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Functional Divisions of the Nervous System

The nervous system is a complex network that coordinates body activities through the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). It has three functional areas: sensory, integration, and motor systems, and is composed of neurons and glial cells. The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, which process sensory information and generate responses.

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17 views2 pages

Functional Divisions of the Nervous System

The nervous system is a complex network that coordinates body activities through the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). It has three functional areas: sensory, integration, and motor systems, and is composed of neurons and glial cells. The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, which process sensory information and generate responses.

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XiXi
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The nervous system is a complex network of tissues and organs that coordinates the body's

activities by transmitting signals between different parts. It is divided into two main structural
components: the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, which process and integrate sensory information
and generate responses. The PNS consists of nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the
body, facilitating communication13.

Functional Divisions
The nervous system can be categorized into three functional areas:

1.​ Sensory (Afferent) System: Detects stimuli through receptors and transmits this
information to the CNS. This includes somatic senses (e.g., touch, pain), visceral senses
(e.g., internal organ sensations), and special senses (e.g., vision, hearing)1.​

2.​ Integration: Occurs in the CNS, where sensory information is processed to generate
appropriate responses. This involves both basic bodily functions and complex
decision-making1.​

3.​ Motor (Efferent) System: Carries signals from the CNS to effectors like muscles or
glands, enabling responses such as movement or secretion. It includes the Somatic
Nervous System (voluntary control of skeletal muscles) and the Autonomic Nervous
System (ANS) (involuntary control of smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, and glands).
The ANS is further divided into the Sympathetic (fight or flight) and Parasympathetic
(rest and digest) divisions13.​

Basic Units
The nervous system is composed of two primary cell types:

1.​ Neurons: These are the functional units that transmit electrical signals. Each neuron
consists of a cell body (soma), dendrites (receive signals), and an axon (conducts
signals away from the cell body). Neurons are classified into afferent (sensory), efferent
(motor), and interneurons (relay signals within the CNS)1.​

2.​ Glial Cells: These support neurons by insulating, protecting, and maintaining their
environment. They play a crucial role in the repair and regulation of neural tissue1.​

Central Nervous System (CNS)


The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord. The brain is divided into the cerebrum (higher
functions like thinking and memory), diencephalon (s

Citations:

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