3rd QTR NOTES – BIOLOGY

FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Functions of the Nervous System o Parasympathetic division – “housekeeping”
 Sensory input – gathering information Nervous System Histology
o To monitor changes occurring inside and  Neurons = nerve cells
outside the body o Cells specialized to transmit electrochemical
 Integration - To process and interpret sensory input messages
and decide if action is needed o Major regions of neurons
 Motor output  Cell body – nucleus and metabolic
o A response to stimuli center of the cell
o Activates muscles or glands  Processes – fibers that extend from
Classification of the Nervous System the cell body
 Central nervous system (CNS): Neuron Anatomy
o Brain  Dendrites – conduct impulses toward the cell body
o Spinal cord  Cell body (soma): contains organelles & Nissl
 Peripheral nervous system (PNS): substance (specialized rough ER)
o Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord  Axons – conduct impulses away from the cell body
 Schwann cells – produce myelin sheaths in jelly-roll
like fashion
 Nodes of Ranvier – gaps in myelin sheath along the
axon

The Peripheral Nervous System

 Sensory (afferent) division - Nerve fibers that carry
information to the central nervous system
 Motor (efferent) division - Nerve fibers that carry
impulses away from the central nervous system.
o Somatic system: voluntary
o Autonomic system: involuntary

Classification of Neurons
 Sensory (afferent) neurons
o Carry impulses from the sensory receptors
Autonomic Nervous System
 Cutaneous sense organs

 The involuntary branch of the nervous system  Receptors – detect stretch or
 Consists of only motor nerves tension
 Divided into two divisions  Interneurons (association): “connector”
o Sympathetic division – “fight or flight”  Motor (efferent) neurons
response
(=w=) (TT^TT) Notes Edited by Isabella Crystal (0v0)
 3rd QTR NOTES – BIOLOGY
o Carry impulses from the central nervous oThe dendrite of the next neuron has
system receptors that are stimulated by the
Neuron Classification neurotransmitter
o An action potential is started in the
dendrite
How Neurons Communicate at Synapses

Electrochemical Nerve Impulses

 Dendrite depolarization – a stimulus depolarizes
the dendrite’s membrane
 Sodium (Na+) flows inside the membrane with the
help of Na+ pumps
 This exchange of ions initiates an (+) action
potential in the neuron
The Reflex Arc
 Reflex – rapid, predictable, and involuntary
responses to stimuli
 Reflex arc – direct route from a sensory neuron, to
an interneuron, to an effector

Regions of the Brain

 Cerebral hemispheres
 Diencephalon
 Brain stem
 Cerebellum

o The Action Potential

 If the action potential (nerve
impulse) starts, it is propagated to
the end of the axon
 Potassium (K+) ions rush out of the
neuron after sodium ions rush in,
which repolarizes the membrane
 The sodium-potassium pump
Cerebral Hemispheres (Cerebrum)
restores the original configuration -
 Paired (left and right) superior parts of the brain
which is resting potential (-)
 Include more than half of the brain mass
 *** This action requires ATP ***
 The surface is made of ridges (gyri) and grooves
 Impulses are able to cross the synapse to another
(sulci)
neuron
o Neurotransmitter is released from a
neuron’s axon terminal

(=w=) (TT^TT) Notes Edited by Isabella Crystal (0v0)

 3rd QTR NOTES – BIOLOGY

Specialized Area of the Cerebrum

Cerebellum
 Two hemispheres with convoluted surfaces
 Provides involuntary coordination of body
movements
 “Arbor vitae” design of white & grey matter

Spinal Cord Anatomy

 Extends from the medulla oblongata to the region of
T12
 Below T12 is the cauda equina (a collection of spinal
Diencephalon nerves)
 Sits on top of the brain stem  Carries sensory and motor information
 Enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres
 Three parts:
o Thalamus
o Hypothalamus
o Epithalamus

Brain Stem
 Attaches to the spinal cord
 Parts of the brain stem: Cranial Nerves
o Midbrain
 12 pairs of nerves that mostly serve the head and
o Pons
neck
o Medulla oblongata
 Numbered in order, front to back
 Most are mixed nerves, but three are sensory only

(=w=) (TT^TT) Notes Edited by Isabella Crystal (0v0)

 3rd QTR NOTES – BIOLOGY

The Lumbrosacral Plexus (Leg)

 Spinal Nerves:
o Sciatic – M,S

Cranial Nerves
o Femoral – M,S
1. Olfactory nerve – sensory for smell
o Obturator – M,S

2. Optic nerve – sensory for vision
3. Oculomotor nerve – motor fibers to eye muscles o Tibial – M,S

4. Trochlear – motor fiber to eye muscles o Common Fibular – M,S

5. Trigeminal nerve – sensory for the face; motor fibers
to chewing muscles
6. Abducens nerve – motor fibers to eye muscles
7. Facial nerve – sensory for taste; motor fibers to the
face
8. Vestibulocochlear nerve –
sensory for balance and
hearing
9. Glossopharyngeal nerve – sensory for taste; motor
fibers to the pharynx
10. Vagus nerves – sensory and motor fibers for
pharynx, larynx, and viscera
11. Accessory nerve – motor fibers to neck and upper
back
12. Hypoglossal nerve – motor fibers to tongue
Use a Mnemonic Device!
“On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Fierce Viking Grew Vines 
and Hops”
“Some say money matters but my brother says big brains
matter more.”

The Brachial Plexus (Arm)

 Spinal Nerves to know:
o Ulnar Nerve – Motor & Sensory, “the funny
bone”
o Radial Nerve – Motor & Sensory
o Median Nerve – Motor & Sensory

(=w=) (TT^TT) Notes Edited by Isabella Crystal (0v0)