Fifth grade

Human biology
The Nervous
System
What is the nervous system
The nervous system or the neural system
is a complex network of neurons
specialized to carry messages. The
complexity of the nervous system
increases as we move towards higher
animals.

For instance, cnidarians such as jellyfish

have relatively simple nerve nets spread
throughout their body. Crabs have a
more complicated nervous system in
the form of 2 nerve centers called
dorsal ganglion and ventral ganglion.

vertebrates

As we move further up the ladder, higher Mollusks

organisms such as vertebrates have a Arthropods
developed brain. Moreover, it is one of the
most complicated structures in the Annelids
Round worms
animal kingdom, containing billions of
neurons, all intricately connected. Flat worms
Cnidarians

sponges

Complexity of Nervous Systems

In the human body, the neural system integrates the activities of organs
based on the stimuli, which the neurons detect and transmit. They transmit
messages in the form of electrical impulses and convey messages to and
from the sense organs. Thus, the nervous coordination involves the
participation of the sense organs, nerves, spinal cord, and brain.
General Characteristics

One of the most complex organ system to ........................................

ever evolve, the human nervous system

consists of two parts, namely:
Central Nervous System (consists of the
brain and spinal cord)

........................................

........................................

Peripheral Nervous System (includes all

the nerves of the body)

........................................

........................................
The Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System (CNS) is often called the central processing
unit of the body. It consists of the brain and the spinal cord.

The Brain
The brain is one of the important, largest and central organ of the
human nervous system. It is the control unit of the nervous system,
which helps us in discovering new things, remembering and
understanding, making decisions, and a lot more. It is enclosed
within the skull, which provides frontal, lateral and dorsal protection.
Forebrain:
The anterior part of the brain,
consists of Cerebrum,
Hypothalamus and Thalamus.

Hindbrain:
The central region of the
brain, composed of
Cerebellum, Medulla and
Midbrain: Pons.
The smaller and central part of
the brainstem, consists of
Tectum and Tegmentum.

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a cylindrical bundle of
nerve fibers and associated tissues
enclosed within the spine and connect all
parts of the body to the brain. It begins in
continuation with the medulla (the
bottom-most part of your brain) and
extends downwards. It is enclosed in a
bony cage called vertebral column and
surrounded by membranes called
meninges (The three thin layers of tissue
that cover and protect the brain and
spinal cord). The spinal cord is concerned
with spinal reflex actions and the
conduction of nerve impulses to and from
the brain.
The Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is the lateral part of the nervous system that
develops from the central nervous system which connects different parts of
the body with the CNS. We carry out both voluntary and involuntary actions
with the help of peripheral nerves.

PNS has two subdivisions:

Somatic Neural Autonomic Neural

System System

Somatic neural system (SNS): It is the Autonomic neural system (ANS): The
neural system that controls the autonomic neural system is involved
voluntary actions in the body by in involuntary actions like regulation
transmitting impulses from CNS to of physiological functions (digestion,
skeletal muscle cells. It consists of the respiration, salivation, etc.). It is a self-
somatic nerves. regulating system which conveys the
impulses from the CNS to the smooth
muscles and involuntary organs
(heart, bladder and pupil).
PNS includes two types of nerve
fibers:
In order to carry out the process of transmitting information back and forth from
the central nervous system to the whole body, messenger neurons are required.
So, there are two sets of messenger neurons:

Efferent nerve fibers:

Afferent nerve fibers:
These are responsible for
These are responsible for
conveying messages from
transmitting messages from
CNS to the corresponding
tissues and organs to the CNS.
peripheral organ.
What is a neuron?
A Neuron is a structured and functional unit of the nervous system and unlike other cells,
neurons are irregular in shape and able to conduct electrochemical signals. The different
parts of a neuron are discussed below.

Dendrite stretches out from the cell body of a neuron, and it is the shortest fiber in
the cell body.
Axon is the longest thread on the cell body of a neuron and has an insulating and
protective sheath of myelin around it.
Cell body consists of cytoplasm and nucleus.
Synapse is the microscopic gap between a pair of adjacent neurons over which nerve
impulses pass, when moving from one neuron to the other.
Axon terminals are that part of a nerve cell that make synaptic connections with
another nerve cell
........................................ ........................................

........................................

........................................

........................................
........................................

What is a nerve?
Nerves are thread-like structures that emerge
from the brain and spinal cord. It is responsible
for carrying messages to all the parts of the body.
There are three types of nerves. Some of these
neurons can fire signals at speeds of over 119 m/s:
1. Sensory nerves send messages from all the
senses to the brain.
2. Motor nerves carry messages from the brain
to all the muscles.
3. Mixed nerves carry both sensory and motor
nerves.
 Practice:

In the space below,

give an example of
In the page titled
two other situations
‘mind map’ (page 8),
Answer the questions where efferent and
please make a mind
below afferent nerves are
map explaining the
used just like in the
human nervous
diagram in page 5
system

Fill the blanks in page

Fill the blanks in page
2 with the names of
6 with the
as many organs as
highlighted words,
you can recall from
and make sure to
the lesson, and make
connect each text
sure to connect each
space with the right
text space with the
cell part
right part

1. what is the meaning of the following words:

medulla: .........................................................................................................
meninges: ......................................................................................................
2. In your own words, what do you think is the role of the nervous
system in our
bodies?...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
............................

......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
Nervous system mind
map