The Nervous System: AP Biology

The
Nervous
AP Biology System
2003-2004
Overview
 The Nervous System controls and
coordinates all the functions of the
body.
 The Nervous System consists of two
main sub-divisions:
 Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• The Peripheral Nervous System is
divided into two sub-divisions:
 Somatic- voluntary
 Autonomic- involuntary
Regents Biology 2003-2004

http://inside.salve.edu/walsh/cns_pns.jpg
Structure and Function of the Neuron
 Neuron is the scientific name for a Nerve
Cell.
 Neurons consist of 3 basic structures:
 Cyton, or cell body.
 Dendrites- receive messages, impulses, and
send them to the cell body.
 Axons- send messages away from the cell
body.
• Nerve impulses travel from one neuron to
another across synapses, or spaces in
between the cells.
• The “jumping across” the synapse is
facilitated (helped) by chemicals called
Neurotransmitters.
Parts of the Cell
 Dendrites – Branched  A Neuron
parts of a neuron that
receive impulses from
other neurons.
 Cyton- Contains
cytoplasm and the
nucleus. Impulses pass
through here to the
axon.
 Axon- Single long fiber
that carries impulses
away from the cell body.
Myelin coating
signal
direction  Axon coated with insulation
made of myelin cells
 speeds signal
 signal hops from node to node
 330 mph vs. 11 mph
myelin coating
Multiple Sclerosis
 immune system (T cells) attacks myelin coating
 loss of signal
Synapse
Junction between nerve cells
 1st cell releases chemical to trigger
next cell
 where drugs affect nervous system
synapse

Types of Neurons
Neurons can also be classified by the direction
that they send information:
･Sensory (or afferent) neurons: send
information from sensory receptors (e.g., in
skin, eyes, nose, tongue, ears) TOWARD the
central nervous system.
･Motor (or efferent) neurons: send information
AWAY from the central nervous system to
muscles or glands.
･Interneurons: send information BETWEEN
sensory neurons and motor neurons. Most
interneurons are located in the central
nervous system.
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Reflexes
 Stimulus- a change
in the environment.
 Response/Reaction-
how the body reacts
to a stimulus.
 Reflex Arc- the
pathway that an
impulse follows to
illicit a response to a
stimulus.
The Nerve Impulse
Central Nervous System
 Brain
 Spinal cord

Protections
1. Skull and Vertebrae
2. 3 protective layers called meninges
3. Dura Mater (outer layer): consists of connective
tissues, blood vessels, and nerves.
4. Arachnoid Layer (middle layer): elastic and
weblike
5. Pia Mater (inner layer): contains nerves and
blood vessels.
6. Cerebrospinal fluid
 a clear watery liquid
 separates the middle and inner layers
 Acts as shock absorber
 exchange of nutrients between blood and nervous
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The Brain
 Coordinates body activities

 Made up of approximately 100 billion neurons
 Uses 20% of bodies oxygen and energy
 Divided into three major parts-
 the Cerebrum
 the Cerebellum
 the Brain Stem (Medulla Oblongata, Pons)

Cerebrum
 Largest part of the brain
 Thinking
 Memory is stored
 Movements are controlled
 Impulses from the senses are
interpreted.

Cerebrum specialization
 Regions specialized for different functions
 Lobes
 frontal frontal parietal
 speech,
control of emotions
 temporal
 smell, hearing
 occipital
 vision
 parietal
 speech, taste
reading
occipital
temporal
Gray Matter vs. White Matter
 Gray Matter – Absence of myelin in

masses of neurons accounts for the gray
matter of the brain – Cerebral Cortex
 White Matter - Myelinated neurons gives
neurons a white appearance – inner layer
of cerebrum
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Cerebellum
 Responsible for the
coordination of
muscles and is the
center of balance

Medulla
 Center of heart beat,
respiration, and
other involuntary
actions

Other Structures inside the Brain
 Thalamus – receives messages from
sensory receptors; relays information to
proper regions of cerebrum
 Hypothalamus - Regulates hunger, thirst,
fatigue, anger, etc…
 Control of pituitary for endocrine function
Regents Biology
Section 35-3
Cerebrum
Thalamus
Pineal
gland
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla oblongata Spinal cord
Regents Biology
The Spinal Cord
 Extension of the brain stem
 Bundles of neurons that carry impulses
from all parts of the body to the brain
and from the brain to all parts of your
body

The
Peripheral
Nervous
System
Your brain
and spinal
Somatic
cord are
and
connected
Autonomic
to the rest
Systems
of your
The
body by
peripheral
the
nervous
peripheral
system has
nervous
two major
system.
divisions.
The PNS
is made up
somatic
of 12 pairs
system
of nerves
controls
from your
voluntary
brain It
actions.
called
is made up
cranial
of the
nerves, and
cranial
and 31
spinal
pairs from
nerves that
your
go from
spinal
the
cord called
central
spinal
nervous
nerves. to
system
Spinal
your
nerves are
skeletal
made up of
muscles.
bundles of
The
sensory
autonomic
and motor
system
neurons
controls
bound
involuntary
together by
actions-
connective
those not
tissue. For
under
this
conscious
Research
reason,
control- a
Visit the
single
such as
Glencoe
spinal
your heart
Science
nerve
rate, can
Web site at
have
breathing,
tx.science.
impulses
digestion,
glencoe.co
going
and to
m forfrom
and more
glandular
information
the
functions.
brain at
about
the
These the
sametwo
nervous
time.
divisions,
Some
system.
nerves
along with
Make
contain
the a
central
brochure
only
nervous
outlining
sensory
system,
recentup
neurons,
make
medical
and
your some
advances.
contain
body's
only motor
nervous
neurons,
system.
but most
nerves
contain
both types
of neurons.

