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The Nervous System

4 min readโ€ขnovember 29, 2021

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Components and Function of the The Nervous System

What is the Nervous System?ย 

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-3rY1SKbpMwYz.png?alt=media&token=eb7e9042-3125-4c43-b8ca-27cfeb5bacf9

Image from Unsplash

The nervous system is a body system that is made up of nerves and specialized cells, which are called neurons. Neurons transmit signals ๐Ÿ’ฅ between different parts of the body. Due to this, the nervous system controls, regulates, and communicates all signals within the human body. There are two parts to your nervous system: the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

The Central Nervous System

The central nervous system is composed of your brain. The brain is the main control center ๐ŸŽ› for actions such as movement ๐Ÿ‘‹, sleep ๐Ÿ˜ด, and hunger ๐Ÿ˜‹. Your brain receives and interprets signals from other parts of the body, as well as from the external (outside) world.

Parts of the Brain

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-S8JGQMQ0s3JD.png?alt=media&token=dc859975-e726-4819-a6d2-e60ef0285b2e

Image from Unsplash

Cerebrumย 

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It helps interpret touch and other sensory signals. It also regulates speech ๐Ÿ’ฌ, emotion, reasoning, and learning.

Cerebellumย 

The cerebellum coordinates muscle movement ๐Ÿ’ช and balance ๐Ÿ‹. It is why we can perform actions like walking, riding a bicycle, and dancing.ย 

Brainstemย 

The brainstem is responsible for postural control ๐Ÿ’, muscle tone ๐Ÿ’ช, and eye ๐Ÿ‘€ movement. This allows us to sit up straight and look to our right and left.

Diencephalon

The diencephalon is a small part in the back ๐Ÿ”™ of the brain that is hidden from sight ๐Ÿ‘ (if seen from the front). It consists of the thalamus, which controls our awareness of pain ๐Ÿ˜ฃ and screens incoming signals๐Ÿ’ฅ. The hypothalamus is also part of theย diencephalon, and it controls body temperature ๐Ÿ˜ท, appetite, emotions, and other automatic functions.

Lobes of the Brain

Frontal Lobeย 

  • Located at the front of the brain

  • Controls personality and behavior

  • Controls emotions

  • Controls body movement

  • Controls judgment making and problem-solving

  • Controls speech

Parietal Lobe

  • Located at the top of the brain

  • Controls the interpretation of language

  • Controls our senses

  • Controls perceptionโ€”both spatial and visual

Occipital Lobe

  • Processes visual information

  • Controls the interpretation of visionย 

    • Colors, movement, and light

Temporal Lobe

  • Lies on the sides of the brain

  • Controls our understanding of language

  • Controls hearing and memory

The Spinal Cord (Peripheral Nervous System)

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-vGnTZ51io4sH.png?alt=media&token=40ccd728-4a91-4d1d-8fe2-89f93f929858

Image from Unsplash

The spinal cord is that pathway for information connecting the brain and the peripheral nervous system. As the spinal cord travels down the vertebral column, the spinal nerves branch ๐ŸŒด off between each vertebra.

The Limbic System

The limbic system regulates basic drives and screens ๐Ÿ‘€ information, which enters the cerebral cortex. This system consists of the hippocampus, which creates new memories, and the amygdala, which integrates both memory and emotion.

The Autonomic Nervous System

Sympathetic System

The sympathetic nervous system helps make bodily adjustments to prepare the body for emergencies ๐Ÿš‘. This is where the โ€œflightโ€ or โ€œfightโ€ response ๐Ÿ™€ is activated through the release of adrenaline from the adrenal gland, increase in heart rate๐Ÿ’“, and widening of blood vessels.ย 

Parasympathetic System

The parasympathetic system functions are opposite to the sympathetic system. This is known as the โ€œrest and digestโ€ response. It helps the body return to its normal state after the sympathetic system is activated โœ….

