Chapter 33-2

Organization of the Nervous

System
Biology 30 -NWRC
The CNS and the PNS
The CNS consists
of the brain and
spinal cord. It is
mainly
interneurons – it
coordinates the
bodies activities
The PNS consists
of sensory and
motor neurons
which carry info to
and from the CNS.
The CNS and the PNS
.

Central Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

 Brain has 2 Hemispheres
• Left & Right sides
are separate
Corpus Callosum
• Corpus Callosum : Right
Hemisphere
major pathway
between
hemispheres
• Some functions are
‘lateralized’
– language on left
Left
– math, music on right Hemisphere

• Lateralization is
never 100%
The Cerebrum
• The Cerebrum: The
cerebrum or cortex is
the largest part of the
human brain,
associated with
higher brain function
such as thought and
action. The cerebral
cortex is divided into
four sections
 Each hemisphere is
divided into 4 lobes
Frontal

Parietal

Occipital

Temporal
The Cerebrum
• Frontal Lobe-
associated
with reasoning, planning,
parts of speech,
movement, emotions, and
problem solving
• Parietal Lobe- associated
with movement,
orientation, recognition,
perception of stimuli
• Occipital Lobe- associated
with visual processing
• Temporal Lobe- associated
with perception and
recognition of auditory
stimuli, memory, and
speech
 Corpus Callosum
• Major ( but not only)
pathway between sides
Medial surface of right hemisphere
• Connects comparable
structures on each side
• Permits data received
on one side to be
processed in both
hemispheres
Corpus Callosum
• Aids motor coordination
of left and right side
The Brain Stem

The brainstem is
located at the
juncture of the
cerebrum and
the spinal
column. It
consists of the
midbrain,
medulla
oblongata, and
the pons.
The Brain Stem- medulla oblongata

Controls
Autonomic
Functions
Relays Nerve
Signals
Between the
Brain and
Spinal Cord
The Brain Stem- pons
The pons
functions to relay
signals from
the cortex to
assist in the
control of
movement,
breathing and is
also involved with
the control of
sleep and
arousal.
The Brain Stem- hypothalamus
The
hypothalamus
connects with
many other
regions of the
brain and is
responsible for
controlling
hunger, thirst,
emotions, body
temperature
regulation, and
circadian
rhythms.
Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Skeletal Autonomic
(Somatic)

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
The Somatic Nervous System
The somatic nervous
system controls skeletal
PNS muscle as well as external
sensory organs such as
the skin. This system is
said to be voluntary
because the responses can
Somatic Autonomic
be controlled consciously.
Reflex reactions of skeletal
muscle however are an
exception. These are
involuntary reactions to
external stimuli.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous
system controls
PNS involuntary muscles, such
as smooth and cardiac
muscle. This system is
also called the involuntary
nervous system. The
Somatic Autonomic
autonomic nervous system
can further be divided into
the parasympathetic and
sympathetic divisions.
The Autonomic Nervous System

PNS The Sympathetic Nervous System

Nerves of the sympathetic
Autonomic
division speed up heart rate,
dilate pupils, and relax the
s para bladder. The sympathetic
ymp sym system is also involved in the
Somatic flight or fight response. This is a
athe path
tic etic response to potential danger
that results in accelerated heart
rate and an increase in
metabolic rate.
The Autonomic Nervous System

PNS The Parasympathetic Nervous System

Autonomic The parasympathetic

division controls
s para various functions which
Somatic ymp sym include inhibiting heart
athe path rate, constricting pupils,
tic etic
and contracting the
bladder.
Assessment Questions
• 1. The CNS is made up of
the brain and spinal cord.
The brain has 100 billion
neurons – the spinal cord
is a column of nerves
extending from the brain
to the lower back The
PNS is made of bundles
of neurons that branch
out to all parts of the body
to send information to
and from the CNS
Assessment Questions
• 2. Both systems are part
of the PNS – The somatic
communicates sensory
info to the brain and
instruction from the brain
to the skeletal muscles.
• The autonomic nervous
system carries the
impulse for the brain to
the internal organs and
glands
Assessment Questions
• 3. This would involve the
autonomic nervous
system – specifically the
sympathetic system.

• The end