Download The Nervous System - Malibu High School

The Nervous System
Communication & Coordination
Functions of the Nervorus
System

Communicate Information: From the outside
world into the body and from within the body

Coordinate Activity: Controls all of your
body’s functions, both voluntary and
involuntary
Process




1. Sense organs (eyes,
ears, mouth, nose, skin)
bring in info to the brain
2. Other organs in the
body send info to the brain
3. Brain processes
information
4. Brain sends message
for any activity
ALL MESSAGING
is performed by neurons,
chemicals and electricity
COMPONENTS


Brain – the central processing unit of your
body…all your body’s activities are
controlled through your brain
Spinal cord – a bundle of nerve fibers that
relays messages to other parts of the body
 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM – brain and
spinal cord
 PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM – all nerves
that branch away from the central nervous
system
Components…

Meninges: fluid filled membranes that
surround the spinal cord and brain – for
protection
Autonomic Nervous System


This controls all automatic, involuntary
functions such as body temperature control,
heart beat, and breathing
HAS TWO divisions, the SYMPATHETIC
and the PARASYMPATHETIC
Sympathetic Nervous System

In response to information, this system gets the
body ready for FIGHT or FLIGHT
 Pupils dialate
 Heart Rate increases as blood pressure increases
 Blood moves from organs to limbs in preparation for
activity
 Endorphins are released
Parasympathetic Nervous
System

This system restores equilibrium to the body
and reverses the amping up the actions of
the sympathetic Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System

This part of your nervous system controls
ALL voluntary functions
 Actions you initiate
 Running
or Scratching an itch
 Dancing, drawing, playing an instrument
 Doing CPR
Interesting Facts


Meningitis- a serious illness caused by a
virus or bacteria in your meninges.
Symptoms include high fever, aches, and
head aches.
Spinal injury-severed or damaged nerve;
signals are not delivered past that point.