*Pat and Ernst improvise a fight for 1

minute*
Pat: Just kidding! Did you guys get
nervous?
Ernst: Good! Because now, were talking
about the Nervous System. Actually only
this guy will. Hes gonna teach me. Right,
bro?
Pat: Fine! So what do you know so far
about the Nervous System?
Ernst: Umm, its the system that makes us
nervous?
Pat: Nah, dude. You have lots to learn.
Ernst: So teach me, then.
Pat: Ok! But before that, Ive got some
kwento first, man. So this morning was a
typical morning for me. I woke up, thinking
about that dream Ive been having about
this giant shrimp that was chasing me, but
then I remembered we have this
presentation for class later, so I got
anxious, man. Before I left for school, I
made myself some cereal first cause I was
hungry. And before going to class I bought
coffee, but I let it cool off first because it
kinda burned my mouth yesterday.
Ernst: Thats it? So boring, dude. Whats
the point?
Pat: Actually all of these actions are good
examples of what my nervous system does
for me. The odd dream I had, the sensation
of hunger and the notion of being burnt are
all processed and executed by electrical
and chemical signals to and from your
neurons.
Ernst: So it basically controls everything?
Pat: Yes, everything. Our thoughts,
emotions, feelings, actions, reactions and
imaginaaaaation. Every organ and organ
system in our body basically bows down to
the nervous system.
Ernst: Thats so cool, man.

Pat: Actually, all of our thoughts and

actions can be boiled down to three main
functions: sensory input, integration and
motor output.
Ernst: What do you mean?
Pat: For example, you happen to step on a
thumb tack. The sensory receptors on your
foot detect that sharp foreign object. That
info is your sensory input. From there, your
nervous system processes that input, and
decides what should be done about it. Now
thats what you call integration.
Ernst: Ahhhhhh
Pat: Your nervous system decides if you
should scream your lungs out of extreme
pain while you take it out or just be all chill
about it and just remove it from your foot
gracefully. Those reactions are the motor
output.
Ernst: So sensory input, integration, and
motor output. Correct?
Pat: Yep! When we talk about the nervous
system, we also have to talk about its
several levels of organization. The two main
parts are the Central NS and the Peripheral
NS. The CNS comprises of the brain and
spinal cord. Its what decided to anxiously
remove that thumb tack from your foot and
gave the order to your hand. The PNS, on
the other hand, is composed of all the other
nerves that branch off from the brain and
spine and allow your CNS to communicate
with the rest of your body.
Ernst: Wow, I never realized how important
the Nervous System is.
Pat: Yeah, but thats not even the half of it.
The PNS and CNS actually branch out to
have more divisions. Thats looking at it, in
the big picture. But what the nervous
system really comes down to is its, building
blocks, the neuron. Id love to explain to
what neurons are and how crucial they are
to our lives, but Im kinda tired talking
already. Ill let this guy explain it to you.
*PLAY VIDEO* 5:21 - 7:47

Pat: So did you get that?

Ernst: You lost me.

Ernst: Yah! Is that all you need to know

about these neurons?

Pat: All of which will be discussed in the

next episode of Discovering Your Body. See
you all next week. ;)

Pat: Actually, thats also still not the half of

it. Theres the the action potential, the
sodium-potassium pump, the salutatory
conduction