Nervous system

• Nervous system


  Controls everything you do, including breathing, walking, thinking, and feeling. This system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of your body. The brain is the control center and the spinal cord is the major highway to and from the brain.
• Nervous system (in biology)

  The highly complex part of an animal that coordinates its actions and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from different parts of its body.
• Understanding the nervous system is vital to understanding psychology in general. It is through the nervous system that we experience pleasure and pain, feel emotions, learn and use language, and plan goals.
• Central Nervous System


  Made up of the brain and spinal cord.
• Peripheral Nervous System


  Made up of nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and extend to all parts of the body.
• Spinal Cord


  • Directs signals from the brain to the body and is capable of controlling simple reflexes without transmitting information from the brain.
• Brain


  • Processes most of the body's sensory information and is responsible for coordinating conscious and unconscious body functions including feeling, thinking, and maintaining homeostasis, which is the body's ability to maintain a stable environment.
• Regions of the brain

  • Forebrain
  • Midbrain
  • Hindbrain
• Forebrain


  • Works to process the information needed to complete complex cognitive tasks. The parts of the forebrain are responsible for sensory functions, voluntary motor skills, speech, and critical thinking. It also controls homeostasis which is maintained through regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, pleasure, pain, hunger, and thirst as well as hormone production.
• Parts of the Forebrain

  • Cerebrum
  • Thalamus
  • Hypothalamus
• Cerebrum


  • Set of consciousness and higher mental process.
• Thalamus


  • Coordinates sensory and motor signaling.
• Hypothalamus


  • Controls body temperature, hunger, thirst and body activities such as sleeping, sexual behavior and behavioral / emotional responses.
• Midbrain


  • Connects the forebrain and the hindbrain and carries the important job of connecting the brain to the spinal cord. It processes sounds and sights and works to control the movement of the eye.
• Hindbrain


  • Responsible for muscular movement, respiratory rhythm, heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, and staying alert while awake. Involuntary reflexes like sneezing and swallowing are also controlled by the parts of the hindbrain.
• Medulla Oblongata


  • Connected to the spinal cord. It contains centers for the regulation of respiration, heartbeats, and blood pressure. It also regulates activities such as swallowing, coughing, and vomiting.
• Cerebellum


  • Responsible for maintaining balance and equilibrium. It is involved in the precision and coordination of muscular activities. It plays an important role in motor control and stores memories for motor skills such as swimming, skating, etc.
• Pons


  • Contains thick nerve fibre tracts that connect various parts of the brain. It connects the medulla and cerebellum to other parts of the brain.
• Frontal lobe


  • The largest lobe of the brain, located in the front of the head, the frontal lobe is involved in personality characteristics, decision-making and movement. Recognition of smell usually involves parts of the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe contains Broca's area, which is associated with speech ability.
• Parietal lobe


  • The middle part of the brain it helps a person identify objects and understand spatial relationships. The parietal lobe is also involved in interpreting pain and touch in the body. The parietal lobe houses Wernicke's area, which helps the brain understand spoken language.
• Occipital lobe


  • The back part of the brain that is involved with vision.
• Temporal lobe


  • The sides of the brain, temporal lobes are involved in short-term memory, speech, musical rhythm and some degree of smell recognition.
• Somatic Nervous System


  Made up of motor neurons and sensory neurons that help the body perform voluntary activities via use of skeletal muscles.
• Autonomic Nervous System


  Controls involuntary responses to regulate physiological functions. The most notable physiological effects from autonomic activity are pupil constriction and dilation, and salivation of saliva. The autonomic nervous system is always activated.
• Sympathetic Nervous System


  Stimulates what is known as the fight or flight response in the body. It prepares the body's energy for stressful or energy-exerting activities.
• Parasympathetic Nervous System


  Works to conserve energy. It signals the body to conserve its energy while it sleeps and relaxes and most prominent examples of this control are urination and defecation.
• Components of the nervous system

  • Neurons
  • Glial cells
• Neurons


  Specialized cells that can receive and transmit chemical or electrical signals.
• Glial cells


  Do not conduct nerve impulses, but, instead support, nourish, and protect the neurons.