Divisions of the Nervous System

Divisions of the Nervous System

What’s the trend?

TWO MAJOR DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEMCNS: Central Nervous System

PNS: Peripheral Nervous System

1st DIVISION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: CNS

Composed of:A. BrainB. Spinal Cord

Processes info

CNS

Ventricles, gray matter, white matter

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?

Not responsible for this, but it’s still cool!

Neurulation

Major brain structures…

Brainstem

Midbrain

Pons

Medulla oblongata

•“Primitive” part of the brain

•Controls homeostatic function• Breathing (Pons,

Medulla)• Swallowing (Medulla)• blood vessel activity

(Medulla)

•Acts as a relay between spinal cord and higher brain centers

Cerebellum

-Coordinates movements and balance

-Hand–eye coordination, learning motor functions (i.e. riding a bike)

Diencephalon: Thalamus, hypothalamus

Thalamus, hypothalamus

Thalamus:◦Input center for information going to the

cerebrum◦Motor output for info leaving cerebrum◦Sorts data

Hypothalamus◦Homeostatic control center◦Controls pituitary◦Biological clock

Cerebrum-Largest part of the human brain

-Associated with higher brain function such as thought and action- Memory- Learning- Speech, emotions

-Information processing/integration: -olfactory -auditory -visual

2nd DIVISION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Peripheral Nervous SystemComposed of cranial and spinal nervesDivided in two functional components:

◦A. Motor (Somatic) Nervous System To and from skeletal muscles Generally voluntary Response to external stimuli

◦B. Autonomic Nervous System Parasympathetic & Sympathetic Systems

◦Regulates internal environment (smooth and cardiac muscle, excretory, endocrine)

◦Generally involuntary

(Somatic Nervous System)

PNS: Autonomic Nervous System

PNS: Cranial & Spinal Nerves