Nervous System

Nervous System

1.2.4

Objectives

Learners can:

• explain the role of the nervous system

• describe the structure of the nervous system
  

• organ

• system

Prerequisite Vocab

• brain

• nervous system

• spinal cord

New Vocab

Vocabulary

the main control center of an animal body

​​Brain

the system of the body that carries information to all parts of the body

Nervous System

a bundle of nerves that runs along the backbone

Spinal Cord

Open Ended

How is a computer like the nervous system?

The Nervous System

The nervous system is the system of the body that carries information to all parts of the body. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and neurons that work together to help control other organ systems in the body.

Imagine you are walking and you trip over something in your path. How does your body react?

​

Oops!

Roles of the Nervous System

• senses your surroundings

• senses the environment inside of your body

• controls your internal body systems

• prepares your body to react in an emergency

• allows you to use language, think, learn, and remember

The nervous system works by sending and receiving electrical signals.

Multiple Choice

How does information travel through the nervous system?

• 
  Information is passed by electrical impulses.

• Information is carried by blood cells.

• 
  Oxygen carries information through the body.

• Hormones produce the necessary information.

The brain receives signals from the eyes and other sensory receptors that the body has become unstable. It then sends information to the muscles so that they will adjust and avoid falling.

The Brain

Signals from the brain and sensory receptors will travel along the spinal cord.

Spinal Cord

​The muscles will receive signals from the brain with instructions on how to adjust to prevent the body from falling.

Muscles

​Nervous System Structure

Reorder

Imagine a scenario where you hear a friend call your name and you turn to look at them. Sort the order of how signals will travel through the nervous system.

• Receptors in the ears send a nerve impulse that travels to the spinal cord.

• A nerve impulse passes through the spinal cord to the brain.

• The brain processes the signal as sound and interprets the signal that you recognize as your name.

• The brain sends a message to the muscles to turn toward the source of the sound.

• The spinal cord passes the nerve impulse to the muscles of the body, which cause the body to move.

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Poll

Do you like spicy food?

• Yes, I drink hot sauce for breakfast

• Kind of, I'll have some buffalo wings

• Eh, it's alright but not my first choice

• Absolutely not, I'll stick to mayo