Nervous System Reviewer

NERVOUS SYSTEM
Two divisions
Central Nervous System- brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System- network of nerves and neural tissues branching throughout the
body
Brain and Spinal Cord Meninges
 brain and spinal cord are enclosed by 3 membranes, collectively known as the meninges
o Dura Mater- outside membrane
o Arachnoid- middle membrane
o Pia Mater- inside membrane
Gray and White Matter of the CNS
Brain and spinal cord- receive impulses, process the information, and respond with the
appropriate action.
Gray matter of the brain and spinal cord- consists of unsheathed nerve fibers (cannot be
regenerated if damaged) in the cortex or surface layer.
White Matter- makes up the internal structure, and consists of myelinated nerve fibers.
Cerebrum
 governs all sensory and motor activity.

 sensory perception, emotions, consciousness, memory, and voluntary movements.
 Divided into the left and right hemispheres.
 Gyrus-surface or cortex arranged in bulging folds
 The cortex is also divided into 4 lobes that correspond to the overlying bones of the
skull:
o Frontal Lobe- motor activity, personality, and speech
o Parietal Lobe- language, temperature, pressure, touch
o Temporal Lobe- hearing, smell, and language input
o Occipital- vision
Cerebellum
 second largest part of the brain.

 contains nerve fibers that connect it to every part of the central nervous system
 coordinates voluntary and involuntary patterns of movements
 adjust muscles to automatically maintain posture.
Diencephalon
 refers to the thalamus and hypothalamus.
o Thalamus-relay center for all sensory impulses except olfactory (sense of smell)
and motor areas of the cortex.
o Hypothalamus- regulates behavior and emotional expression, body temperature,
and many metabolic activities. Attached to the pituitary gland, it also controls
hormonal secretions of this gland.
Brainstem
 The brainstem consists of 3 structures:

o gray matter of the midbrain control visual reflexes and sense of hearing.
o white matter of the pons plays a role in regulating visceral (internal organ)
control
o medulla oblongata connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord. It regulates
breathing, swallowing, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, heartbeat, and blood
pressure.
Spinal Cord
 The 44 cm long spinal cord is shorter than the spinal column, so segments do not
perfectly correspond to the vertebrae.
 The spinal cord has 31 segments:
o 8 Cervical Segments (C1-C8)
o 12 Thoracic Segments (T1-T12)
o 5 Lumbar Segments (L1-L5)
o 5 Sacral Segments (S1-S5)
o 1 Coccygeal (coccyx)
 At each segment of the spinal cord, left and right pairs of sensory and motor nerves
branch out and connect to the peripheral nervous system.
 Impulses travel back and forth to the brain and back to the muscles.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
 colorless fluid is produced in the ventricles of the brain.

 surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
 cushions the brain and cord from shocks that could cause injury.
 It is maintained at a level around 1/2 - 2/3 cup.
Peripheral Nervous System
 network of nerves branching out throughout the body from the brain and spinal cord.
 In addition to the 31 pairs of spinal nerves, on the spinal cord, there are 12 pairs of
cranial nerves that attach to the brain: (Mnemonic: O-O-O To Touch And Feel A Girl’s
Vagina Ah Heaven)
oOlfactory Nerve- sensory input for smell.
oOptic Nerve- sensory input for vision.
oOculomotor Nerve- controls muscle of the eye and the eyelid.
oTrochlear Nerve- controls the eyeball.
oTrigerminal Nerve- controls the face, nose, mouth, forehead, top of head, and
jaw.
o Abducens Nerve- controls the eyeball.
o Vagus Nerve- longest cranial nerve, extending to and controlling the heart, lungs,
stomach, and intestines.
o Accessory Nerve- permits movement of the head and shoulders.
o Hypoglassal Nerve- controls the muscles of the tongue.
 consist of two functional components:
o Somatic (Motor) System- carries signals to skeletal muscles and is voluntary.
o Autonomic Nervous System- regulates the internal environment in an involuntary
manner. (controls the involuntary bodily functions such as sweating, gland
secretions, blood pressure, and the heart)
The Autonomic Nervous System is divided into the sympathetic and

parasympathetic divisions.
o The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions have antagonistic effects on
target organs.
o Sympathetic Division- correlates with the “fight-or-flight” response. increased
alertness, metabolic rate, respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, and sweating
and decrease in digestive and urinary function.
o Parasympathetic Division- promotes a return to “rest and digest”. it counteracts
the responses of the sympathetic system… restoring homeostasis.
Nerve Tissue
Consist of:
 Nerve cells called neurons (receives and conduct impulses to and from CNS
 And supporting cells called neuroglia (supply support and nourishment to neurons)
Structure of a Neuron
 Vary in appearance depending on their function and location.

A neuron consist of 3 major parts:
1. Cell body (Contains nucleus and several other organelles in neuroplasm e.g.
Nissl bodies, Neurofibrils, ext.)
2. Axon (Nerve fiber that transports impulses away from cell body to another
neuron. Always protected by a Myelin sheath)
3. Dendrite (Short nerve processes that transports impulses towards the cell body
from other neurons or from the sensory receptors).
Types of Neurons According To Function:
o SENSORY NEURON: Transport impulses from the sensory receptors to the

central nervous system (CNS)
o INTERNEURON: Convey impulses between various parts of the CNS like
between sensory and motor neurons. Integration of impulse.
o MOTOR NEURON: Transport impulses from the CNS to the effector organ
(muscle or gland)
SYNAPSES
 Nerve impulses are transmitted via branches called synapses

 The synapses are connectors… hooking dendrites and axons from one neuron to
another.
 The number of synapses influences transmission.
 That number can decrease with disease, lack of stimulation, drug use, etc.

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NERVOUS SYSTEM

Central Nervous System- brain and spinal cord

Brain and Spinal Cord Meninges

Gray and White Matter of the CNS

 governs all sensory and motor activity.

 second largest part of the brain.

 The brainstem consists of 3 structures:

 colorless fluid is produced in the ventricles of the brain.

Peripheral Nervous System

The Autonomic Nervous System is divided into the sympathetic and

 Vary in appearance depending on their function and location.

Types of Neurons According To Function:

o SENSORY NEURON: Transport impulses from the sensory receptors to the

 Nerve impulses are transmitted via branches called synapses

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