THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The functions of the nervous system are: To allow the different parts of the body to work together, that is coordinate. To allow the individual to be aware of and react to its surroundings. The things in the surroundings to which we react are called stimuli (singular: stimulus) and the way we react is called a response.

Study the two cartoons below and identify the stimulus and the response in each case by completing the table below.

CARTOON STIMULI Angus dropped a brick on his foot 1. Bones saw cat, Tug on the lead 2.

RESPONSE
Angus shouting and grabbing foot

Bones chased the cat, Rosie is chasing after dog with leash

THE STRUCTURE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Using the diagram identify the three main parts. 1. 2. 3.

Brain Spinal Cord Nerves to and from the body

The nervous system is often divided into two sections: 1. The Central Nervous System , often abbreviated to C.N.S. 2. The Peripheral Nervous System, abbreviated to P.N.S. Classify the parts labeled in the diagram as belonging to the central or peripheral nervous systems . C.N.S. P.N.S.
Nerves to and from leg and arm internal organs of abdomen and chest

Brain and Spinal Cord

THE BRAIN
The two functions of the brain are to: 1. To receive messages from the sense organs in the body and to send messages to other parts of the body to respond if required. 2. To store information from past experiences so we can learn remember and think. This allows humans to speak, solve problems and be creative.

What type and number of cells are found in the brain of an adult?
Approximately 10 000 million nerve cells

Using the diagram identify the three main parts of the brain. 1. 2. 3. PART
Cerebellum
Medulla Cerebrum

FUNCTION (job)
Receives sensations from sense organs it is the place where thinking, remembering and problem solving occur. Places where voluntary decisions are made

Controls muscles of the body so that they work in harmony

Controls involuntary bodily processses like heartbeat, blood, circulation, salivation and cell respiration

Briefly describe the function of each part in the table above. What is the cortex?
Outer wrinlked part of the cerebrum

What jobs are done by different parts of the cortex?

All jobs listed next to cerebrum

To investigate the different parts of the brain further click on these links. http://www.pbs.org/saf/1101/features/brain_game.htm http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/braindissection/index.html

THE SPINAL CORD

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Carries nervous impulses to and from the brain

How is the spinal cord connected to the rest of the body?

By 31 pairs of nerves branching out through the backbone

What protects the spinal cord from damage?

Vertebrae

Distinguish between a paraplegic and a quadriplegic?

A paraplegic is a person who cannot control their leg movements while a quadriplegic cannot control arm and leg movements

SENSES, SENSE ORGANS AND THEIR SENSORY NERVES

What is the job of the five main senses in the human body?
Inform us about what is happening in our surroundings

What are (a) the sense organs?

parts of the body that detect what is happening in our surroundings

(b) the sensory nerves?

Nerves that carry information from the same organs to the central nervous system

Complete the following table by identifying the organ for each sense and name the sensory nerve. SENSE Sight Hearing Taste Smell Touch SENSE ORGAN
Eyes

Ears Tongue
Nose

Skin

SENSORY NERVE Optic ____________ nerve Auditory ____________ nerve tastebuds olfactory _____________ nerve Contains different types of sensory nerve endings to detect different stimuli.

SENSORY NERVE ENDINGS IN THE SKIN

NORMAL PATH OF A NERVOUS IMPULSE

Distinguish between receptors and effectors.
Receptors receive information from the surroundings while effectors respond to the information

Identify the receptors and effectors found in the human body. RECEPTORS
Sensory Organs

EFFECTORS
Muscles and Glands

Using the diagram above to create a flow chart that shows the normal path of an electric impulse through the body from the receptor to the effector as a person finds their keys in their pocket. REMEMBER in flow charts to use elongated circles for the start or end of the process , rectangles to indicate the steps in the process and diamonds for the points at which decisions are made.

