Intro to Nerves

Vers. 07/2020© Kesler Science, LLC

Nervous
System

Presented by Kesler Science

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The Nervous System

Essential Questions:

Reflect on the Essential
Questions before you dive in…

1. If you were quizzed today,
which questions would you know
the answers to already?

2. Which questions would you
need to learn more about to
answer confidently?

1.

What is the main
function of the
nervous system
and how is it
structured?

2.

What are the main
organs associated
with this system?

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The Nervous System

• A pathway in which your brain sends and

receives information about what is
happening in and around the body

• Main organs are the brain, spinal cord, and

nerves (made up of nerve cells or neurons)

• Consists of two systems:

1.

Central Nervous System

2.

Peripheral Nervous System

Nervous System

Open Ended

What are the main organs in the nervous system?

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The Nervous System

• Made up of the brain and spinal cord

• The brain is protected by the skull.

• The brain controls all body functions by

sending and receiving messages up and
down the spinal cord through the nerves.

Central Nervous System

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The Nervous System

•Carries messages to and from parts
of the body to the central nervous
system through nerves
•Carries out orders from the brain
•Made up of two systems:
1.

Somatic Nervous System

2.

Autonomic Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Open Ended

What 2 system does the nervous system consists of ?

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The Nervous System
Vocabulary Focus

Write a short definition for the
word central and peripheral
based on the description of
each system.

Central Nervous
System

Made up of the
brain and spinal
cord.

Peripheral
Nervous System

Carries messages
to and from parts
of the body to the
central nervous
system through
nerves

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT apart of the central nervous system?

• Brain

• Spinal Cord

• Backbone

• All the Above

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The Nervous System

• Sends information through peripheral

nerves to your central nervous system

• These messages are coming from all your

senses.

• Sends messages back to the senses in

order to respond

• Example: putting your hand on something

hot and causing it to pull away

Somatic Nervous System

Multiple Choice

The somatic nervous system carries messages to and from your

• Small Intestine

• Lungs

• Heart

• Senses

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The Nervous System

• Makes sure processes in your body

work automatically

• You don’t have to think about these

things.

1.

Breathing

2.

Digesting

3.

Heart beating

Autonomic Nervous System

What other body systems does
your autonomic nervous
system work with?

Multiple Choice

Which of following sends and receives messages from autonomic nervous system

• Tonuge

• Eyes

• Heart

• Ears

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The Nervous System

• Part of the central nervous system

• Soft spongy mass of nerve cells and

supportive tissue

• 3 main parts that work together but have

special functions

1.

Cerebrum (red, green, yellow, blue)

2.

Cerebellum (purple)

3.

Brain Stem (gray)

Brain

Review: What is the main
function of the brain?

Multiple Choice

The brain is protected by the

• Skull

• Vertebra

• Ribs

• Collar Bone

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The Nervous System

•Largest part of the brain

•Uses information from our senses to tell us what is
going on and how to respond

•Divided into four lobes –

1. Frontal – reasoning, planning

2. Parietal –movement, balance

3. Occipital – visual processing

4. Temporal – auditory, memory

Cerebrum

Provide an example that
describes each lobe of the
cerebrum in action.

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The Nervous System

•Located under the cerebrum in the
back of the brain
•Controls balance and complex actions
like walking

Cerebellum

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The Nervous System

•Connects brain to spinal cord
•Controls hunger and thirst
•Also, the most basic body functions,
such as body temperature, blood
pressure and breathing

Brain Stem

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The Nervous System

•Important structure between the
brain and the body
•40-50cm long, 1-1.5cm wide
•Forms 31 pairs of spinal nerves
•Contains motor and sensory nerve
fibers sending information to and
from all parts of the body

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is protected by
the vertebrae/spine. What body
system does this belong to?

Think About It

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Explain the difference between
mechanical and chemical
stimulations. Which parts of
the nervous system would be
involved in each?

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The Nervous System

•Specialized cells that carry messages
through an electrochemical process
•Brain has 100 billion neurons
•Messages are carried to and from the
central and peripheral nervous
systems through nerves (a bundle of
neurons).

Neurons (Nerve Cells)

Do neurons belong to the
central nervous system or
peripheral nervous system?
Explain your reasoning.

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The Nervous System

• Soma or cell body

• Dendrites – brings electrical signals

towards the soma

• Axon – takes information away from the

soma

• Myelin Sheath - covers the axon and

works like an insulator to keep the signal
inside the cell

Anatomy of a Neuron

What part of the neuron is
responsible for brining signals
towards the cell body?

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The Nervous System

• A gap that separates the axon of

one neuron and the dendrite of the
next neuron

• The message carried by neurons is

called a nerve impulse.

• Neurons communicate through an

electrochemical process.

Synapse

Think About It

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Cartoons often show the brain as either a type of
filing system for information and memories or a
computer to solve problems. Which of these
examples is more accurate? Why?

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The Nervous System

Sensory Neuron (A)

• Nerve that carries impulses to the brain or

spinal cord from a muscle or gland

Interneuron (B)

• Connector
Motor Neuron (C)

• A nerve that carries impulses from the brain

or spinal cord to a muscle or gland

Neurons

What type of neuron carries
impulses from the brain?

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The Nervous System

• An involuntary response to something,

which happens quickly

• Protects your body from harm, like putting

your hand on a hot stove

• Sneezing and blinking

• The doctor might check your knee jerk

reaction for reflex health.

Reflex

Why might checking your reflex
health be important?

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The Nervous System

• Multiple sclerosis

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Parkinson’s disease

• Epilepsy

• Stroke

• Dementia

• Head Trauma

All can affect memory and ability to perform daily
activities.

Neurological Disorders

Think About It

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Give your best answer to...

1.

Explain the main function of the nervous system.

2.

List the main structures of the nervous system and the role
they play in the system.
Check for

Understanding

Still have
questions?

Which essential questions do you still need help to understand?