Nervous System

Coordinates all activities of the body

Enables the body to respond and adapt to changes both inside and out
Divided into 2: the CNS and the PNS

Central Nervous System

Made up of 2 basic structures: the brain and the spinal cord

The Brain
It is found in the cranium or skull.
It is the control center for registering sensations correlating them with one another and stored information, and
making appropriate decisions and taking action.
It is also the center for intellect, emotions, behavior, and memory.

Major Sections of the Brain:

a. Cerebrum (temperature, appetite, water balance,

- largest section sleep, and blood vessel constriction
- divided into 2 hemispheres: left and right and dilation); plays a role in human
- divided into 4 lobes: emotions (anger, fear, pleasure, pain,
● Frontal - reasoning and thought; affection)
● Parietal - integrates sensory d. Brainstem
information - Contains sensory and motor tracts; connects
● Temporal - processes auditory to the spinal cord
information from the ears - Has 3 parts:
● Occipital - processes visual ● Midbrain
information from the eyes - located below Cerebrum
b. Cerebellum - responsible for eye and auditory reflexes
- located below the cerebrum and above C! ● Pons
- Responsible for: muscle coordination - located below the midbrain, in the brainstem
balance, posture, and muscle tone - responsible for certain reflex actions
c. Diencephalon ● Medulla Oblongata
- found between the cerebrum and midbrain - located at the lowest part of the brainstem
- made up of 2 structure: - connects to the spinal cord
● Thalamus - a relay station that directs - responsible for heart and blood vessel
sensory impulses to the Cerebrum function, digestion, respiration, swallowing,
● Hypothalamus - controls and regulates coughing, sneezing, and blood pressure
autonomic system functions

Other Parts of the Brain:

a. Pituitary Gland - A group of interconnected nuclei in the

- Pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base cerebral hemisphere
of the brain below the hypothalamus - Responsible for the initiation and and
- Also called “master gland” coordination of voluntary movements and
- Produces some of the important hormones in cognitive functions
the body - Also responsible for the reward system in
- Similar in function and anatomy to the the brain
hypothalamus c. Reticular Formation
b. Basal Ganglia
 - A network of neurons that extend from the d. Limbic System/Lobe
spinal cord to the hypothalamus - Responsible for regulating emotions, and
- Enables consciousness, sensory and motor emotional responses, formation of basic
function, and endocrine and neurotransmitter emotions like hunger and fear, and memory
regulation

Spinal Cord
It is the link between the brain and the nerves in the rest of the body.
divided into 4 regions:

a. Cervical (C1-C8) - Afferent carries information from

b. Thoracic (T1-T12) the body to the brain
c. Lumbar (L1-L5) - Efferent carries information to the
d. Afferent and Efferent Spinal Nerves body from the brain

External Anatomy of the Spinal Cord

1. Cervical Enlargement 3. Conus Medullaris

- The superior spinal enlargement - Conus means “cone”
- Extends from C4 to T1 Vertebra - The spinal cord terminates as a tapering,
- This is where nerves to and from the upper conical structure, which ends at the level of
limbs arise the intervertebral disc between L1 and L2
4. Filum Terminale
2. Lumbar Enlargement - Means “terminal filament”
- The inferior spinal enlargement - It is an extension of the pia mater that
- Extends from T9 to T12 vertebra extends inferiorly, fuses with the arachnoid
- This is where nerves to and from the lower and dura mater, and anchors the spinal cord
limbs arise to the coccyx

Internal Anatomy and Physiology of the Spinal Cord

1. Central Canal - Has 2 routes:

- extends the length of the spinal cord that is a. Spinothalamic tract
filled with cerebrospinal fluid - nerve impulses for sensing pain, temperature,
2. Posterior Gray Horn itch, and tickle
- contains axons of incoming sensory neurons, b. Posterior column
and cell bodies and axons of intersensory - nerve impulses for touch, pressure, vibration,

neurons; center of the gray commissure and conscious proprioception (position and

3. Lateral Gray Horn movements of muscles, tendons, and joints)

- contains autonomic motor nuclei for the ● Motor Tracts (descending)

- Contains axons that carry nerve impulses
cardiac and smooth muscle and glands; only
from the brain
present in the thoracic and upper lumbar
- Has 2 pathways:
segments
a. Direct motor pathways
4. Anterior Gray Horn
- Also called pyramidal pathways
- contains somatic motor neurons for the
- Nerve impulses from the cerebral cortex to
skeletal muscles
cause voluntary movements of skeletal
muscles
5. Posterior, Lateral, and Anterior White
Columns b. Indirect motor pathways
- Contains bundles of axons called tracts which - Also called extrapyramidal pathways

carry similar information and have a common - Nerve impulses from the brainstem to cause

origin and destination automatic movements, help coordinate body

● Sensory Tracts (ascending) movements to visual stimuli, maintain skeletal

- Contains axons that conduct nerve impulse muscle tone, sustain contraction of postural
towards the brain muscles, and in equilibrium by regulating muscle
tone in response to head movements

Reflexes
These are the fast, involuntary, unplanned sequence of actions that occur in response to a particular stimulus.
Types of Reflexes:

