Bodily Systems

• The human nervous system is a complex network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and the spinal cord to different parts of the body and so helps all parts of the body communicate with each other
• Controlling the nervous system is the brain, the powerhouse of the body, even though it only makes up around 2% of the body's weight. This organ has many billions of neural cross-connections. The brain oversees the workings of the body, while its higher functions provide us with consciousness and make us who we are
• The human nervous system is divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, with each of these further divided into different components, each with a different function, but all working together.
• The central nervous system processes, interprets, stores information and issues orders to muscles, glands and organs
• The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
• The spinal cord is the bridge between the brain and peripheral nerves.
• The peripheral nervous system transmits information to and from the CNS
• The peripheral nervous system branches further into the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
• The somatic nervous system controls skeletal msucles
• The autonomic nervous system regulates glands, blood, vessels, internal organs
• The autonomic nervous system branches further into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
• The sympathetic nervous system mobilizes the body for action, energy output
• The parasympathetic nervous system conserves energy and maintains quiet state
• The CNS is where complex processing of information occurs and decisions are made
• The PNS brings information to the CNS and transmits info from the CNS to muscles and glands and organs
• Neurones process and transmit 'messages' through an electrochemical process. They are the basic building blocks of the nervous system