It is a brief introduction to the Nervous System.

1. Introduction to
Nervous System
PRESENTED BY : WAJEEHA.

2. Introduction to Nervous System
1. What is Nervous System...?
2. Structural Classification of
Nervous System
3. Brain
a) Location & Functional Division
b) Brain Structures & their Functions
c) Brain Lateralization
4. Spinal cord
a) Peripheral Nervous System
b) Somatic Nervous system
c) Autonomic Nervous System
5. Basic Functions of the Nervous
System
a) Integrative Function
b) Sensory Function
c) Motor Function
6. Neuron
7. Synapse
8. Memory….
9. Learning & Memory
10. Can I Improve My Memory?
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3. What is Nervous System...?
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4. What is Nervous System...?
 It is the master controlling and communicating
system of the body.
 The NERVOUS SYSTEM controls and coordinates
all essential functions of Human Body.
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5. What is Nervous System...?
 System of specialized cells (NEURONS or NERVE CELLS) that conduct
stimuli from SENSORY RECEPTOR through a “neuron network” to the
site (e.g ; a gland or muscle) where the response occurs.
 A system of NEURONS, NEUROCHEMICALS and ALLIED STRUCTURES
involved in receiving sensory information, generating and
coordinating responses and controlling bodily activities.
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6. Structural Classification of Nervous
System
 a) Central Nervous System (CNS)
It consists of BRAIN and SPINAL CORD which act as integrating
and command centers of nervous system.
b) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
They link all parts of the body by carrying impulses from sensory
receptors to CNS and from CNS to the effectors.
In consists of nerves extending from brain and spinal cord,
CRANIAL and SPINAL NERVES.
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7. CNS:
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8. Brain 8

9. Location & Functional Division
 It is located within the cranial cavity of the skull and consists of
Divisions of the Brain
Major Division Subdivision Structures
Telencephalon
Neocortex; Basal Ganglia; Amygdala;
Hippocampus; Lateral VentriclesProsencephalon
(Forebrain)
Diencephalon
Thalamus; Hypothalamus;
Epithalamus; Third Ventricle
Mesencephalon
(Midbrain)
Mesencephalon
Tectum; Tegmentum; Cerebral
Aqueduct
Metencephalon Cerebellum; Pons; Fourth VentricleRhombencephalon
(Hindbrain)
Myelencephalon Medulla Oblongata; Fourth Ventricle
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10. Brain Structures & their Functions 10

11. Cerebral Cortex Brain stem
Functions:
 Thought
 Voluntary movement
 Language
 Reasoning
 Perception
Cerebellum
Functions:
 Movement
 Balance
 Posture
Functions:
 Breathing
 Heart Rate
 Blood Pressure
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12. Spinal Cord
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13. Spinal Cord
 It is a reflex center and a conduction pathway which is found within
the vertebral canal.
 It extends from the foramen magnum up to the level of L1 Or L2 .
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14. Classification 14

15. Peripheral Nervous System
 It has two divisions
 Sensory or Afferent Division:
Consists of nerve fibers that transmit information from sensory
receptors to the CNS. It is further divided into SOMATIC SENSORY &
VISCERAL SENSORY nerve fibers.
 Motor or Efferent Division:
Consists of nerve fibers that transmit information from CNS to the
effector organs. It is also divided into SOMATIC & AUTONOMIC
nervous system.
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16. Somatic Nervous system
 The somatic nervous system is responsible for coordinating the body
movements, and also for receiving external stimuli.
 It is the system that regulates activities that are under conscious
control.
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17. Autonomic Nervous System
 The autonomic system is for regulating involuntary body functions,
such as blood flow, heartbeat, digestion and breathing.
 This system is further divided into two branches:
1. the sympathetic system regulates the flight-or-fight responses,
2. the parasympathetic system helps maintain normal body functions and
conserves physical resources.
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18. Basic Functions of the Nervous
System
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19. Basic Functions of the Nervous
System
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20. Sensory Function
 Nervous system uses its millions of sensory receptors to monitor
changes occurring both inside and outside the body
 These changes are called STIMULI, and the gathered information is
called SENSORY INPUT
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21. Integrative Function
 The nervous system processes and interprets the sensory input and
makes decision about what should be done at each moment, a
process called INTEGRATION.
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22. Motor Function
 The nervous system then sends information to MUSCLES or GLANDS
so that they can respond correctly, such as muscular contraction
and glandular secretions.
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23. Neuron
THE STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL UNIT OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
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24. Structure
 Dendrites:
 Carry impulses towards the cell body.
 Receive stimuli from receptors or
synapses.
 Cell Body:
 contains nucleus and Nissel’s bodies, a
form of rough endoplasmic reticulum.
 Axon:
 Carry nerve impulses away from cell
body.
 It interacts with glands, muscles or
other neurons.
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25. Types of Neurons
On the basis of structure,
a) Unipolar Neurons
b) Bipolar Neurons
c) Multipolar Neurons
d) Pseudounipolar Neurons
On the basis of function,
a) Sensory Neurons
b) Motor Neurons
c) Interneurons
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26. Function Of Neuron
 Sensory neurons:
 These neurons tell the rest of the brain about the external and internal
environment.
 Motor (and other output) neurons:
 Motor neurons contract muscles and mediate behavior, and other
output neurons stimulate glands and organs.
 Interneurons:
 Communication neurons transmit signals from one brain area to
another.
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27. Function of Neuron 27

28. Synapse
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29. Synapse
 In the nervous system, a synapse is
a structure that permits a
neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an
electrical or chemical signal to
another cell (neural or otherwise).
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30. Features
 It is the junction point between one neuron and the next.
 It determines the direction through which the nerve impulse will
spread through the nervous system.
 Some synapses transmit signals with ease while others don’t.
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32. Memory….
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33. Memory….
Storage
Information
 Memory is the process in
which information is
encoded, stored, and
retrieved.
 Encoding allows
information that is from the
outside world to reach our
senses in the forms of
chemical and physical
stimuli.
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34. It is just Neurons and some good
chemicals…..
 Memory is, at its simplest, a set of encoded neural connections in
the brain.
 It is the re-creation or reconstruction of past experiences by the
synchronous firing of neurons that were involved in the original
experience.
 Our memories are not stored in our brains like books on library
shelves, but are actually on-the-fly reconstructions from elements
scattered throughout various areas of our brains.
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35. Can I Improve My Memory? 35

36. Yes!!!!
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37. How???
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38. The following techniques take
advantage of brain’s storage and
retrieval mechanism:
 Concentrate
 Minimize interference
 Break down large amount of information into
smaller topic
 Rephrase material in your own words
 Test yourself
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39. That’s all…
Presented By: Wajeeha.
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