๐Ÿ’ก To remember these systems, think of the phrasesย โ€œfight or flightโ€ย andย โ€œrest and digestโ€!

The Somatic Nervous System

The somatic nervous system connects the central nervous system to muscles, tissues, and skin. Afferent, or sensory neurons, move impulses to the central nervous system. From here, efferent neurons take this signal to the muscles and other organs.ย 

Alzheimerโ€™s Disease

Alzheimerโ€™s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by the death of brain cells which results in memory loss ๐Ÿ‘‡ and cognitive decline.

Some defining characteristics of Alzheimerโ€™s disease are:

  • Decline in cognitive ability

  • Reduced ability to take in and remember new information

  • Impairment to reasoning, complex task, and judgment

  • Impaired visuospatial abilities

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder causing abnormal brain activity such as seizures ๐Ÿ’ซ and periods of unusual behavior. Disruptions in electrical activity in the central nervous system set off seizures, which cause nervous system symptoms such as heart palpitations.

Important Vocabulary to Review ย 

  • Nervous System

  • Central Nervous System

  • Peripheral Nervous System

  • Cerebrum

  • Cerebellum

  • Brainstem

  • Diencephalon

  • Frontal Lobe

  • Parietal Lobe

  • Occipital Lobe

  • Temporal Lobe

  • The Spinal Cord

  • The Limbic System

  • The Autonomic Nervous System

  • Sympathetic System

  • Parasympathetic System

  • The Somatic Nervous System

  • Alzheimerโ€™s Disease

  • Epilepsy

Conclusionย 

Thatโ€™s all for the nervous system! For those of you who are visual ๐Ÿ‘ learners, check out Fiveableโ€™s Overview of the Nervous System and the Neuron to review the material discussed in this chapter. For those of you who are more interactive โœ‹, check out our Nervous System Slides. Finally, to recap your knowledge of the nervous system, check out the Nervous System Video Review!

๐ŸคConnect with other students studying biology withย Hours

The Nervous System

4 min readโ€ขnovember 29, 2021

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Components and Function of the The Nervous System

What is the Nervous System?ย 

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-3rY1SKbpMwYz.png?alt=media&token=eb7e9042-3125-4c43-b8ca-27cfeb5bacf9

Image from Unsplash

The nervous system is a body system that is made up of nerves and specialized cells, which are called neurons. Neurons transmit signals ๐Ÿ’ฅ between different parts of the body. Due to this, the nervous system controls, regulates, and communicates all signals within the human body. There are two parts to your nervous system: the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

The Central Nervous System

The central nervous system is composed of your brain. The brain is the main control center ๐ŸŽ› for actions such as movement ๐Ÿ‘‹, sleep ๐Ÿ˜ด, and hunger ๐Ÿ˜‹. Your brain receives and interprets signals from other parts of the body, as well as from the external (outside) world.

Parts of the Brain

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-S8JGQMQ0s3JD.png?alt=media&token=dc859975-e726-4819-a6d2-e60ef0285b2e

Image from Unsplash

Cerebrumย 

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It helps interpret touch and other sensory signals. It also regulates speech ๐Ÿ’ฌ, emotion, reasoning, and learning.

Cerebellumย 

The cerebellum coordinates muscle movement ๐Ÿ’ช and balance ๐Ÿ‹. It is why we can perform actions like walking, riding a bicycle, and dancing.ย 

Brainstemย 

The brainstem is responsible for postural control ๐Ÿ’, muscle tone ๐Ÿ’ช, and eye ๐Ÿ‘€ movement. This allows us to sit up straight and look to our right and left.

Diencephalon

The diencephalon is a small part in the back ๐Ÿ”™ of the brain that is hidden from sight ๐Ÿ‘ (if seen from the front). It consists of the thalamus, which controls our awareness of pain ๐Ÿ˜ฃ and screens incoming signals๐Ÿ’ฅ. The hypothalamus is also part of theย diencephalon, and it controls body temperature ๐Ÿ˜ท, appetite, emotions, and other automatic functions.