Peripheral Nervous System
 Connects body to brain & spinal cord
 12 pairs of nerves from your brain
(cranial nerves)
 31 pairs from your spinal cord (spinal
nerves)
 Bundles of sensory and motor neurons
held together by connective tissue
 Two divisions
 Somatic
 Autonomic

Divisions of the PNS:
Somatic Nervous System
 Controls voluntary actions
 Made up of the cranial and spinal
nerves that go from the central nervous
system to your skeletal muscles
Autonomic Nervous System
 Controls involuntary actions-those not
under conscious control-such as your
heart rate, breathing, digestion, and
glandular functions
Autonomic Nervous System
 Can be divided
into:
 Sympathetic
Nervous
System
 “Fight or Flight”
 Parasympathetic
Nervous System
 “Rest and Digest”
These 2 systems are antagonistic.

Typically, we balance these 2 to keep
ourselves in a state of dynamic balance.
More Effects (FYI)
 Impaired perception
 Loss of coordination
 Increased risk of accidents
 Impaired judgement
 Loss of motivation
 Diminished inhibitions
 Increased heart rate
 Anxiety, panic attacks, and paranoia
 Hallucinations
 Damage to the respiratory, reproductive, and immune systems
 Increased risk of CANCER
 Psychological dependency
Regents Biology
Diseases, Conditions, and
Syndromes of the Nervous System
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Stroke
 Occurs when
there is not
enough oxygen
going to the
brain.

Autism
Overview
Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first
3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development
of social and communication skills.
Symptoms
Children with autism typically have difficulties in:
•Pretend play
•Social interactions
•Verbal and nonverbal communication
Some children with autism appear normal before age 1 or 2
and then suddenly "regress" and lose language or social
skills they had previously gained. This is called the
regressive type of autism.
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Autism
People with autism may:

•Be overly sensitive in sight, hearing, touch,
smell, or taste (for example, they may refuse
to wear "itchy" clothes and become
distressed if they are forced to wear the
clothes)
•Have unusual distress when routines are
changed
•Perform repeated body movements
•Show unusual attachments to objects
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Meningitis
 Is an inflammation
of the membranes
that surround the
brain and spinal
cord.
 Disease is caused
by bacteria, or a
virus.
 Symptoms – Very
bad headache

Cerebral Palsy
 Congenital
disease
 (born with)
 Disturbance of
motor functions

Herniated Disk
 Disk in vertebra
moves up
against the
spinal nerves.
Very painful

Animals rely on two systems for regulation:
Nervous System is a system of nerve cells called neurons. It

consists of a central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
and peripheral nerves. Typical responses are fast and short
lasting.
Endocrine System is a system of ductless glands that secrete

hormone into the blood. Hormones travel to target tissues.
Typical responses are slow and long lasting.

Progesterone Estradiol
Human Endocrine
Glands
Ductless glands
transport hormones in
the blood
Duct glands are

exocrine glands that
use tubes to carry the
secretion
(salivary, tears)

Four methods of cell-to-cell communication are found in the
human body, ranging from direct to remote communication.
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Pituitary gland and Hypothalamus serve to link the nervous
system other glands and metabolic functions.

Thyroid and Parathyroid help regulate calcium
metabolism
Feedback!

Goiter: Iodine deficiency and feedback causes the thyroid to
enlarge
This people have a goiter, a condition

that is easily preventable with iodized
salt

Pancreas helps regulate blood glucose
feedback
Insulin from Beta cells reduce blood sugar

RegentsGlucagon
Biology from Alpha cells increase blood sugar
2003-2004
Temperature Control
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THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT MECHANISM
•Large amount of adrenaline pumped into the body to put
us in a state of increased alertness
•Blood is redirected away from the extremities to the large
muscles of the body
•The heart starts working harder to move the blood to the
large muscle groups as quickly as it can
•Increase in Respiratory Rate
•Release of red blood cells
•Release of sugar by liver
•Increase in metabolic rate
alektorophobia
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Pineal gland
 roof of the 3rd ventricle)

 Larger in children than adults
 Secretes melatonin: involved
in circadian rhythm
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Gonads: Testes and Ovaries produce hormones that
regulate secondary sex traits Male sex traits include
those changes that
occur during puberty
Androgens include
testosterone
feedback
feedback
Female sex traits
include the
menstrual cycle and
the changes seen
during puberty
LH and FSH from

the pituitary
Estrogen and
progesterone from
the ovary

Identify the Glands

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The

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

 Coordinates body activities

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

 Gray Matter – Absence of myelin in

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Pituitary gland Cerebellum

Medulla oblongata Spinal cord

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

These 2 systems are antagonistic.

Regents Biology 2003-2004

People with autism may:

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Nervous System is a system of nerve cells called neurons. It

Endocrine System is a system of ductless glands that secrete

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Duct glands are

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

This people have a goiter, a condition

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Insulin from Beta cells reduce blood sugar

 roof of the 3rd ventricle)

LH and FSH from

Regents Biology 2003-2004

Regents Biology 2003-2004

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