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    Nervous System

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    samuelabdullah36

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    Nervous System

    Uploaded by

    samuelabdullah36
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    6 views3 pages

    Nervous System

    Uploaded by

    samuelabdullah36

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Nervous system

    The nervous system is made up of;

    a)Central nervous system ( the brain and spinal cord)


    b)Peripheral nervous system (cranial and spinal verves)
     The cranial nerves emerge from the brain; end in the skin and other organs within the head.
     Spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord; end in the sensory organs in the rest of the body.
     Where nerves end, they may be scattered as those which detect heat, pressure, touch, pain
    and cold in the skin.
     Or they are grouped together and other structures added to the nerve endings or receptors
    to increase their efficiency such as those in the eyes, tongue, nose and the ears.
     Structures in which nerves end and therefore have sensory receptors are called sensory
    organs.

    Common terminology

     Stimulus; this refers to a change within the environment of an organism which provokes a
    response (it makes an organism to react, e.g. change in temperature, light intensity etc.)
     Response; an action carried out by an effector organ upon receiving motor impulses.
     Effector; a muscle or gland which carries out an action upon receiving a motor impulse.
     Receptor (sensory cells); these are cells or tissues which detect a stimulus (normally found
    in sensory organs) and convert it to electrical impulses for this reason receptors are called
    transducers.
    Examples of receptors;
     Thermo receptor; detects changes in temperature in the skin.
     Photoreceptor; detects changes in light in the eyes.
     Mechanoreceptor; respond to mechanical stimuli such as touch, pressure, vibration (mainly
    found in the skin and ear.)

    1
     The stimulus in our example is the hot flame.
     The receptor is the heat sensor in the skin.
     The impulse travels to the spinal cord along the sensory neuron.
     In the spinal cord the impulse is passed on to the relay neuron.
     The motor neuron carries the impulse to a muscle in the arm. The muscle is the effector.
     The muscle contracts to remove the hand from the hot object. This action is the response.

    Comparison between the sensory neuron and the motor neuron

    Comparison factor Sensory neuron Motor Neuron


    function Impulses transported from the Impulses conducted from the
    receptor organs to the central central nervous system to the
    nervous system. effectors.
    Cell body -Has no dendrites - Has dendrites
    -Situated outside the central - Within the central nervous
    nervous system and form a system
    ganglion - At the beginning of the
    -Situated along the neuron neuron.
    Nerve fibre In the form of both the In the form of a Dendron.
    Dendron and the axon.
    End plate In the central nervous system Synapses with the effector.

    REFLEX ACTIONS

    Reflex action refers to rapid and automatic response to a stimulus. Reflex actions are under the
    control of the spinal cord.

    Examples of reflex actions;

    Knee jerk reflex, swallowing

    Coughing and sneezing.

    2
    The pathway followed by the impulses in a reflex arc.

    Voluntary actions

    This action is under the conscious control of the brain.

    The brain has to make a decision before sending motor impulses towards the appropriate effector.

    Comparison between the nervous and endocrine systems.

    Comparison factor Nervous system Endocrine system


    Nature of message Electrical impulses Chemicals called hormones
    Mode of transmission Through a nerve cell Through blood
    Rate of transmission rapid slow
    Target organ One target eg. Muscle or gland May target several organs at
    once.
    Route of transmission Impulses sent directly to target Hormones dispersed
    gland or muscle. throughout the body.
    Type of effect Brings about short lived effects Bring about both short lived
    or responses. and long term effects.

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