NERVES AND SENSES

1- THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

It lets us interact with the world around us and controls the other systems in the body

2 main parts:

The central nervous system the peripheral nervous system

The brain the spinal cord nerves

sensory nerves motor nerves mixed nerves

The cerebrum

The cerebellum

The brain stem

The brain: is inside the skull. It has got 3 parts:

Cerebrum the cerebellum the brain stem

The largest part at the back of the brain connects the brain with the spinal column

It receives information from the sense organs helps you to keep the balance and posture controls respiration and circulation
automatically
Is where the brain does activities: thinking,
feeling and remembering
The spinal cord: inside the spinal column

transmits information between the brain and the peripheral nervous system

controls special involuntary movements ( reflexes)

 Nerves: are long fibres made of nerve cells for neurons.

They transmit tiny electrical signals

Sensory nerves motor nerves mixed nerves

From tissues and organs from the central nervous system to muscles in both directions( to and from the
Central nervous system)

2- NERVE CELLS ( Neurons)

They transmit and receive information in the form of tiny electrical signals ( nerve impulses)

They have got 2 parts:

Dendrites the axon

Receive nerve impulses from the axons of other nerve cells transmits nerve impulses to the dendrites of other nerve cells

3- HOW THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WORKS

The central nervous system receives and interprets nerve impulses, then it sends the nerve impulses back to the body.

When the nerve impulses go to the muscles, they make them to move. These movements can be:
 Voluntary movements: they go from the brain. They arent automatic:
1- Sense organs detect information from the environment
2- Sensory nerves transmit the information to the central nervous system
3- Motor nerves transmit the nerve impulses from the brain to the muscles

Involuntary movements: go from the spinal cord. Theyre automatic:

1-sense organs detect information

2- sensory nerves transmit information to the spinal cord

4- Motor nerves transmit the nerve impulses to the muscles

4-SIGHT

It lets you see things with your eyes. They detect information about the shape, colour and location

Parts:

Cornea iris pupil lens retina

Transparent layer made of muscles fibres lets light into the eye focuses light on the retina thin layer that detect light

that open and close pupil and colours

Protect iris and pupil

HOW THE EYES WORKS

1- Light goes into the pupil and passes through the lens
2- Projects an image onto the retina. The optic cells detect the light and colours and send nerves impulses to the optic nerve
3- The brain interprets the impulses and turn the image
 5-SMELL

It lets you smell with your nose

Parts:

Nasal passages Olfactory cells olfactory nerve

Particles go into them Detect the particles and transmit the impulses to the brain

send nerve impulses to the olfactory nerve

TASTE

It lets you taste with your tongue.

Parts:

Taste buds gustatory nerves

are pink bumps chemical mix with saliva

detect special chemicals and produce nerve impulses transmit the impulses to the brain

6-HEARING

It lets you hear things when your ears and help you to keep balance
Parts:

Outer ear middle ear inner ear

Ear canal eardrum ossicles 3 tiny bones semicircular canals cochlea

Hammer anvil stirrup

1- Sound waves go into the ear canal and hit the eardrum

2- The eardrum vibrates

3- It makes the ossicles vibrate too and transmit the vibrations to the cochlea

4- The cochlea produce nerve impulses. The auditory nerve transmit them to the brain.

7-TOUCH

It lets you touch and feel with the skin.

The skin :

detects pressure, temperature, textures lets feel pain keeps bacteria out of the body and produce vitamin D
 helps to control the temperature

It has got 2 layers: epidermis (outer) and dermis ( inner)

1- The nerve endings in the dermis detect information and produce nerve impulses

2- The sensory nerves transmit them to the brain