Exercise Science
Section 6: The Nervous System and the Control
of Movement
An Introduction to Health and Physical
Education
Ted Temertzoglou
Paul Challen
ISBN 1-55077-132-9
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Components of the Nervous System
Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
Cranial Nerves
Spinal Nerves
Forebrain
Central Nervous System
Brain
Hindbrain
Spinal Cord
Midbrain
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The Central Nervous System
 The central nervous system (CNS) is divided into
two parts:
 The vertebral column and the spinal cord:
 Main pathway for information connecting the
brain and peripheral nervous system
 The brain:
 Main control centre
 Receives and interprets endless signals
 Has six main parts:
 Cerebrum
 Cerebellum
 Brain stem
 Diencephalon
 Limbic system
 Reticular activating system
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The Peripheral Nervous System
 Peripheral nervous system (PNS):
 Consists of those parts of the nervous system that lie outside the
CNS
 Carries information in and out of the CNS
 Includes:
 12 pairs of cranial nerves
 31 pairs of spinal nerves
 Contains both autonomic and somatic components
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Autonomic Nervous System
 Autonomic nervous system (ANS):
 Comprised of two systems:
 Sympathetic system:
 Causes localized bodily adjustments to occur
 Prepares body for emergencies (i.e. releases adrenaline,
increases heart rate)
 Parasympathetic system:
 Returns body to normal (after it’s been altered by the
sympathetic system)
 Systems work in unison
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Somatic Nervous System
 Somatic nervous system:
 Handles the muscles in our extremities
 Contains both afferent and efferent nerve fibres:
 Afferent nerves:
 Send information to the CNS
 Efferent nerves:
 Send instructions to skeletal muscle
 PNS receives and processes information
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Autonomic and Somatic Nervous Systems
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Reflex Arc
 Reflex arc:
 Pathway in which the initial stimulus and the
corresponding response message travel
 Five parts to a reflex arc:
 Receptor
 Sensory (or afferent) nerve
 Intermediate nerve fibre
 Motor (or efferent) nerve
 Effector organ
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Proprioceptor System
 Proprioceptors:
 Specialized receptors located within tendons, muscles, and joints
 Provide sensory information (ex. state of muscle contraction)
through the primary use of two sensory receptors: golgi tendon
organs and muscle spindles
 Continuously monitor muscle actions
 “Tell” the nervous system about the state of muscle contraction
 Act as a kind of safety device allowing the nervous system to
respond accordingly
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Golgi Tendon Organs
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The Muscle Spindle
Sensory neuron
(two branches within)
Motor neuron
Muscle spindle
within muscle fibre
(magnified)
Muscle fibres
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Golgi Tendon Organs & Muscle Spindles
Golgi Tendon Organs
Muscle Spindles
Location
Where tendon meets muscle
fibre
In belly of muscle fibre
Position
In series with muscle fibre
Parallel to muscle fibre
Respond to
Changes in muscle/tendon
tension
Changes in muscle length
Sensory
neurons
1
2
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Stretch Reflex
 Stretch reflex:
 Simplest spinal reflex
 Depends on the single connection between primary afferent fibres
and motor neurons of same muscle
 Sequence of nerve impulses and motions (e.g. tapping patella
ligament):
 Receptor muscle senses action of hammer against patella
ligament through the muscle spindle’s sensory neuron
 Message transmitted along afferent nerve axon to spinal cord
 Afferent neuron synapses with the efferent pathway of same
muscle
 Impulse transmitted along efferent pathways to muscle
 Motor units contract–brings about knee-jerk action
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Muscle Spindles at Work
Sensory neuron
(two branches within)
Motor neuron
Muscle
fibres
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Polysynaptic Reflexes
 Withdrawal reflex:
 Rapid and occurs before brain has time to interpret the information
 Involves the withdrawal of a body part from a painful stimulus
 Reflex action involves transferring impulse from a sensory neuron
to a motor neuron through a connecting interneuron
 Crossed-Extensor Reflex:
 Observed when one leg or arm automatically compensates for a
reflex action in opposing leg or arm
 Involves multiple synapses and muscle groups
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Withdrawal Reflex and the CrossedExtensor Reflex
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Spinal Cord and Head Injuries
 Spinal cord injuries:
 Damage to the spine can result in
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an inability to send impulses to
body parts
 Nerves above injury keep working,
nerves below may not
 Paraplegia:
 Injury prevents use of legs but
not arms
 Quadriplegia:
 Injury prevents movement of
both arms and legs
Spinal Cord and Head Injuries

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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
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Head injuries:
 Most common head injury is a
concussion:
 Occurs when brain literally
hits the skull; often
involves injury to nerve
fibres
 Ranges from mild to
severe
 Symptoms can include:
headaches, fatigue,
memory problems, or
slurred speech
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.