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.
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
