The nervous system

The nervous system is responsible for coordinating all of the body's activities. It controls not only the
maintenance of normal functions but also the body's ability to cope with emergency situations.

Function
The nervous system has three general functions: a sensory function, an interpretative function and a
motor function.
1. Sensory nerves gather information from inside the body and the outside environment.
The nerves then carry the information to central nervous system (CNS).
2. Sensory information brought to the CNS is processed and interpreted.
3. Motor nerves convey information from the CNS to the muscles and the glands of the
body.

Structure
The nervous system is divided into two parts:
1. the central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. These structures are
protected by bone and cushioned from injury by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
2. the peripheral system which connects the central nervous system to the rest of the
body.

The central nervous system

Central nervous system

These structures are protected by bone and cushioned from injury by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Brain
The brain is a mass of soft nerve tissue, which is encapsulated within the skull. It is made up of grey
matter, mainly nerve cell bodies, and white matter which are the cell processes. The grey matter is
found at the periphery of the brain and in the centre of the spinal cord. White matter is found deep
within the brain, at the periphery of the spinal cord and as the peripheral nerves.
The brain is divided into:
 Cerebrum - the largest part of the brain. It is the centre for thought and intelligence. It
is divided into right and left hemispheres. The right controls movement and activities on
the left side of the body. The left controls the right side of the body. Within the cerebrum
are areas for speech, hearing, smell, sight, memory, learning and motor and sensory
areas.
 Cerebral cortex - the outside of the cerebrum. Its function is learning, reasoning,
language and memory.
 Cerebellum - lies below the cerebrum at the back of the skull. Its functions are to control
voluntary muscles, balance and muscle tone.
 Medulla - controls heart rate, breathing, swallowing, coughing and vomiting. Together
with the pons and the midbrain, the medulla forms the brainstem that connects the
cerebrum to the spinal chord.
Click here and roll the cursor over the different sections of the brain to see its name and function.

The brain
[Print] [Close]

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is located beneath the occipital lobe of the cerebrum. This area is concerned with the
coordination of muscle movement and balance. It is also concerned with the balance and equilibrium
of the body in space. Cerebellar activities are carried out below the level of consciousness and are
therefore not under voluntary control. It is through the control of your cerebellum that you don't fall
over when you close your eyes or that you can touch your nose with your finger, even with your eyes
closed. When told Luke Skywalker to ,"Use the force," in the film, 'Star Wars,' what he was really
saying was, "Use your cerebellum."

Cerebrum

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for all mental activities such as
thinking, feeling and emotions.

The cerebrum is further divided into two portions called hemispheres by the fibrous corpus callosum.

The peripheral or outer part of the cerebrum is formed into folds known as convolutions, which are
then separated into lobes. The lobes have been named after the bones of the cranium under which
they lie.

 Frontal
 Parietal
 Temporal
 Occipital

Brain Stem

The brainstem is composed mainly of neural tissue that allows nerve impulses to travel between the
brain and spinal cord. The midbrain, pons and medulla are collectively called the brain stem. These
structures act as the control centre for the involuntary movement of the following vital body organs:
 1. Heart
2. Lungs
3. Blood vessels
4. Stomach
5. Intestines

Activity 12
In this activity you will check your understanding of the structures of the brain. Click here.

Lobes of the brain

It is important to have an understanding of how the brain functions and which parts control our
functioning and behaviour. For example, when a casualty suffers from a stroke, the part of the brain
that is affected controls function. If it is the frontal lobe, speech, thought and movement may be
affected.
Click here and roll the cursor over the different quadrants of the brain to see their names and
functions.

Activity 13
In this activity you will test your understanding of the function of the lobes of the brain. Click here

The spinal cord

The spinal cord is about 45 cms long, extending from the medulla down to the second lumbar
vertebrae. It acts as a message pathway between the brain and the rest of the body. Nerves
conveying impulses from the brain, otherwise known as efferent or motor nerves, travel through the
spinal cord down to the various organs of the body. When the impulses reach the appropriate level
they leave the cord to travel to the' target organ.
Sensory or afferent nerve impulses also use the spinal cord to travel from various parts of the body up
to the brain.
Click here and roll over the diagram to see parts of the spinal chord.

Peripheral system
The peripheral system connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body. The main divisions
of the Peripheral Nervous System are:
 The autonomic nervous system — which controls the automatic functions of the body:
the heart, smooth muscle (organs) and glands. It is divided into the “fight-or-flight”
system and the “resting and digesting" system.
 The somatic nervous system — which allows us to consciously or voluntarily control our
skeletal muscles. The somatic system contains 12 cranial nerves and 31 spinal nerves.
 Nerves — which are made up of special cells called neurons. Neurons are comprised of a
dendrite, a cell body and an axon. Impulses travel to the dendrite into the cell body and
then onto the axon. A special sheath called myelin, which increases the conductivity of
the neuron, covers some nerves.
As messages travel from one neuron to the next they move across a synapse. At each synapse there
is a chemical called a neurotransmitter. At various parts of the body specific neurotransmitters
facilitate communication, for example dopamine (motor function), serotonin (mood) and endorphins
(painkillers). Sensory neurons carry messages from a receptor to the brain. The brain then interprets
the message. Motor neurons then send the message to an affector in muscles and glands.
Receptor (sensory organ) sends a signal to the sensory neuron which sends a signal to the
brain/spinal chord which sends a signal to the motor neuron which sends a signal to the affector
(muscle/gland).
The neurone
The basic unit of the nervous system, is a specialised cell called the neurone. These nerve cells make
up a massive network of specialised cells that transmit messages, very rapidly, from one part of the
body to another. Information is transmitted via electrical impulses.
The neurone is comprised of a nerve cell and its adjoining processes called an axon and dendrites.
Every nerve cell has one or more processes attached to it. Electrical impulses enter the neurone via
the dendrites and leave via the axon. The space between the axon of one cell and the dendrites of
another is called a synapse. Specialised chemicals called neurotransmitters help conduct impulses
through the synapse onto the next cell.

Activity 14
In this activity you will learn how to locate and identify the structures of the neurone. Click here to
begin.
For further information, go to the Virtual Body athttp://www.medtropolis.com/Vbody.asp