II. The Nervous System
The nervous system is a complex, highly coordinated network of tissues that communicate via electro chemical signals. It is responsible for receiving and processing information in the body and is divided into two main branches: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The Central Nervous System
The central nervous system receives and processes information from the senses. The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system. Both organs lie in a fluid called the cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions and nourishes the brain. The blood-brain barrier protects the cerebrospinal fluid by blocking many drugs and toxins. This barrier is a membrane that lets some substances from the blood into the brain but keeps out others. The spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body. It runs from the brain down to the small of the back and is responsible for spinal reflexes, which are automatic behaviors that require no input from the brain. The spinal cord also sends messages from the brain to the other parts of the body and from those parts back to the brain. The brain is the main organ in the nervous system. It integrates information from the senses and coordinates the body’s activities. It allows people to remember their childhoods, plan the future, create term papers and works of art, talk to friends, and have bizarre dreams. Different parts of the brain do different things. Damage to the Spinal Cord The spinal cord is what connects the brain and body, and it is protected by the bones in the spinal column. Injuries to the spinal cord can cause serious problems, such as paralysis. Even relatively minor damage to the spinal cord can cause loss of feeling in parts of the body, impaired organ function, and loss of muscular control. Though spinal cord injuries are usually permanent, current research into regenerated axons and stem cells offers hope that one day these injuries may be treated successfully. The Peripheral Nervous System All the parts of the nervous system except the brain and the spinal cord belong to the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system has two parts: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The Somatic Nervous System The somatic nervous system consists of nerves that connect the central nervous system to voluntary skeletal muscles and sense organs. Voluntary skeletal muscles are muscles that help us to move around. There are two types of nerves in the somatic nervous system:
The Autonomic Nervous System The autonomic nervous system consists of nerves that connect the central nervous system to the heart, blood vessels, glands, and smooth muscles. Smooth muscles are involuntary muscles that help organs such as the stomach and bladder carry out their functions. The autonomic nervous system controls all the automatic functions in the body, including breathing, digestion, sweating, and heartbeat. The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic nervous system’s activation may manifest as a rapidly thumping heart, sweaty palms, pale skin, or panting breath—the kinds of things we experience during a crisis. We may experience these kinds of symptoms during a panic attack, for example. |
Vocabulary to Learn Today
Nervous System Central Nervous System Cerebrospinal fluid Blood-brain barrier Spinal cord Spinal reflexes Brain Peripheral Nervous System Somatic Nervous System Afferent Nerve Efferent Nerves Autonomic Nervous System Smooth Muscles Sympathetic Nervous System Parasympathetic Nervous System |
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