Rachel Owens May 29, 2012 Bell 6 Mrs.

Lyle Organ Systems

The Nervous System in Human Beings The nervous system is in charge of controlling everything in the human body. It is constantly checking sensory information through receptors, evaluating the external environment and the internal body in an attempt to maintain homeostasis. It controls all thoughts and movements and is responsible for the way people learn and think. Composed of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord, the nervous system is one of the most complex systems on the entire planet. All other systems would fail without the help of the nervous system. The different parts of the nervous system as well as how these parts interact with the rest of the body makes the nervous system very unique. The nervous system is divided up into two subgroups: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system can be considered as the control board of the human body. All signals come or go from the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system consists of all the nerves that come off of the brain and spinal cord called cranial nerves (12 pairs) and spinal nerves (31 pairs). These nerves extend to muscles, glands, and other organs to work together. Within the peripheral nervous system, there is the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is in charge of controlling the skeletal muscles. Because the somatic nervous system consciously sends nervous signals to the skeletal muscles, engaging the body in motion, this system is also known as the voluntary nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is in charge of basically everything else. It regulates heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. It is during this stage in which the body maintains homeostasis. It checks with body temperature to make sure the body is not super heating or cooling. It monitors the blood pressure to make sure it is in perfect balance. It is

communicating with the endocrine system to make sure that the necessary hormones are released throughout the body. Because humans do not consciously decide on these bodily actions, the autonomic nervous system is also known as the involuntary nervous system. Even within the autonomic nervous system, it is subcategorized into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. The sympathetic division is active in times of emergency and is sometimes known as the fight or flight system. It uses all the energy needed to meet the emergency and slows down other systems that can wait until after the need is met (i.e. digestive tract). The parasympathetic division is active during normal, relaxed times. It works to bring the body back to normal after an emergency and works to conserve energy. For this reason, the parasympathetic division can also be called the rest and repair system. Although the nervous system is very broad, all of these subgroups come together so that the body can work as a whole. The smallest parts of the nervous system are neurons and glial cells. Glial cells act as a support and help maintain and protect the neurons and are very numerous. Neurons are the main cells of the nervous system and they are specialized to send and receive signals to and from the brain. These neurons are broken by function into three groups: sensory, motor, and interneuron. Sensory neurons pick up information for surroundings and send signals to the central nervous system. Motor neurons send information signals away from the brain to the rest of the body, generally causing a bodily reaction. Interneurons are located in the central nervous system and they receive the sensory neurons and decide whether or not to send out motor neurons. Interneurons will never leave the central nervous system. These three neurons communicate in one of two ways. If neurons of the same cluster are communicating to each other, they will send out electronic signals through the neuron membrane. This process is call action potential. If a neuron is communicating with another group of neurons or affecter cell (muscle, skin, etc.), the

action potential travels as far as it can go and when it reaches its limit, it triggers chemical sacks to burst. The chemicals, called neurotransmitters, released from the chemical sacks come in contact with its neighbor membrane and are received by receptive proteins. These neurotransmitters send out a signal that causes a reaction or action. With the whole body acting as a team, millions signals are transmitted to and from the central and peripheral nervous system every second. The nervous system is a very complex and interesting body system. Even though it is very large and requires many different actions, many subdivisions come together to make the whole system work. Also, all the little neurons individually would not have much importance, but collectively, it is what makes the human body functional. Finally, it is thanks to the nervous system that our body can maintain homeostasis and the body can be in perfect balance. With the nervous system being one of the most complex things on this earth, it is definitely an intriguing system to study.

Phylum

Does it have a developed brain?

Does it have a spinal cord?

Through what does it receive light? Pores (Photosynthesis) Ocelli

Does it have both a Is the brain form of protected? CNS and PNS? No N/A

Special Characteristics

Poriphera

No

No

Only animal without nervous system Brain is called a nerve net; just a collection of nerve tissue The brain forms a ring around the pharynx The brain encircles the esophagus The CNS resembles a ladder with rungs. Lack cephalization and sense organs. The cerebrum is mainly involved with sense of smell. Have 10 cranial nerves and 10 spinal nerves. Some snakes have heat vision. Have hyperstriatum which is associated with intelligence; smarter birds have larger hyperstriatum Brain is separated into left and right hemispheres.

Cnidarian

No

No

No

No

Annelida

Ganglia

Nerve cords Nerve cords Nerve cords Nerve cords Yes

Ocelli/ eyespots Eyes

Yes

No

Molluska

Ganglia

Yes

No

Arthropodia

Ganglia

Eyes

Yes

Yes

Echinodermata

Ganglia

Eyespots

Yes

Yes

Fish

Yes

Eyes

Yes

Yes

Amphibians

Yes

Yes

Eyes

Yes

Yes

Reptiles

Yes

Yes

Eyes

Yes

Yes

Birds

Yes

Yes

Eyes

Yes

Yes

Mammals

Yes

Yes

Eyes

Yes

Yes

Works Cited

Applegate, Edith. The Anatomy and Physiology. 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 2011. Print. Bird Nervous Systems. The Wild Classroom, 2006. Web. 27 May 2012. Marieb, Elaine N. and Susan J. Mitchell. Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual. 10th ed. Boston: Benjamin Cummings, 2011. Print. Meyer, John R. The Nervous System. NC State University, 17 Feb. 2006. Web. 27 May 2012. Nervous System. Youtube.com. YouTube, 10 Sep 2010. Web. 27 May 2012. The Nervous System: Fish. Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, 22 June 2009. Web. 27 May 2012. Nervous Systems of Cnidarians. PubMed.com, n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. Phylum Mollusca. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. Ramel, Gordon. The Sponges. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. Reilly, Timothy. Nervous System. N.p., 22 May 2004. Web. 27 May 2012. Reptile. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. Rouse, Greg W., and Fredrik Pleijel. Characteristics of Annelida. Tree of Life, 2004. Web. 27 May 2012. Verebrate Nervous System. Encyclopedia of Science, n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. Wray, Gregory A. Echinodermata. Tree of Life, 14 Dec. 1999. Web. 27 May 2012.