Nervous System

By:

Vivian Chang

Danielle LaCroix

How it works?

• network that relays messages back and forth from the brain to different parts of the body

• does this via the spinal cord, which runs from the brain down through the back and contains threadlike nerves that branch out to every organ and body part

• when a message comes into the brain from anywhere in the body, the brain tells the body how to react

• brain then sends a message back telling the muscles to react

Spinal Cord & Brain

Continued…• divided into two categories: peripheral and central • neurons generate and conduct impulses between

and within the two systems• peripheral nervous system is composed of

sensory neurons and the neurons that connect them to the nerve cord, spinal cord and brain, which make up the central nervous system– In response to stimuli, sensory neurons generate and

propagate signals to the central nervous system which then processes and conducts signals back to the muscles and glands.

– The neurons of the nervous systems of animals are interconnected in complex arrangements and use electrochemical signals and neurotransmitters to transmit impulses from one neuron to the next.

Main Parts of the Brain

• Cerebrum• Cerebellum• Brain Stem

Cerebrum

• fills up most of your skull• involved in remembering,

problem solving, thinking, and feeling

• controls movement

Cerebellum• Located at the back of the brain, the cerebellum

controls: – balance– movement– coordination

• The cerebellum also allows us to: – stand upright– keep our balance– move around

• Damage to the cerebellum can result in: – uncoordinated movement– loss of muscle tone– an unsteady gait

Brain Stem• Located at the base of the brain, the brainstem is composed of the

midbrain, the pons, and the medulla.• Connects the brain to the spinal cord • It regulates basic involuntary functions necessary for survival

such as: – breathing– heart rate– digestion– blood pressure– swallowing– It also plays a role in alertness and sensation.

• Injury to the brainstem can disrupt basic functions so that they are no longer regulated automatically. These functions can include: – heart rate– breathing– swallowing

The Brain O_o

Frontal Lobes• Located behind the forehead, the frontal lobes are the largest

lobes of the brain• These two lobes are involved in:

– planning– organizing– problem solving– memory– impulse control– decision making– selective attention– controlling our behavior and emotions– The left frontal lobe plays a large role in speech and language.

• Injury to the frontal lobes may affect: – emotions– impulse control– language– memory– social and sexual behavior

Temporal Lobes

• The temporal lobes are located on the sides of the brain under the parietal lobes and behind the frontal lobes at about the level of the ears.

• They are responsible for: – recognizing and processing sound– understanding and producing speech– various aspects of memory

• Damage to specific parts of the temporal lobe can result in: – hearing loss– language problems– sensory problems like the inability to recognize a

familiar person’s face

Occipital Lobes

• Located at the lower back of the head, the occipital lobes: – receive and process visual information– contain areas that help in perceiving shapes

and colors

• Damage to the occipital lobes can cause: – visual field defects– distorted perceptions of size, color, and shape

Parietal Lobes• Located behind the frontal lobes, the

parietal lobes: – integrate sensory information from various

parts of the body– contain the primary sensory cortex, which

controls sensation (touch, hot or cold, pain)– tell us which way is up– help to keep us from bumping into things

when we walk• Damage to the parietal lobes may result

in: – an inability to locate parts of your body– an inability to recognize parts of your body

Sensory Organs

• eyes • ear• tongue• skin • nose

Eyes, Ears, & Tongue

• eyes receive and transmit light to produce a 3-D image for the body.

• ear processes and hears sounds so that the body can react. • tongue aids in digestion and communication.

Skin & Nose

• skin controls body temperature, keeps out infection and water, protects tissue, and mends itself.

• nose helps the body smell and get flavor from the food people eat.

Diseases

• Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes problems with memory, behavior, and thinking. There is no cure for it, but treatments include medications and eating different foods. There are clinical trials that patients can sign up for. These trials do not have guaranteed success though.

• Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that makes the immune system attack the brain, spinal cord, and nerve fibers of the eyes. This damages the tissue of the affected areas. There aren’t any cures for Multiple sclerosis yet, but there are medications to slow it. There are also clinical trials that affected patients can try, but success is not guaranteed.

• Huntington’s Disease is a disease that is inherited by the affected people. In this disease, nerve cells in the brain are slowly broken down. Eventually, patients have a hard time moving or thinking. There is no cure for Huntington’s yet, but there are medications that can slow the progression of it. There are also clinical trials to help.

How to keep it healthy?

• Writing neatly every day for 15 minutes

• Eating healthy fats–Monounsaturated – Polyunsaturated