The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
The nervous system is responsible for intelligence, learning, memory, movement, the senses and basic body functions such as your heartbeat and breathing.
The basic building blocks of the nervous system are the nerve cells (neurons) which are responsible for carrying messages to and from different parts of the body.
The brain is in constant communication with all parts of the body, sending instructions and receiving input from the senses.
What is the nervous system?
The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
It controls many aspects of what you think, how you feel and what your body does. It allows you to do things such as walk, speak, swallow, breathe and learn. It also controls how the body reacts in stressful situations. The nervous system interprets and responds to information gathered through the senses.
What is function of the nervous system?
The main function of the nervous system is to be the body's communication network. Its main job is to send and receive messages between you and the outside world, and within your own body.
The nervous system is responsible for:
intelligence, learning and memory: your thoughts and feelings
physical movement
basic body functions such as the beating of your heart, breathing, digestion, sweating and shivering
the senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell
the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which consists of nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
The brain is made up of different parts. These include the:
cerebrum
cerebellum
thalamus
hypothalamus
brainstem
The brain's cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain that gives the brain its wrinkly appearance. The cerebral cortex is divided in half lengthways into two sides or hemispheres, the left hemisphere, and the right hemisphere. Each hemisphere specialises in different functions, but they share information and work together seamlessly.
Each brain hemisphere (parts of the cerebrum) has 4 different sections called lobes. These lobes are the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Each lobe carries out different brain functions.
The basic building blocks of the nervous system are the nerve cells, or neurons. The human brain has around 100 billion neurons. These cells are responsible for carrying messages to and from different parts of the body.
Neurons have a cell body which contain the cell's nucleus as well as special extension called dendrites and axons.
The synapse is the gap between the end of one neuron's axon and the tip of next neuron's dendrites. Messages travel from one neuron to the next across synapses.
How does the nervous system work?
The brain is in constant communication with all parts of the body, sending instructions and receiving input from the senses.
Outgoing messages from the brain are sent along motor pathways, which carry messages from the brain to the muscles to tell them to move. The neurons that make up these motor pathways are called motor neurons.
Incoming messages from the body to the brain are sent along sensory pathways. The sensory pathways detect things such as light and sound and carry information about these to the brain. The neurons that make up these sensory pathways are called sensory neurons.
The spinal cord carries motor and sensory signals between the brain and nerves. The spinal cord also contains separate circuits for many reflexes.
One part of the nervous system, called the autonomic nervous system, controls a lot of the body processes that function automatically, for example, breathing, sweating or shivering.
There are 2 parts to the autonomic nervous system:
the sympathetic nervous system, which controls how you respond in an emergency or when you are under stress (for example, it makes your heart beat faster and causes you to release adrenaline)
the parasympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for rest
These parts work together to manage how the body responds to your changing environment and needs. For example, your pupils change size to allow the right amount of light into your eyes to allow effective vision.
What medical conditions are related to the nervous system?
There are thousands of conditions that start in or affect the central nervous system, including:
There are also many diseases that affect the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nerves include the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord such as nerves of the face, arms, legs and torso. Read more on diseases of the peripheral nervous system.
It is important to seek medical help if you have symptoms that do not go away on their own.
Learn about peripheral neuropathy, including types, treatment, prognosis and where to get support. Peripheral neuropathy can also be a side effect of cancer treatment – read more on the cancer Council website.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.
What Is the Nervous System? The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and a complex network of nerves. This system sends messages back and forth between the brain and the body. The brain is what controls all the body's functions. The spinal cord runs from the brain down through the back.
Summary. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.The peripheral nervous system is comprised of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The somatic nervous system transmits sensory and motor signals to and from the central nervous system.
The central nervous system (defined as the brain and spinal cord) is usually considered to have seven basic parts: the spinal cord, the medulla, the pons, the cerebellum, the midbrain, the diencephalon, and the cerebral hemispheres (Figure 1.10; see also Figure 1.8).
The three main parts of your nervous system are your brain, spinal cord and nerves. It helps you move, think and feel. It even regulates the things you do but don't think about like digestion.
Infections, such as meningitis, encephalitis, polio, and epidural abscess. Structural disorders, such as brain or spinal cord injury, Bell's palsy, cervical spondylosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, brain or spinal cord tumors, peripheral neuropathy, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The brain is what controls all the body's functions. The spinal cord runs from the brain down through the back. It contains threadlike nerves that branch out to every organ and body part. This network of nerves relays messages back and forth from the brain to different parts of the body.
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord: The brain controls how we think, learn, move, and feel. The spinal cord carries messages back and forth between the brain and the nerves that run throughout the body.
The simplest form of behavior, called a reflex, involves impulse conduction over a few neurons. This path is called a reflex arc. A. Sensory or afferent neurons transmit impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord or brain.
The potentially beneficial nutrients with a protective effect on the nervous system function include amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, taurine), glucose and vitamins C, E, D and beta-carotene, B group vitamins (vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin B4, vitamin B1) and minerals (selenium, zinc, magnesium, ...
Without nerve cells, we wouldn't know if it's dark or light, hot or cold. We wouldn't be able to touch anything or feel if someone is touching us. We wouldn't be able to smell or taste anything and would have no idea that we have an upset stomach or that we have cut ourselves.
You can self-regulate your nervous system during stress, which helps to return it back to normal as soon as the stressor has passed, a period called the window of tolerance. It is normal for the nervous system to undergo a healing process after traumatic experiences, which can take approximately one month or more.
Stress can cause an imbalance of neural circuitry subserving cognition, decision making, anxiety and mood that can increase or decrease expression of those behaviors and behavioral states. This imbalance, in turn, affects systemic physiology via neuroendocrine, autonomic, immune and metabolic mediators.
Numbness, tingling,or weakness. Or you may not be able to move a part or all of one side of the body (paralysis). Dimness, blurring, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Loss of speech, trouble talking, or trouble understanding speech.
Body-based therapies, such as yoga, tai chi, or qigong, can be beneficial in treating a dysregulated nervous system. These practices combine gentle physical movements with breathwork to promote relaxation, improve body awareness and enhance overall well-being.
Good sources of these vitamins include citrus fruits, berries, dark chocolate and herbal teas such as lavender or chamomile (avoid teas with caffeine). For the B vitamins in particular, choose whole grains and nuts.
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and extend to all parts of the body.
Both the brain and the spinal cord are protected by bone: the brain by the bones of the skull, and the spinal cord by vertebrae , a set of ring-shaped bones. They're both cushioned by layers of membranes (called meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid.
Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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