Nervous System

3. Nervous System
“Group of body parts that makes and sends
commands that control all actions of the
body”
– Central Nervous System – (CNS) – “Control center
of the body” – brain and spinal cord
– Peripheral Nervous System – (PNS) – all of the
nerves that carry messages to and from the CNS
– Neurons – special nerve cells; once damaged they
no longer work

4. Nervous System
• Types of neurons
– Sensory (touch, feeling)
– Connecting (relays messages)
– Motor (causes muscles to move)
• Brain
– Cerebrum – 5 senses, muscle movement, thinking
– Cerebellum – balance, posture, coordination
– Brain stem – breathing, heartbeat, digestion

5. Avoid CNS Injuries
• Wear a helmet
• Wear a seatbelt
• Lift heavy objects properly
• Obey traffic laws

6. Problems of the Nervous System
• Epilepsy – brain disorder that results from
sudden bursts of nerve action (seizures)
• Cerebral palsy – condition in which the
cerebrum is damaged
• Multiple sclerosis – disease in which the outer
covering of the nerves is destroyed (slow
progressive disease)