Nervous System
- Bodys main control system
- Receives information about the
environment
- Interprets information
- Makes body reacts and responds to
it
Brain- core of the nervous system
- Largest and most complex part
Parts of the Brain
Medulla oblongata- controls automatic
body functions
- Smallest region of the brain
>Pons- connects medulla oblongata to
the cerebrum
Hypothalamus- regulates balance
- Involves in emotions
Thalamus- relay incoming messages from
the spinal cord
Midbrain- visual,auditory reflex and
motivation of movement
Reticular formation-sleep and arousal
Cerebellum- movements of muscles
- Looks like a little brain
Cerebrum- largest part of the brain
- Also called forebrain
Cerebral cortex-gray matter
- Activities related to intelligence
4 lobes of cerebral cortex;
1. occipital lobe- receives and
processes visual information
2. temporal lobe- auditory signals
3. parietal lobe-touch, taste, pressure,
pain, heat and cold
4. frontal lobe- motor activity
Spinal cord- large rope-like nerve tissue
- consist of the gray and white
matter
a human spinal cord is about 43-45
cm long
Functions:
a. organize information
b. organize certain reflexes
c. generate movements
Vertebrae- series of bones that protects
the spinal cord
Reflex- automatic, involuntary reaction to
a stimulus
Membranes- called meninges
-protects the brain and the
spinal cord
Receptor- specialized cell which is
sensitive
Stimulus- factor that cause a response
4 basic taste: sweet, sour, bitter, salty
Olfactory nerve- receptor of the nose
Auditory nerve- receptor of the ears
Sound waves- produce when matter
vibrates
2 kinds of eye receptors:
Rods- dim light
Cones- bright light
Optic nerve-send signals to the brain
Peripheral nervous system- all the nerves
connecting the brain and the spinal cord
Nerve cell or neuron- functional unit of
the nervous system
humans have 100 billion neurons
cell body- looks like a star
axon- long threadlike structure
dendrites- receive impulses form another
cell
impulse- message that travels through a
nerve cell
sensory or afferent neurons- carry
messages from the sensory receptors
sensory receptors- cells on the skin
surface
motor or efferent neurons- control
voluntary and involuntary movements
interneuron or associated neurons-
information between sensory and motor
neurons
2 kinds of nerves:
Somatic nerves- control the muscles
Automatic nerves- control internal organs
2 subdivision of automatic nerves:
Sympathetic nerves- fight or flight
response
Parasympathetic nerves- return the body
to its normal state
Neurotransmitters- small molecules
stored in small vesicles
Synapse- junction between the nerve cell
and another cell
Dopamine- sensation of pleasure
Parkinsons disease- dopamine
defieciency
Drugs:
Drug- chemical substance that may bring
physical, mental, emotional or behavioral
changes to a person
KINDS:
Stimulants- increase alertness
Depressants- slow down the central
nervous system.
Hallucinogens- changes in behavior and
emotions of a person
Hormones- chemical messengers
secreted by endocrine glands
Endocrine glands- ductless glands
- secrete hormones to the
bloodstreams
- intergrate body functions
endocrine system- collection of glands
that secrete chemicals
steroids- lipids or fats from cholesterol
testosterone- male sex hormone
estradiol- female sex characteristics
protein-made up hormones
amines- hormones obtained from tyrosin
ex. Epinephrine
pituitary glands- hypophysis
- master gland
2 lobes:
Anterior and posterior
Growth hormone- essential for growth
Thyroid- stimulating hormone-production
of thyroid hormones
Antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin-
secreted by the posterior lobe
Pineal gland- near the center of the brain
- secretes melatonin
melatonin- skin color
thyroid gland- located at the neck
2 kinds of hormones:
calcitonin- prevents release of calcium
thyroxine- increase overall metabolic rate
cretinism-thyroxine deficiency
Goiter- iodine deficiency
Parathyroid gland- secretes parathyroid
hormone
Thymus gland- secretes thymosin
( needed for maturity of white blood
cells)
- secretes promine ( promotes
growth) and retine ( retards
growth)
adrenal gland- above each of the kidney
cortex- outer layer of adrenal gland
medulla- inner layer
- synthesizes andrenaline
andrenaline- epinephrine or emergency
hormone
mineralocorticoids- controls amount of
water retained by the body
glucocorticoids- response to stress
pancreas-hormone secreting cells
insulin- convert glucose to glycogen
glucagon- breakdown of glycogen to
glucose
diabetes- inadequate level of insulin
gonads- sex glands
puberty- physical changes in the body
takes place
estrogen- secreted by the ovaries
progesterone- regulates during
menstruation and pregnancy
testosterone-stimulates the production of
sperm cells