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Nervous System. Basics. Intricate communication network Regulates functions and behaviour of the body Composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Characteristics of the NS. Helps to maintain homeostasis Receives and processes information throughout the body
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Basics • Intricate communication network • Regulates functions and behaviour of the body • Composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves
Characteristics of the NS • Helps to maintain homeostasis • Receives and processes information throughout the body • Integrates mass amounts of information very quickly (over 300km / hour)
How it works • Receives information from a stimulus • Responds with the body • Examples??? • Stimulus – Reception – Response
Stimuli • We usually think of stimulus coming from the exterior • Can also come from inside the body (medications in the bloodstream)
Other Systems • The nervous system must work with other systems in order to function • the sensory system • the motor system
Example • Eye would be part of the sensory system • Receives the information from a stimulus • Legs are part of the motor system which responds to the stimulus
2 Kinds of Cells • Neurons • active cells in the nervous system • conduct nerve impulses (electrical signals) • Glial Cells • do not conduct nerve impulses • “glue cells” – provide support • holds neurons together (telephone wire)
Nerve Anatomy • Neurilemma – • Thin membrane that surrounds the axon • Promotes regeneration of damaged axons • Why feeling gradually returns to fingers following a paper cut • Severed neurons are rejoined
Nerve Anatomy • Dendrites – Receive information, conduct nerve impulses toward cell body. • Axon – Carries information toward other neurons or effectors, away from the cell body (more than 100 in a human hair) • Myelin Sheath – Layer of white fatty protein, formed by the Scwann cells and insulates the axon by preventing loss of charged ions • Nodes of Ranvier – areas between sections of myelin sheath
Myelin Sheath • Variety of diseases / disorders involving the myelin sheath • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) • Covering is lost in some places, lesions • Interferes with conduction of electrical signals to and from brain • Problems walking, vision, fatigue, numbness, possibly cognitive dysfunction
White and Gray Matter • White Matter: • Nerves in the brain that contain both a myelin sheath and neurilemma • Gray Matter: • Nerves in the brain and spinal cord that lack a myelin sheath • Any damage is perminant
Ganglia • Neurons are not found randomly throughout the body • Ganglia – Locations at which the cell bodies of several neurons are clustered together • Exist in the peripheral nervous system
Kinds of Neurons • Sensory Neurons • Relay information from the environment to the central nervous system for processing • Senses
Kinds of Neurons • Motor Neurons • Relay information to the effectors (muscles and glands) • Ex. Tells your muscles to move (fingers)
Kinds of Neurons • Interneurons • Link neurons within the body • Found mostly in the brain and spinal cord • Integrate and interpret the sensory information and connect to motor neurons