6. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system controls everything you do, including breathing, walking, thinking, and feeling. This system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of your body. The brain is the control center and the spinal cord is the major highway to and from the brain.

The Nervous System Functions

The Nervous System is in charge of controlling all the activities of the organism. Thanks to the nervous system we are able to know what is happening around us.

The stimuli that come from the outside are received through the sense organs: the eyes, nose, tongue, ears and skin. The signals travel from the sense organs to the brain, which gives the appropriate response to act.

How does the Nervous System Work?

Some functions depend on our will, such as walking. On the other hand, other functions don’t depend on us, such as the digestion of the food we eat, or breathing. Another example is our heart that “beats” involuntarily.

The nervous system is also responsible for saving our memories as it controls our feelings of joy, sadness, pain. It is responsible for perceiving, understanding and responding to information from different parts of the body through nerves and neurons.

Parts of the Neuron in the Human Body

The nervous system is made up of nerve cells called neurons. They transmit signals in our body through electro-chemical nerve impulses. They are highly specialized conducting cells and the basic unit of the nervous system.

What is a Nerve?

A nerve is a fiber that sends impulses through the body. The protoplasmic extensions of the nerve cells form the neural pathways called nerves. Sensory and motor impulses are conducted through the nerves just like the wires of the flowing electrical current.

Nervous System Functions

• Sensory: It perceives internal and external stimuli or changes from the sense organs. For example, it captures light, the pressure felt on the skin, the concentration of chemical substances dissolved in food or in aromas.

• Motor: It causes responses by activating muscles or glands. The nervous system can stimulate or inhibit muscles and glands to act or stop acting.

What is the most important function of the Nervous System?

The function of the nervous system without which life would not be possible. Is the adaptation of the organism to the environment. Along with the endocrine system, it is the director and coordinator of all the conscious and unconscious activities of the organism.

Our body can capture information, both from the external environment and from within the body. This information is processed by the nervous system and is used to make the orders that govern its operation.

The Central Nervous System is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

The brain is divided into three parts: the brain stem, the cerebellum, and the cerebrum proper.

1. Brain Stem

It is located on the spinal cord and is composed of: Mesencephalon, pons and the medulla oblongata. Function: Controls functions of your body such as digestion, breathing and heartbeat. From there the twelve pairs of cranial nerves are born.

2. Cerebellum: Functions

The cerebellum is located at the back of the head. The main role of the Cerebellum:

• It controls fine and coordinated movements (running, walking, writing, threading a needle, drawing lines) It also coordinates speech (the movements that allow you to speak).

• It maintains muscle tone and body posture.

• It processes the information coming from the inner ear related to the balance of the body.

Some of the associated functions of the cerebellum:

• Coordination of voluntary movement.

• Balance.

• Position.

• Motor learning.

• Sequence learning.

• Reflex memory.

• Mind function.

• Emotional processing.

3. Brain or Cerebrum

The brain is the one who commands our entire organism. It controls and regulates most of the body’s functions. It receives signals called stimuli and gives the appropriate response. If we feel that something is very hot or causes us pain, it gives us the indication to withdraw quickly and not hurt ourselves.

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a thick cord made up of many neurons, which is located inside the spinal column and establishes the connection between the brain and the rest of the body.

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