Functions
of the Nervous System
The Nervous System
The overall goal of the nervous system is to send and receive signals throughout the body to maintain homeostasis and respond to internal and external stimulus. This is arguably the most important body system as without it the others do not know how to function and to what degree.
Organs and Their Functions:
The Brain
- Interprets signals and produces appropriate responses
- The single most important organ in your body that conducts the hectic symphony of homeostasis
- The forebrain: processes sensory information and responsible for many processes (thinking, perceiving, language and speech, motor control, autonomic functions, etc.)
- Midbrain: with the hindbrain it makes up the brainstem, connects fore and hindbrain, ciontrols some functions (audio and visual interpretation, motor control)
- Hindbrain: maintains homeostasis, movement coordination, autonomic processes
Spinal Cord
- Like a big cable running from the brain
- The spinal cord acts as a highway that connects the brain to the rest of body that is not directly attached to the brain.
- Channels are sent up one of two parts and outgoing signals down another section
- Sends all messages to and from the brain everywhere except the upper body and higher
Neurons
- Responsible for the transmission and receiving of all chemical signals
- Connects all the organs to the spine or brain
- Make up what we call nerves
Difference of CNS and PNS?
Central Nervous System
The processing division of the nervous system, the brain and spinal cord receive and send information from the the peripheral nervous system. The brain receives the signal
from the spinal cord takes the signals, interprets and analyzes how to respond. After which the response it sent through the spinal cord to the PNS where...
Peripheral Nervous System
Divided into two systems; the sensory system and somatic system. The sensory system transmits information to the CNS from internal organs and external stimuli. The motor system sends information to organs muscles and glands from the CNS. The PNS is connected via spinal and cranial nerves that lead ultimately to the brain.