Nervous System

Differentiate The Parts Of The Nervous System

Nervous system is a processing system, and it is a system that allows us to be in touch with environment. It tells us that we are alive; the muscles enable us to move and to give response to the stimuli. Our consciousness resides in our nervous systems, as do our thoughts and emotions. In other words, the tasks of nervous system are as follows: react towards environmental stimuli, emotion, intelligence, thought, and self awareness and is responsible for co-ordination of movement. Nervous system is divided into two: (it is arbitrary division; the 2 systems function mutually and are linked with one another). The 2 systems: Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System

Central Nervous System: (CNS) - comprises of brain and spinal cord. The CNS that includes spinal cord and brain, process and integrates the information that has been sent by the nerves. Spine's vertebra encloses and even looks after soft neural tissue of spinal cord, just like the cranium protects brain (Nigel, 1997, pp. 22).

Peripheral nervous system is the second part of nervous system: the sensory and the motor nerves throughout our body build up the PNS. A message is sent to and from the central nervous system by peripheral nervous system. Central nervous system takes control of the body as it sends messages that run through motor nerves to take control of the muscles. Sensory nerves pass on the messages related to taste, touch, smell, pressure, vision, temperature, sound and pain to the central nervous system. Therefore, the messages of the motor nerves pass through central nervous system out to muscles of body and messages of sensory nerves pass through nerve endings in body back into central nervous system.

The PNS is moreover divided into autonomic and somatic system. Somatic system comprises of sensory receptors in head and the extremities, nerves that take sensory information to CNS, and the nerves that take instructions from CNS to skeletal muscles (Kent, George and Robert, 2001). Working of cardiac and smooth muscles and glandular secretions are controlled by the autonomic system. The divisions of autonomic system that includes sympathetic and parasympathetic usually function opposite to each other for the regulation of involuntary processes of body. Involuntary process, like peristalsis and heartbeat, are the processes which do not involve or require conscious control.

Describe And Outline The Function Of Each Type Of Neuron

Nervous system is made up of just two major cell types: neurons and the cells that hold neurons, which are known as glial cells. In PNS the neurons are packed together into nerves and into a tract in CNS. Nerves are macroscopic structurally whereas, the neurons are microscopic. Neurons are dedicated to react towards the chemical and physical stimuli, for the conduction of electrochemical signals, and to discharge the chemicals that help in regulation of numerous processes of the body. Neurons differ significantly in appearance and in size, based on their function and position in body. Three major kinds of neurons, although, make the necessary impulse ...