NSC - Introduction to the Nervous System Lesson

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Introduction to the Nervous System

The nervous system is considered the master controller of the human body.  Along with the endocrine system (which will be discussed in the next module), the nervous system forms vast networks of communication that transmit information quickly from one part of the body to another using neurons. The neuron is a specialized cell that both processes and conveys information through the use of electrical and chemical signals. Their communication within the body is vital to help coordinate voluntary and involuntary actions as well as to maintain homeostasis.

 

Divisions of the Nervous System

The nervous system can be divided into two major regions with different structural and functional characteristics: the central nervous system (CNS), and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

The PNS can be broken down further into the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the somatic nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary actions within the body. Its job is to conduct impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles. In contrast, the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions within the body. The ANS maintains homeostasis by controlling internal bodily functions that are not under our conscious control.  

The diagram below outlines the structural and functional differences as well as the flow of information between the subdivisions of the nervous system:

A diagram of the relationships between the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the sensory (afferent) division, the motor (efferent) division, the somatic nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic division, and the parasympathetic division.

The video below will introduce you to the functions of the nervous system as well as some of its major anatomy:

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