Role of Human Nervous System

3.2

Role of Nervous System

Receives information from receptors

Transmits and interpretes the information

Formulates appropriate responses to be sent to

the effector organs Controls and coordinates functions throughout the body Helps maintain homeostasis

What is homeostasis?
The ability of the body or a cell to seek and

maintain a condition of equilibrium or stability within itsinternal environment when dealing with external changes.

Organization of nervous system

Central Nervous System

Consists of brain and spinal cord.

Control centre of the body

Control:
Thinking remembering, and all vital bodily functions (heart beat, sleep

patterns, digestion, blood sugars

Peripheral Nervous System

Transmits impulses from sense organs to the

central nervous system and back to the muscles or glands. Controls ability to move and feel

Afferent neurone
transmit signals from sensory transducers to the

central nervous system (i.e., the spine and the brain)

Efferent neurone
a neuron conducting impulses outwards from the

brain or spinal cord

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN

Cross section of a brain

Thalamus
located at the centre

part of the brain responsible for sorting the incoming and outgoing of sensory information to cerebral cortex processes and coordinates sensory message such as touch received from the body

Hypothalamus
Below the thalamus.

Control centre for

recognition and analysis of hunger, fatigue, thirst, anger and body temperature. Control coordination of the nervous and endocrine systems.

Pituitary gland
produce hormones

that influence other glands in the body hormone produced involved in regulating growth, puberty, metabolism, water and mineral balance, and bodys response to stress.

Spinal Cord

Spinal cord
Link between the brain and peripheral nervous

system. Protected and enclosed by membrane called the meninges and vertebral column. Consists of grey and white matter. Spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord. Function : control reflex action.

Cross section of spinal cord

Functions of the spinal cord

Structure of a typical neurone

Structure of a typical Neurone

Types of neurone

Afferent neurone (sensory neurone)

Contains an axon, short densrites and a cell

body. The shape of the cell body is smooth and rounded. F(x) : carry nerve impulse from the receptor to the brain and spinal cord

Interneurone
Also known as relay

neurones. Found only in the gray matter of the brain or spinal cord. F(x): carries nerve impulse from afferent to efferent neurone.

Efferent neurone (motor neurone)

Cell body is found at

the central nervous system (CNS). Connected to a single, long axon and several short dendrites. F(x): carries nerve impulse from brain and spinal cord to effectors such as muscles and glands which carry out the response.

Pathway of nerve impulses from receptors to effectors

Receptor s
In ear detect the stimulus and trigger nerve impulses in the

4 3 Central Afferent neurones carry the nerve impulses to nervous the

system interneurones

Afferent neurones

The brain integrates and in the brain interpretes the nerve impulses. The brain makes a decision and sends out the nerve impulses to efferent 5 neurone

Efferent neurones carry

the nerve impulses to effector

Effector 1 muscles in the hand Stimulus caryy out the (sound of response

Synapse and Transmission of Information

What is a synapse?

SYNAPS E

How does the information get transmitted across the synapse?

The transmission of

information is by no means electrical but electrical in nature. When the nerve impulse reaches the end of the presynaptic end of the neurone, it will stimulate the release of chemicals named neurotransmitters in its synaptic vesicles.

Neurotransmitters

Vesicle

Receptors

How does the information get transmitted across the synapse?

The synaptic vesicles

then fuse with the cell membrane, releasing the neurotransmitters through exocytosis. The neurotransmitters then cross the synapse where they may be accepted by the next neurone at a specialised site called a receptor.

What is the role of synapse?

Transmit Information between neurones.

Unindirectional - can only pass impulses one way.

Check point 1
Draw and label a simple diagram of a synapse. 2. Describe the transmission of information across synapses. 3. State the role of the synapse in transmission.
1.

Coordinated response

Voluntary action
Controlled by conscious thought (under the

control of the will). Example:

Raising hand to answer the questions.

How is the information transmitted in voluntary action?

Involuntary action
Not controlled by the will of the individual.

Occurs automatically (without any conscious

control). Effectors involved:

Smooth muscles (digestive tract) Respiratory tract Blood vessels Glands

Cardiac muscles (heart)

Involuntary action
Example:
Peristalsis Breathing Contraction of blood vessels Heartbeat

Gland secretion

Reflex Action
An automatic response (occurs rapidly and

without conscious control). Involves contraction of the skeletal muscles and the spinal cord only!. Reflex arc : the pathway along which an impulse travels from the receptor to the effector.