The Nervous System

1. The Nervous System Module One: Booklet #4

2. TASK: To learn about the roles of the human nervous system and the parts that comprise it • INTENT: Learning about the nervous system helps us know how messages that are sent to the brain cause behaviour • CRITERIA: To be able to match structures of the human nervous system to their function http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-NgGKSNiNw (1:34)

3. KidsHealth – How the body works • http://kidshealth.org/kid/closet/movies/NSmovie.html#cat20580 (3:43)

4. Nervous System • Nervous system =Body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of nerve cells • Your nervous system controls everything in your body: • Emotions • Movement • Senses • Thinking • Behaviour

5. It is divided into 2 parts: • Central Nervous System (CNS) • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

6. Central Nervous System (CNS) • Includes the brain and the spinal cord • Command centre of the body • Interprets incoming information then sends out instruction on how the body should act

7. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) • Nerves branching out from the spinal cord • Part of nervous system outside of CNS • Conducts information form the bodily organs to the CNS and takes information back to the organs

8. PNS is divided into 2 parts: • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) • Controls internal biological functions (involuntary activities) • Ex: Heart rate, blood flow, breathing, digestion etc… • Somatic Nervous System (SNS) • Controls voluntary movement • Ex: skeletal muscle contraction (kick a ball)

11. Neurons (aka cells of the nervous system) • Nerves carry messages to and from the brain • Nerves are made up of neurons

12. A neuron is made up of 3 key parts: • Axon • Long fibre that carries nerveimpulsesaway from the cell body to the axon terminals • Can be very short or several feet in length

13. Cell Body • Contains the nucleus (brain of cell)and produces energy needed to “fuel” the neuron

14. Dendrite • Short, thick fibres that stick out from the cell body • Receives impulses (messages) from other neurons and send them to the cell body

15. Myelin sheath is another important part of the neuron • It is a fatty white substance • Insulates and protects the axon • Speeds the transmission of impulses

16. There is a space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron, this space is called the synapse • Messages are transmitted across the synapse through chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/neurons.html#lesson (5:03)

17. Types of Neurons

19. The Relationship between the Endocrine Glands and the Nervous System • The nervous system is one of two communication systems for sending information to and from the brain. The other is the endocrine system.

20. The endocrine system controls and excites growth and affects emotions and behavioursin people • Main function of endocrine system: To control the body’s functions through the production of chemicals called hormones(which travel in the bloodstream) • Hormones effect behaviour, metabolic processes and also act on the brain to directly influence moods and drives

21. Pituitary Gland • Pea-sized endocrine gland found at the base of the human brain • It is the centre of control for the endocrine system • It secretes nine hormones, many of which control the output of hormones by other endocrine glands (ex. Ovaries and Testes)

22. Hypothalamus • Controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland • It is an important link between the endocrine and nervous systems

23. Pineal Gland • May affect the sleep cycle

24. Effects of Genetics and Environment on Behaviour • Heredity is the transmission of characteristics from parents to children. • Genes are the basic units of heredity; they are reproduced and passed along from parents to children. They effect behaviour through building and modifying the physical structures of the body. • Environment is the world around you. Both heredity and environment affect your body and behaviour.