1. Spinal reflex - Ex. tracking movement of the eyes when

- Integration occurs in the spinal cord gray reading
matter 3. Somatic reflex
- Ex. patellar reflex - Contraction of the skeletal muscles
2. Cranial reflex 4. Autonomic (Visceral) reflex
- Integration occurs in the brain stem - Responses of smooth muscles, cardiac
muscles, and glands

Reflex Arc

1. Sensory Receptor - production of a graded 2. Sensory Neuron - nerve impulse travel and
potential in response to a specific stimulus arrive to the part of the brain that allows
conscious awareness that a reflex has
occurred
3. Integrating Center - one (monosynaptic reflex arc) or more (polysynaptic reflex arc) regions of gray
matter in the CNS
4. Motor Neuron - nerve impulses travel to the 5. Effector - the part of the body that
body part that will respond via the motor responds to motor nerve impulses
neuron

Polysynaptic Reflexes

1. Tendon reflex 2. Flexor (Withdrawal) 3. Crossed extensor reflex

- Ipsilateral reflex - Contralateral
- Prevents damage to the - Also ipsilateral - Allows the weight of the
muscles and tendons - Moves a limb away from body to shift when a
when muscle force is a source of a painful supporting limb is
too extreme stimulus withdrawn

Protection of the Brain and Spinal Cord

1. Cranium/Skull - Between it and the dura mater is the thin

- Part of the skeletal system that surrounds subdural space, which contains interstitial fluid
and protects the brain ● Pia Mater
- Means “delicate mother”
2. Vertebral Column - A thin, transparent connective tissue layer
- Surrounds the spinal cord, and helps it in that adheres to the surface of the spinal
bending and turning cord and the brain
- Within it are many blood vessels that supply
3. Meninges
oxygen and nutrients to the brain and spinal
- Layers of additional protection
cord
- Consists of 3 layers:
- Between it and the arachnoid mater is the
● Dura Mater
subarachnoid space that contains the
- Means “tough mother”
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Outermost layer
- A thick strong layer composed of dense
4. Cerebrospinal Fluid
irregular tissues
- A clear, colorless liquid that composed
- In the spinal cord, it forms a sac from the
primarily of water from blood that protects
foramen magnum in the occipital bone to the
the brain and spinal cord from injuries
second sacral vertebra (S2)
- Has 3 basic functions in maintaining
- In the brain, it separates the left hemisphere
homeostasis:
and the right hemisphere of the cerebrum
a. Mechanical Protection
● Arachnoid Mater - absorbs shock for the brain and spinal cord;
- Means “spider-like mother”
buoys the brain in the cranium
- The middle layer
b. Chemical Protection
- A thin, avascular covering composed of cells
and thin, loosely arranged collagen fibers
- Provides an optimal chemical environment for 5. Denticulate Ligaments
accurate neuronal signaling - Denticulate means “small tooth”
c. Circulation - Triangular-shaped extensions of the
- Serves as a medium of minor exchange pia mater that fuses with the
nutrients and waste products between blood arachnoid mater and inner surface of
and adjacent nerve tissues the dura mater
- Keeps the meninges intact

Peripheral Nervous System

The nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord
Divided into smaller systems:

1. Somatic Nervous System 2. Autonomic Nervous System

- Carries motor and sensory information - Responsible for involuntary/automatic bodily
- Made up of nerves that connect to skin, movements
sensory organs, and skeletal muscles - Divided into 2:
- Responsible for nearly all voluntary muscle ● Sympathetic Nervous System
movements - Vital to survival; “fight or flight response”
- Processes sensory information from - Revs up the body to either defend itself or
external stimuli (hearing, touch, and sight) escape the threat
- Afferent Sensory Neurons - conducting ● Parasympathetic Nervous System
inward - Counterbalance to the sympathetic response

- Efferent Motor Neurons - conducting to danger

outward - Once the threat is gone, it brings all systems

of the body to go back to normal

Cranial Nerves
OH, OH, OH, TO TOUCH AND FEEL a VIRGIN GIRL’S VAGINA AND HYMEN
SOME SAY MARRY MONEY BUT MY BROTHER SAYS BIG BOOBS MATTER MORE
All are located in the brainstem.

Cranial Nerve Type of Location Function

Nerve

I - Olfactory Sensory Nasal cavity Sense of smell

II - Optic Sensory Back of the eye Sense of sight/vision

III - Oculomotor Motor Orbit of the eye Movement of upper eyelids; dilation of
pupils

IV - Trochlear Motor Inner ear Inward or downward movement of the

eyeball

V - Trigeminal Both Face Chewing and clenching teeth;, sensation to

eyes, forehead, nose, and teeth

Vi - Abducens Motor Orbit of the eye Outward movement of the eye

Vii - Facial Both Face Facial expressions; sensation of taste and

external ear

VIII - Vestibulocochlear Sensory Hearing and balance; frequency and

magnitude of sound

IX - Glossopharyngeal Both Pharynx Helps stylopharyngeus muscle to widen

or shorten; sensation from throat,
tonsils, middle ear, and back of the
tongue

X - Vagus Both Head, neck, Movement to the throat and soft palate;
thorax, abdomen sensation from the outer part of the
ear, throat, heat, and abdominal region;
regulate heartbeats, muscles of airway,
 lungs, and GI tract

XI - Accessory Motor Neck Controls sternocleidomastoid and

trapezius in shoulder elevation
head-turning functions

XII - Hypoglossal Motor Tongue Movement of the tongue