NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates body activities. It is made up of two major divisions, including the following Central Nervous System consisting of the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral Nervous System consisting of all other neural elements.

The Central Nervous System It is made up of: Spinal cord and; Brain

The Spinal Cord Conducts sensory information from the peripheral nervous system (both somatic and autonomic) to the brain Serves as minor reflex center Conducts motor information from the brain to our various effectors o o o o The Brain Center of the nervous system in all vertebrates and most of invertebrates receives sensory input from the spinal cord as well as from its own nerves (e.g., olfactory and optic nerves) devotes most of its volume (and computational power) to processing its various sensory inputs and initiating appropriate and coordinated motor output Skeletal muscles Cardiac muscles Smooth muscles Glands

The Cerebral Hemisphere

divided into left and right cerebral hemispheres Each of these hemispheres has an outer layer of grey matter called the cerebral cortex that is supported by an inner layer of white matter

the hemispheres are linked by the corpus callosum, a very large bundle of nerve fibers

The interbrain hemisphere Also called as diencephalon, the region of the vertebrate neural tube which gives rise to posterior forebrain structures

The Brainstem The brainstem is the region of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.

The brainstem consists of the midbrain, medulla oblongata, and the pons.

The Cerebellum Also known as the little brain is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control

The peripheral nervous system Cranial Nerves Function: Directs Sense Impulses Throughout the Body Chewing Equilibrium Eye Movement, Vision Facial Sensation Hearing, Phonation Respiration Salivation, Swallowing Smell Taste

Examples 1. Olfactory is for smelling. 2. Optic deals with vision. 3. Oculomotor is for moving the eye, eyelid, and constricting the pupil. 4. Trochlear controls movement of the eye. 5. Trigeminal has to do with chewing. 6. Abducens also moves the eyeball. 7. Facial deals with facial expression as well as saliva and tears. 8. Vestibulocochlear deals with hearing and equilibrium. 9. Glossopharyngeal is for taste and the secretion of saliva. 10. Vagus deals with smooth muscle contraction in the upper abdomen. 11. Accessory controls swallowing and movement of the head. 12. Hypoglossal moves the tongue during speaking and swallowing.

The spinal nerve

generally refers to a mixed spinal nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body.

Cervical nerves Although there are seven cervical vertebrae (C1-C7), there are eight cervical nerves (C1-C8). name. Brachial nerves

is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots (C5-C8, T1). It proceeds through the neck, the axilla (armpit

region), and into the arm. It is a network of nerves passing through the cervico-axillary canal to reach axilla and supplies brachium (upper arm), antebrachium (forearm) andhand. L umbar nerves

are the five spinal nerves emerging from the lumbar vertebrae. They are divided into posterior and anterior divisions.

DISEASES
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore, the condition is classified as a medical emergency. Parkinson's disease (also known as Parkinson disease, Parkinson's, idiopathic parkinsonism, primary parkinsonism, PD,hypokinetic rigid syndrome/HRS, or paralysis agitans) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the death of dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra, a region of the midbrain; the cause of this cell death is unknown Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Many scientists believe that Alzheimer's disease results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) in the brain that leads to nerve cell death. Traumatic brain injury:

Brain damage from trauma. The three leading causes of death from traumatic brain injury relate to firearms, motor vehicles and falls. The leading causes of death differ by age group. Motor vehicles are the leading cause among youth from birth to 19 years of age. Firearms are the leading cause of death among persons aged 20 to 74 years. Falls are the leading cause of death among persons aged 75 and older.