Anatomy and physiology Nervous system The functions of the nervous systems include the reception, interpretation, and

integration of sensory stimuli ; the control of homeostasis, mental activity and the control of muscles and glands. Division of nervous system Central nervous system consist of brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nervous system lies outside the CNS and consist of nerves and ganglia

PNS has two subdivisions: Sensory division conducts action potentials from sensory receptors to the CNS. Motor division conducts action potentials from the CNS to effector organs such as muscles and glands

The somatic nervous system innervates skeletal muscle and is mostly under voluntary control. The autonomic nervous system innervates cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands and it is mostly under involuntary control. The autonomic nervous system is divided into sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric potions.

Cells of the nervous system

Neurons or nerve cells receive stimuli and transmit action potentials to other neurons, each neuron consist of a cell body and two types of processes: dendrites and axons Dendrites usually function to receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptors and transmit the information toward the neuron. Axon of motor neurons conduct action potential away from the CNS and axons of sensory neurons conduct action potential toward the CNS.

Anatomy of the Brain Lobes of the Brain

The three main components of the brainthe cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brainstemhave distinct functions. The cerebrum is the largest and most developmentally advanced part of the human brain. It is responsible for several higher functions, including higher intellectual function, speech, emotion, integration of sensory stimuli of all types, initiation of the final common pathways for movement, and fine control of movement. The cerebellum, the second largest area, is responsible for maintaining balance and further control of movement and coordination. The brain stem is the final pathway between cerebral structures and the spinal cord. It is responsible for a variety of automatic functions, such as control of respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure, wakefulness, arousal and attention. The cerebrum is divided into a right and a left hemisphere and is composed of pairs of frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, and speech

Cerebral Circulation
Cerebral circulation refers to the movement of blood through the network of blood vessels supplying the brain. The arteries deliver oxygenated blood, glucose and other nutrients to the brain and the veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, removing carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and other metabolic products. Since the brain is very vulnerable to compromises in its blood supply, the cerebral circulatory system has many safeguards. Failure of these safeguards results in cerebrovascular

accidents, commonly known as strokes. The amount of blood that the cerebral circulation carries is known as cerebral blood flow. The presence of gravitational fields or accelerations also determine variations in the movement and distribution of blood in the brain, such as when suspended upside-down.