Nervous System

LESSON 12.
Our Body Control and

Response
Receiving Information from

the environment.
Maintaining Internal
Balance.
Responding to the situation.
Nervous System
The body has the ability to control and coordinate the
activities of all its parts. This characteristics is due to
the presence o f two organ systems, the nervous and
endocrine systems. The Nervous System enables the
body to gather information from the outside environment
a n d r e s p o n d q u i c k l y. T h e E n d o c r i n e S y s t e m , o n t h e
other hand, although slow in terms of response,
p r o d u c e s l o n g e r- l a s t i n g e ff e c t s d u e t o t h e h o r m o n e s .
T h e n e r v o u s s y s t e m ke e p s t h e b o d y w o r k i n g p r o p e r l y
d e s p i t e t h e c o n s t a n t c h a n g e s t h a t t a ke s p l a c e a r o u n d i t .
These changes are called stimuli.
L E S S O N 1 2 .2
Neuron: The Message-Carrying

Unit of the Nervous System
The nervous system is constantly alive with

a c t i v i t y. I t b u z z e s w i t h m e s s a g e s t h a t r u n t o a n d
f r o m a l l p a r t s o f t h e b o d y. E v e r y s e c o n d ,
hundreds of these messages are carri ed by
strings of special cells called neurons or nerve
cells.
Neurons a re ba sic functio na l units of
stru cture and functio n o f the nervous system.
They carr y informatio n thro ugh the nervous
system in the form of nerve impulses.
T h e l a r g e s t p a r t o f n e u r o n i s t h e c e l l b o d y.
The cell body of the neuron has a
nucleus, a cytoplasm, and organelles.
The cell body contains the nucleus (a large
d a r k s t r u c t u re ) w h i c h c o n t r o l s a l l t h e
activities of the cell.
Dendrites- one or more tiny, branching,

t h re a d l i ke s t r u ct u re s .
A x o n - a l o n g , t a i l l i ke fi b e r t h a t e x t e n d s f r o m t h e
c e l l b o d y.
Myelin Sh eath - co vers the axon, w hich speeds up
the travel of the nerve impulses.
A x o n Te r m i n a l s - w h e r e a x o n s p l i t s i n t o m a n y
f e a t h e r l i k e fi b e r s .
Types of Neurons
Sensory Neurons
(also called afferent neurons) their function is to
receive initial stimuli from the sense organs, where
most receptors are located.
2. I n t e r n e u r o n s
(also called connector neurons or association
neurons) They do is read impulses received from
sensory neurons that is why interneurons are
found in the spinal cord and in brain.
3. M o t o r N e u r o n s
1. (also called efferent neurons) it transmit impulses
from the brain and spinal cord to effector cells,
which may be those of muscles, organs, or glands.
1.
LESSON 12.3
Responding to a Stimulus
Nerve Impulses
A nerve impulse is wave of
chemical and electrical change that is
conducted along the membrane of a
neuron. It travels from sensory neuron
to interneuron to motor neuron. The
nerve impulse enters the neuron
through the dendrites and travels
along the length of the axon. Neurons
do not touch each other, neither do
t h e y t o u c h e ff e c t o r o r g a n s . I n s t e a d ,
there is a tiny gap called a synapse
between two adjacent neurons, and
a l s o b e t w e e n n e u r o n s a n d e ff e c t o r s .
Neurotransmitter -when an impulse reaches the

e n d o f t h e a xo n , s e n d i n g
information across the
synapse in the
form of
chemical messengers.
R e fl e x
- one of the simplest responses
of the nervous system, it is an
automatic
response to a
change in the envi ro nment.
LESSON 12.4
Divisions of the Nervous

System
The nervous system is divided into two main

parts:
The Central Nervous System
The central nervous system is the command center for
the entire body; ot processes information and sends
i n s t r u c t i o n s t o o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e b o d y. A l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
gathered by sensory receptors is delivered to the central
nervous system in the form of nerve impulses.
The Brain
-is the main control center of the central nervous system. It

transmits and receives message through the spinal cord.
-being very important and delicate organ, the brain is well
protected and encased in a bone called the skull.
-1.4 kilograms
The brain is divided into three main parts: the

cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
The Cerebrum
T h e c e re b r um m a ke s u p 8 5 % o f t h e hu m a n br a i n , w h i c h
m a ke s i t t h e m o s t n o t i c e a b l e p a r t o f t he o rga n . T h e s ur f a c e
of the Cerebrum is called cerebral cortex, which is lined
with deep, wrinkled grooves that increase the surface are so
t h a t m o r e t h i n k i n g a c t i v i t i e s c a n o c c u r. T h i s i s t h e a r e a
w h e r e l e a r n i n g , i n t e l l i g e n c e , a n d j u d g m e n t o c c u r. I n
addition, it shapes the attitudes, emotions, and even the
personality of an individual.
The Cerebellum
The Cerebellum is the second largest part
of the brain and is located behind the brain
stem. It coordinates the actions of the
muscles and maintains balance so that the
b o d y c a n m o v e s m o o t h l y, s t e a d i l y, a n d
e ffi c i e n t l y. B a l a n c e , e q u i l i b r i u m , a n d p o s t u r e
are made possible by the cerebellum.
The Brain Stem

The brain stem connects the spinal cord
to the rest of the brain. It coordinates many
survival functions of the body such as
breathing, heart rate, sleep, and
w a ke f u l n e s s . T h r e e d i s t i n c t r e g i o n s m a ke u p
the brain stem: the mid brain, the pon, and
the medulla oblongata.
Medulla Oblon gata- co ntrol s invol untar y actions
such as hear tbeat, breathing, and blo od pressure.

M i d b r a i n - p r o c e s s v i s u a l a n d a u d i t o r y r e fl e x e s .
Pons- helps control respiratory functions.
Th alamu s- serves as relay stati on by directing
incomin g messages fro m the spi nal co rd to the
appropriate parts of the brain.
Hypothalamus- monitors internal conditions such
as water content and temperature.
The Spinal Cord
-provides the link between the brain and the rest of the
body.
-is a tubelike organ of neurons and blood vessels.
-located inside the backbone or spine
-1.8 cm wide
Remember:
Our nervous system gathers information about the
environment and helps us respond approximately to a
situation.
Neurons carry information called nerve impulses to

the brain.
Chemical messengers help facilitate transfer of

information across neurons.
The nervous system is divided into the central and

peripheral nervous systems, which work together to help
the body respond to stimuli.
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LESSON 12.

Our Body Control and

Receiving Information from

Neuron: The Message-Carrying

The nervous system is constantly alive with

Dendrites- one or more tiny, branching,

Neurotransmitter -when an impulse reaches the

Divisions of the Nervous

The nervous system is divided into two main

-is the main control center of the central nervous system. It

The brain is divided into three main parts: the

The Brain Stem

Medulla Oblon gata- co ntrol s invol untar y actions

such as hear tbeat, breathing, and blo od pressure.

The Spinal Cord

Neurons carry information called nerve impulses to

Chemical messengers help facilitate transfer of

The nervous system is divided into the central and

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