Lobes of the Brain

Frontal Lobeย 

  • Located at the front of the brain

  • Controls personality and behavior

  • Controls emotions

  • Controls body movement

  • Controls judgment making and problem-solving

  • Controls speech

Parietal Lobe

  • Located at the top of the brain

  • Controls the interpretation of language

  • Controls our senses

  • Controls perceptionโ€”both spatial and visual

Occipital Lobe

  • Processes visual information

  • Controls the interpretation of visionย 

    • Colors, movement, and light

Temporal Lobe

  • Lies on the sides of the brain

  • Controls our understanding of language

  • Controls hearing and memory

The Spinal Cord (Peripheral Nervous System)

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-vGnTZ51io4sH.png?alt=media&token=40ccd728-4a91-4d1d-8fe2-89f93f929858

Image from Unsplash

The spinal cord is that pathway for information connecting the brain and the peripheral nervous system. As the spinal cord travels down the vertebral column, the spinal nerves branch ๐ŸŒด off between each vertebra.

The Limbic System

The limbic system regulates basic drives and screens ๐Ÿ‘€ information, which enters the cerebral cortex. This system consists of the hippocampus, which creates new memories, and the amygdala, which integrates both memory and emotion.

The Autonomic Nervous System

Sympathetic System

The sympathetic nervous system helps make bodily adjustments to prepare the body for emergencies ๐Ÿš‘. This is where the โ€œflightโ€ or โ€œfightโ€ response ๐Ÿ™€ is activated through the release of adrenaline from the adrenal gland, increase in heart rate๐Ÿ’“, and widening of blood vessels.ย 

Parasympathetic System

The parasympathetic system functions are opposite to the sympathetic system. This is known as the โ€œrest and digestโ€ response. It helps the body return to its normal state after the sympathetic system is activated โœ….

๐Ÿ’ก To remember these systems, think of the phrasesย โ€œfight or flightโ€ย andย โ€œrest and digestโ€!

The Somatic Nervous System

The somatic nervous system connects the central nervous system to muscles, tissues, and skin. Afferent, or sensory neurons, move impulses to the central nervous system. From here, efferent neurons take this signal to the muscles and other organs.ย 

Alzheimerโ€™s Disease

Alzheimerโ€™s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by the death of brain cells which results in memory loss ๐Ÿ‘‡ and cognitive decline.

Some defining characteristics of Alzheimerโ€™s disease are:

  • Decline in cognitive ability

  • Reduced ability to take in and remember new information

  • Impairment to reasoning, complex task, and judgment

  • Impaired visuospatial abilities

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder causing abnormal brain activity such as seizures ๐Ÿ’ซ and periods of unusual behavior. Disruptions in electrical activity in the central nervous system set off seizures, which cause nervous system symptoms such as heart palpitations.

Important Vocabulary to Review ย 

  • Nervous System

  • Central Nervous System

  • Peripheral Nervous System

  • Cerebrum

  • Cerebellum

  • Brainstem

  • Diencephalon

  • Frontal Lobe

  • Parietal Lobe

  • Occipital Lobe

  • Temporal Lobe

  • The Spinal Cord

  • The Limbic System

  • The Autonomic Nervous System

  • Sympathetic System

  • Parasympathetic System

  • The Somatic Nervous System

  • Alzheimerโ€™s Disease

  • Epilepsy

Conclusionย 

Thatโ€™s all for the nervous system! For those of you who are visual ๐Ÿ‘ learners, check out Fiveableโ€™s Overview of the Nervous System and the Neuron to review the material discussed in this chapter. For those of you who are more interactive โœ‹, check out our Nervous System Slides. Finally, to recap your knowledge of the nervous system, check out the Nervous System Video Review!

๐ŸคConnect with other students studying biology withย Hours



ยฉ 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

APยฎ and SATยฎ are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


ยฉ 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

APยฎ and SATยฎ are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.