The Nervous
System
Function:
The Nervous System is responsible
for controlling all the functions and
movements in the body and allows
you to respond to changes in your
environment using electrical
signals.
The Nervous System consists of two parts:
Peripheral
Nervous
System
Central
Nervous
System
• Central Nervous System, essentially
the processing area.
• Peripheral Nervous System which
detects and sends electrical impulses
that are used in the nervous system.
Central Nervous System
•The Central Nervous System is essentially the
processing area.
•The Central Nervous System is responsible for
receiving and interpreting signals from the
peripheral nervous system and also sends out
electrical signals to the body.
•The Central Nervous System consists of the brain
and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System
• The Nervous System outside the brain and
the spinal cord
• This includes the 5 Senses:
– Touch (Pressure and Temperature)
– Sight (Eyes)
– Hearing (Ears)
– Taste (Taste buds on Tongue)
– Smell (Olfactory Bulbs in the Nose)
Your spinal cord is made of
bundles of neurons that carry
impulses from all parts of the
body to the brain and from
the brain to all parts of your
body.
The joints between vertebrae
are called gliding joints,
where one part of a bone
slides over another bone.
Brain Divisions:
There are three main components of the
brain, the brainstem, cerebellum and the
cerebrum.
•The Brainstem – controls the involuntary
actions of the body like heart rate and
breathing.
•The Cerebellum - Consisting of two
hemispheres, the cerebellum is primarily
concerned with movement, balance and
muscle memory.
•The Cerebrum – information from the
senses are interpreted and memory is
stored.
All of the different structures in the
Nervous System work together to
maintain homeostasis.
What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system is a complex
collection of hormone-producing glands
that control basic body functions such as
metabolism, mood, growth and sexual
development.
Some hormones also
allow you to
respond to stress
How does the Endocrine System Regulate
the Body?
It is made of glands
that secrete
hormones directly
into your
bloodstream
These hormones
cause changes in
your body
What is a hormone and
what do they do?
• A hormone is a “chemical messenger”
– A chemical that delivers a message
• Hormones are made in the glands of your
endocrine system and secreted into your
blood
• They travel through
your blood until they
reach special target
cells
Examples of Hormones
Hormone
Gland
Function
Melatonin
Pineal
Causes sleepiness:
“circadian rhythm”
Adrenalin
Adrenal
Fight or flight response
Growth hormone
Pituitary
Stimulates growth and cell
reproduction
Insulin
Pancreas
Regulates energy and
glucose (sugar) in the blood
Testosterone
Testes
Production and regulation
of male reproductive
system
Estrogen
Ovaries
Production and regulation
of female reproduction
system
How does the Endocrine
System Compare to the
Nervous System?
• Like the nervous system, the endocrine
system is a controlling system of the body
• The brain controls the endocrine system,
but they work together
to regulate the body
• In the brain is the
hypothalamus, also
known as the "master
switchboard."
How does the Endocrine
System Compare to the
Nervous System?
1. Hormones are transported around (to their target
organs) the body by the blood. Therefore hormonal
responses are relatively slow compared with
nervous responses.
2. Many hormonal responses (ex: growth) occur over
relatively long periods of time.
3. The main purpose of the Endocrine System is to
maintain Homeostasis within the body (that is, to
keep the internal environment constant/within
balance)
4. The key function of the Nervous System is to
receive and respond to stimuli.
Work with your group to compare and contrast
these two systems using a Venn Diagram
Endocrine
Nervous
Why do people pee their pants
when they are scared?
There’s actually a
scientific
explanation!
The Fight or Flight
Response.
Fight or Flight Response
Controlled by an area of
the brain called the
hypothalamus: the
part of the brain that
links the nervous and
endocrine systems.
Fight or Flight Response
When we think we are in
danger, the
hypothalamus begins a
series of nerve cell
firings and releases
hormones like
adrenaline, into our
bloodstream.
These patterns of nerve
cell firing and chemical
release cause our body
to undergo a series of
These
changes are
designed to
either help
you fight or
run away
(flight) to
safety in times
of danger
Stimulus : Response
Response =
Hypothalamus releases
hormones into body
Bear =
external stimulus
Hormones become
=
Internal stimulus
Response =
Heart rate and
breathing rate
increase, sweating
increases, blood
thickens, blood flow
to muscles increase
all so we can RUN!