On paper

Complete the following paragraph to describe the path of an electric impulse for a girl that is picking a flower.
optic The girl sees the flower and the _________ nerve in her eye sends an electrical impulse to her spinal brain ___________which makes a decision to pick the flower. The message is relayed down the ___________ cord motor muscles _________ to the _________ nerves leading to the __________ in your body which allows you to pick the flower.

REFLEX ACTIONS
What is a reflex action?
A reflex action is one in which a person responds automatically without making a decision to act

When do reflex actions normally occur?

When the body could be harmed

Is the brain is informed of a reflex action?

The brain is informed after the response has been made

What can happen when the brain is informed?

If you have been injured you will feel pain

Using the diagram produce a flow chart that shows the path of hthe reflex action produced when the girl picking the rose catches her finger on a thorn.

On paper

THE NERVES
Inside each nerve there are bundles of tiny nerve fibres along which the the signals travel. Each of these fibres is part of a single nerve cell or neurone. Each neurone has a nerve cell body which contains a nucleus. Signals go into the nerve cell body along one or more fibres called dendrites and leave by another fibre called an axon. The signals travel along these nerve fibres are in the form of tiny pulses of electricity.

Below is a very simple diagram of showing the path of nerve impulse travelling from a receptor to an effector through nerve cells.

Below are more detailed diagrams of the different types of nerve cells encountered along the way.

Using the diagram identify the three types of nerve cells. 1. 2. 3. TYPE OF NERVE CELL
Sensory Neurones

FUNCTION (JOB)
To conduct messages from the sense organs to the central nervous system

Connector Neurones

To pass messages from sensory to motor neurones

Motor Neurones

To conduct messages from the central nervous system to the effectors

Describe the job of each type of nerve cell in the table above. Using the diagrams contrast a sensory neurone with a motor neurone.

inThe nerve cell body of a sensory neurone is at the side, but in the motor neurone it is a the end of the nerve. The nerve impulse exits the cell by the end branches in a sensory nerve and enters via these end branches in the motor neuronce. Motor nerves end at muscles and sensory nerves end at the spina

What are: (a) dendrites?

Dandrites are fibres in neurones where the signal enters

(b) axons?
Axons are fibres where in neurones where the signal leaves

In what direction do nerve impulses travel in a nerve cell?

From dendrites to axons

What is the function of the fatty sheath around the nerve cell?
To stop the impulses from travelling into the adjacent nerve cells

What type of cell is bundled together to make: 1. 2. 3. sensory nerves? motor nerves? mixed nerves?

Where would connecting nerve cells be found?

In the spinal cord and the brain

How are the nerve cells in the brain different to nerve cells in the body?
Nerve cells in the brain are not long and thin instead they control of the cell body with lots of branches

The following diagram shows how the nervous impulse is electrically transmitted along a nerve cell.

NO NERVOUS IMPULSE :At rest there is a difference in electrical charge between inside and outside of the nerve fibre called the RESTING POTENTIAL

NERVOUS IMPULSE PRESENT:When stimulated, a temporary reversal of electric charge takes place. This causes a minute pulse of electricity called the ACTION POTENTIAL.

Look at the following animation to see a nervous impulse travelling along the nerve cell. http://www.outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/animations/actionpotential.swf

You may have noticed that there are gaps between the nerve cells in the diagrams. Nervous impulses are transmitted from one neurone to another across these gaps by means of special chemical substances made in the neurone. They produce an electrical impulse in the next neurone.

What is a synapse?
Asynapseisa gap between one nerve cell and the next nerve cell

What is a neurotransmitter?
A neurotransmitter are special chemicals

that are produced at the end of a nerve cell and travel accross the gap to the other to set up the same signal in the next nerve cells. Identify two common neurotransmitters. 1. 2. HOMEWORK: You are to find out about one of the following nervous disorders: Multiple sclerosis Epilepsy Motor neurone disease Parkinsons disease Alzhiemers disease actylcholine nonadrenaline

and you are to write part of a script for a TV show in which the doctor is: (a) informing a patient that they have been diagnosed with this disorder (b) explaining the disorder to the patient (c) answering the patients questions.