Anatomy and Physiology

(Nervous System)
– is the master controlling and communicating system of the body
– its signaling device or means of communicating with the body cells is
electrical impulses which are rapid and specific and cause almost
immediate responses

FUNCTIONS:
a. Sensory Input
–sensory receptors monitor numerous external and internal stimuli
that may be interpreted in touch, temperature, taste, smell,
sound, blood pressure and body position
–action potentials from the sensory receptors travel along nerves
to the spinal cord and brain, where they are interpreted
b. Integration
–brain and spinal cord are the major organs for processing
sensory input and initiating responses
–the input may produce an immediate response, maybe stored
as memory, or maybe ignored
c. Homeostasis
–the nervous system can stimulate or inhibit the activities of
other systems to help maintain a constant internal environment
d. Mental Activity
– brain is the center of mental activity including
consciousness, memory and thinking
e. Control of Muscles and Glands
– skeletal muscles normally contract only when stimulated by
the nervous system thus major movements of the body is
controlled by this system
– the nervous system also participates in controlling cardiac
muscle, smooth muscles and many glands

DIVISIONS:
1. central nervous system
- consists of the brain and spinal cord, which occupy the
dorsal cavity and act as the integrating and command centers
of the nervous system
 - it interprets incoming sensory information and issue
instructions based on past experience and current conditions

2. peripheral nervous system

- lies outside the CNS and consists of nerves and ganglia
- these nerves serve as communication lines
- links all parts of the body by carrying impulses from the
sensory recwptors to the CNS and from the CNS to the
appropriate glands or muscles
- has two divisions:
a. sensory or afferent - conducts action potentials from
the sensory receptors to the CNS
b. motor or efferent - conducts action potentials from
the CNS to effector organs such as muscles
and glands
i. somatic motor nervous system - transmits action
potentials from the CNS to
skeletal muscles
ii. autonomic nervous system - transmits action potentials
from the CNS to glands, cardiac
and smooth muscles (involuntary)

- divided into sympathetic,

parasympathetic divisions and
enteric nervous system

THE BRAIN
- categorized into four distinct areas: the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem
and diencephalon
1. cerebrum – divided into left and right hemispheres by the falx, an
indentation of the dura
– coordinates the process of thinking, learning and sensory
activities
a. frontal lobe – brain’s center of foresight, abstract thinking, and
judgement
b. temporal lobe – center of memory and contains visual, auditory
association areas
c. parietal – controls sensory functions, such as recognition of pain,
temp, and pressure
 d. occipital lobe – center of visual functions
2. cerebellum – divide into left and right hemispheres, which are
connected by the vermis
– located in the posterior fossa and is separated from the
cerebral hemispheres by a fold of dura mater, the tentorium
cerebella
– involved in coordination of muscle movement,
maintainance of equilibrium and muscle tone
3. brain stem – divided into the medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain
– located in the posterior fossa
– medulla oblongata contains several vital centers
including respiration, heart rate, vomiting and hiccupping
– in the pons, the pneumotaxic system controls respiratory
patterns
– midbrain contains the nuclei: reflex centers involved in
vision and hearing
4. diencephalon – includes the thalamus, located in the either side of the
3rd ventricle; hypothalamus, located anterior and inferior to
the thalamus and pituitary gland, located beneath the brain
in the pituitary fossa of the sphenoid bone
– thalamus serves as the chief relay station for sensory
fibers
– hypothalamus helps regulate body temp, fluid
balance, endocrine function, sleep wake cycle, thirst and
hunger and pituitary functions
– pituitary gland is the chief regulator of endocrine
function