Nervous System

• The Nervous System is the major control system of homeostasis and the "main processing center" in the human body and other organisms
• It provides monitoring response, and regulation of all systems in the body
• The Nervous System has 2 divisions: Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
• The Central Nervous System consists of the Brain and Spinal Cord, interpreting information from the senses to monitor and regulate the body
• The Brain is responsible for thinking, learning, memory, emotions, and controls simple musculoskeletal reflexes without input from the brain
• The Brain has 3 main parts: Cerebrum, Cerebellum, and Brain Stem
• The Cerebrum fills up most of the skull, is involved in remembering, problem solving, thinking, feelings, and controls movement
• The Cerebellum controls coordination and balance, sitting at the back of the head under the cerebrum
• The Brain Stem sits beneath the cerebrum in front of the cerebellum, connecting the brain to the spinal cord and controlling automatic functions
• The Peripheral Nervous System consists of the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System
• The Somatic Nervous System is associated with the voluntary control of body movements and carries motor and sensory signals between the spinal cord and the body
• The Autonomic Nervous System is associated with the involuntary control of body movements, including the "fight or flight response" and "rest and digest" functions
• Neurons are the specialized cells of the nervous system, making up the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
• Neurons send signals from the senses to the CNS, from one neuron to another, and from the CNS to the outside parts of the body
• Neurons communicate using a mixture of electrical and chemical signals
• 3 types of neurons: Sensory Neurons, Interneurons, and Motor Neurons
• Stimulus is any factor in the environment that influences behavior, while response is a reaction to a condition or stimulus
• Receptor is an organ that receives the stimulus, and effector is an organ that carries out the action
• Nerve impulse is an electrochemical signal moving along a neuron
• Action potential is an electrical current sent down the axon, causing the neuron to "fire" in an "all-or-none" process
• Action potentials travel down the axon like a wave of energy