SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
LESSON: NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nervous System: The control system of the body
The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that
carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various
parts of the body. It is considered as the body’s storage center of
information and also the body’s control system. It is mainly
responsible for controlling and coordinating all the organ systems by
sending messages from the brain through nerve signals. It makes
sure that all the parts of the body are working together efficiently.
Major Divisions and Parts of the Nervous System
I. Central Nervous System (CNS) serves as the main processing
center of the nervous system. It consists of two main components,
namely;
A. Brain is an organ located within the skull that functions as organizer and distributor of information
for the body. It has three main parts:
1. Cerebrum is the large, upper part of the brain that
controls activity and thought.
2. Cerebellum is the part under the cerebrum that
controls posture, balance, and coordination.
3. Brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord
and controls automatic functions such as breathing,
digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure.
B. Spinal cord serves as a channel for signal
between the brain and the majority of the body parts,
and controls some simple musculoskeletal reflexes even without the processing of the brain.
II. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) connects the central nervous system to the organs and limbs. It has
two main divisions:
A. Somatic Nervous System is associated with the voluntary control of body movements and has two main
parts:
1. Spinal Nerves carry motor and sensory signals between the spinal cord and the body.
2. Cranial Nerves are nerve fibers that carry information into and out of the brain stem.
B. Autonomic Nervous System is associated with the involuntary control of body movements and has two
subdivisions:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System is activated when the body is in a dynamic role or stress. (e.g., increased
heart rate and breathing, dilation of pupil, sweating)
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System maintains body functions and restores the body to normal or relaxed
mode.
The Nerve Cell
The nerve cell is the basic unit of the nervous
system and it is also called as neuron. There are
billions of neurons in the body. Figure 4 shows
the structure of a nerve cell. A neuron has a cell
body containing the nucleus. In the cell body
there are root-like structures called the dendrites
and axons. Dendrites carry impulses toward the
cell body while axons carry impulses away from
the cell body. The gap between neurons is called
synapse.
How Nervous System coordinates and regulates feedback mechanisms to maintain homeostasis?
The nervous system provides quick responses in maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is maintained
in the body by regulating the body temperature, blood pressure, pH, and glucose concentration.
The nervous system and endocrine system are working together to maintain body’s homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the state reached when each part of the body functions in equilibrium with other parts. This is
attained through the regulation of the bodily functions by the endocrine and nervous systems.
Feedback mechanisms are used by most of body systems to maintain homeostasis. When the brain
receives messages from the body about an internal change in one of its systems, it works to restore the
system to its normal state. The hypothalamus affects the pituitary gland, also known as the master gland, to
secrete the right hormones. The hormones will flow with the blood and reach the specific organs to restore the
normal state of the body or homeostasis. Molecules of hormones are received by receptors of cells making this
event a neuroendocrine coordination. The nerves that are found all over the body allows the nervous system
to monitor homeostasis of the body. While the endocrine system helps by secreting hormones into the
bloodstream and send them to specific organs. The levels of hormones in the body are controlled by feedback.
It is important that the amount of hormones in our body is kept at the right level. To achieve homeostasis, the
nervous and endocrine systems work with each other to maintain a normal range of many processes and
substances in the body such as:
• Temperature of the body
• Amount of water in the body
• Amount of metabolic wastes in the cell
• Blood calcium level
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