NERVOUS SYSTEM

- The nervous system is responsible for coordinating all of the body's

activities.
- It controls not only the maintenance of normal functions but also the
body's ability to cope with emergency situations.
Function
The nervous system has three general functions: a sensory function, an
interpretative function and a motor function.
1. Sensory nerves gather information from inside the body and the
outside environment. The nerves then carry the information to central
nervous system (CNS).
2. Sensory information brought to the CNS is processed and interpreted.
3. Motor nerves convey information from the CNS to the muscles and the
glands of the body.
Structure
The nervous system is divided into two parts:
1. The central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
These structures are protected by bone and cushioned from injury by
the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
2. The peripheral system which connects the central nervous system to
the rest of the body.
Parts of Nervous System:
The nervous system is broadly divided into central and peripheral
parts which are continuous with each other. Further subdivisions of
each part are given below.

Central nervous system (CNS) includes:

Central Nervous System

1. Brain or encephalon, which

occupies cranial cavity, and
contains the higher governing
centers.
2. Spinal cord or spinal medulla
, which occupies upper two-thirds
of the vertebral canal, and contains
many reflex centers.

Peripheral nervous system

(PNS) includes:

Peripheral Nervous System (In Blue)

1. Cerebrospinal nervous system is the somatic component of the
peripheral nervous system, which includes 12 pairs of cranial nerves
and 31pairs of spinal nerves. It innervates the somatic structures of
the head and neck, limbs and body wall, and mediates somatic
sensory and motor functions.
2. Peripheral autonomic nervous system is the visceral component of
the peripheral nervous system, which includes the visceral or
splanchnic nerves that are connected to the CNS through the somatic
nerves. It innervates the viscera, glands, blood vessels and nonstriated muscles, and mediates the visceral functions.
Central nervous system

These structures are protected by bone and cushioned from injury by

the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Brain
- Is a mass of soft nerve tissue, which is encapsulated within the skull.
- It is made up of grey matter, mainly nerve cell bodies, and white
matter which are the cell processes.
- Grey matter is found at the periphery of the brain and in the centre of
the spinal cord.
- White matter is found deep within the brain, at the periphery of the
spinal cord and as the peripheral nerves.
The brain is divided into:
Cerebrum
- the largest part of the brain.
- It is the centre for thought and intelligence.
- It is divided into right and left hemispheres.
- The right controls movement and activities on the left side of the body.
The left controls the right side of the body.
- Within the cerebrum are areas for speech, hearing, smell, sight,
memory, learning and motor and sensory areas.
Cerebral cortex
- the outside of the cerebrum.
- Its function is learning, reasoning, language and memory.
Cerebellum
- lies below the cerebrum at the back of the skull.
- Its functions are to control voluntary muscles, balance and muscle
tone.
Medulla
- controls heart rate, breathing, swallowing, coughing and vomiting.
- Together with the pons and the midbrain, the medulla forms the
brainstem that connects the cerebrum to the spinal chord.

Each lobe has a specific primary function & processes information

from the contralateral side of the body
Frontal lobe MOVEMENT
Parietal lobeSOMATOSENSORY
Occipital lobeVISION
Temporal lobe
HEARING AND MEMORY

The spinal cord

- Encased in vertebral column & meninges
- Buffered by CSF
- Extends as far as the L2 vertebra
- Gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves
- Different regions have specific functions
-