heart
rate , dilates pupils, increased blood pressure,
thick viscous saliva.
 Functions as the most dominant
controller for most visceral effectors
During quiet, non stressful conditions,
impulses from parasympathetic fibers
( cholinergic) predominate
Effects: decreased heart rate, bp,
pulse rate, constrict pupils, thin watery
saliva.
 (Sensory- motor nerves) transmit
impulses from receptors to brain
and spinal cord, transmit impulses
. from brain and
to striated muscles
spinal cord.
.