The Nervous System

The Nervous System

Introduction

The human body possesses the specific system for each metabolic activity. These systems of body work in coordination with each other. One imperative system, to which all the systems allied to perform in the normal pattern adequately, is Nervous System. Nervous system involves in various tasks. It is comprised of peripheral nervous system and central nervous system. These systems divided into further parts containing various functions to perform.

Discussion

Normal Anatomy/ Physiology of Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Autonomic and sensory somatic nervous systems comprise the peripheral nervous system. The motor and sensory neurons coordinate the vital organs of the body to the central nervous system. These neurons are imperative in structuring the autonomic nervous system. The vital body organs are viscera, heart, lungs, kidney, endocrine and exocrine glands. Peripheral nervous system encompasses two branches; parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. The nerves of the parasympathetic system originate from the medulla oblongata and lower part of the spinal cord. Vagus nerve is the key nerve of this system. Parasympathetic neurons release neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine. Parasympathetic system generates the response of rest and digest. It returns the functions of the body to normal such as production of glycogen in liver, turning on GI peristalsis, slowing down the heart rate and reduction of blood pressure (Koopman et al, 2011).

On the other hand, sympathetic nervous system brings the phase of attention or raised activity. Such condition of fight or flight response cause increase in production of glucose from glycogen, inhibits the GI peristalsis, reduce heart rate and decrease blood pressure (Koopman et al, 2011). The other system associated to peripheral nervous system is sensory somatic nervous system. It is comprised of thirty-one spinal nerves pair and twelve cranial nerves pair. Each nerve possesses definite function. Some of the cranial nerves are sensory or motor, and some are of mixed type. Whereas all the spinal nerves are of mix of sensory and motor nerves.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Horner & Gage (2000) described the composition and functions of central nervous system as follows: Spinal cord and brain make up the central nervous system of the human body. Spinal cord relay messages from the brain to glands, smooth muscles, cardiac and skeletal muscles. Moreover, it also transmits the information from both systems of PNS to the brain. Brain consists of rhombencephalon, mesencephalon and prosencephalon. It takes delivery of nerve impulses from twelve cranial nerves ...