Nervous system
Unlocking the Secrets of How Your Body Thinks, Moves, and Reacts"
Nervous System
If you touch a hot stove, instantly, the message is conveyed to your brainand the brain orders you to jerk your hand away. This happens within a second. Similarly, when an insect sits on your arm, your brain receives the information and sends back a stimulus for you, to jerk your hand or to flick the insect away before it stings you. How do these actions happen? The organ system in the human body that carries messages from one part of the body to another and make us feel and react to things and situations is called the nervous system. The human nervous system consists of neurons and tissues that regulate stimuli and responses. The nervous system is a complex information processing system that consists mainly of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Our nervous system is divided into two parts.
(1). The central nervous system (CNS).
(2). The peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Science TidBit The brain of an adult human weighs between 1300-1400 grams. The brain of a cat weighs about 30 grams and dog about 70 grams. The brain of an elephant is about 6000 grams.
The Central Nervous System (CNS)
The central nervous system acts as a control center of the whole nervous system. It comprises brain and spinal cord.
1. The Brain: The human brain is enclosed in a bony case called the cranium. An adult human brain weighs about three pounds and consists of billions of neurons. Three layers of connective tissues called meninges and the fluid present in these layers protect the brain. The brain can be divided into three main parts, called fore brain, mid brain and hind brain.
(a) Fore brain is the largest part of the brain. It consists of three main parts, i.e. cerebrum, thalamus and hypothalamus. Cerebrum is the top most and the largest part of the brain. It is divided into right and left cerebral hemispheres. The right cerebral hemisphere controls movement and activities of the left side of the body, while the left cerebral hemisphere controls the right side of the body. Cerebrum is the control centre of many sensory areas like sight, speech, smell, taste and hearing. It is also concerned with learning, thinking, intelligence, memory and voluntary movements. Inside the cerebrum, there is a small structure called thalamus. It acts as a processing centre between the body and the cerebrum by receiving sensory information like touch and sound and carrying them to the cerebrum. At the base of the thalamus is the Hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature, hunger and thirst.
(b) Mid brain It is the central part of the brain. Its basic function is to transfer information and impulses between the fore brain and the hind brain. This part of the brain is associated with vision, hearing, sleep/wake and temperature regulation. The mid brain also serves to control some reflexes such as changing size of the pupil to control the amount of light entering the eye.
(c) Hind brain
The hind brain of three parts, i.e. Cerebellum, Pons and Medulla oblongata. onsists Cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain. It is mainly concerned with posture, balance and locomotion of the body. Pons is a small oval structure present above the medulla oblongata. It serves as a bridge for the conduction of impulses between the cerebrum, medulla oblongata and the cerebellum. It is concerned with the rate of breathing, sleeping and also regulate eye movement and facial expressions. Medulla oblongata connects the brain to the spinal cord. It controls heart beat, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, digestion and breathing etc. Medulla oblongata keeps on working when the rest of the brain does not work.
About the Creator
muhammad ilyas
My name is Muhammad Ilyas, and I completed my bachelor's degree in microbiology. I am sharing with you an article about biological science. I believe everyone can enjoy and understand the science behind our world.


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