BLaviNervous1

=**Nervous Part 1 Structure and Function of the Nervous System**=

Overview
The Nervous System is a collection of neurons that, along with the brain, form a organic network that spans the body. This network allows the body to send signals from anywhere in the body to the brain and back. This network is made up of nerves that send electrical impulses between them in order to send messages to the brain. The brain then comprehends these messages and sends new ones to other nervous in order to preform all of our actions.

**CNS vs PNS**
The Nervous system is divided into two main parts: The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes basically everything else. These include the nerves that control muscles and sensory organs.

The Brain
The brain is a large organ made up of billions of neurons. They work together to process all of our senses and cause all of our muscule movements. The brain works like a computer, relaying messages through the network of nerves. The brain is made up of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.

Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the winded outside of the brain the you think of when you see a brain in pictures. It contains our intelligence, memory, personality, emotion, speech, and ability to feel and move. The cerebrum is also further divided into parts called lobes. The four lobes are the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Also, the cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres that process different types of information. The left side is analytical and logical, while the right side is more creative and intuitive. The outside of the cerebrum is the cortex. This part collects essential information from our senses and relays it to other places.



The inside of the cerebrum contains the thalamus, for carrying messages from sensory organs, the hypothalamus, for controlling involuntary actions, and the pituitary gland, for creating hormones in our body. These three parts are essential for our day to day survival.

Cerebellum
The cerebellum is responsible for controlling our movement, balance, and coordination.

Brain Stem
The Brain stem dispatches and coordinates information sent out by the brain. It also controls many involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, digestion, and blinking.

Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is the long bone structure that runs down our back. Inside, it houses all the nerves that extend into the body and limbs. As part of the central nervous system, it is essential to the body because it provides the only connection between the brain and the whole body below the neck.

Neurons
Neurons, also called nerve cells, are the cells that together create network on our body. Neurons send out electronic pulses that carry information about our senses and instructions to move our muscles. Some of these cells, motor neurons, send pulses into muscles, causing them to contract. Others, sensory nerves, are stimulated by the sensory organ so that the signal can be sent to the brain for further analysis.

Nerves
Nerves are made up of long strings of neurons. There are two types of nerves that send and recieve signals from the brain: sensory and motor nerves. Sensory nerves process stimuli that show us how things feel or if they are painful. More advanced nerves can also process other senses such as sight, smell, or taste. Motor nerves, on the other hand, are attached to muscles and can control their movement either voluntarily or invonlutarily. The difference between the two is whether we choose to control the muscle or if the brain does so automatically.

Glial Cells
The main function of these cells is to maintain a constant environment so that the neurons properly function. The also hold the billions of neurons in our brain in place.

Meninges
Meninges are a system of membranes the cover and protect the central nervous system. This membrane is found on the inside of the skull and provides the blood needed for the brain to function.

=Relation to Other Systems=
 * 1) __Muscular__: The brain is the organ that decides when and how to move the muscles. The signal is the carried to the muscle by neuron impulse
 * 2) __Skeletal__: The main parts of the nervous system, the brain and spinal cord, are well protected with a thick skeletal shell
 * 3) __Circulatory__: The brain decides when the heart should pump the blood that flows through the body.

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Checklist
Brain Cerebellum Spinal Cord Neurons Glial Cells Axons Sensory Nerves Motor Nerves Sending Signals Autonomic Nervous System Somatic Nervous System Senses Pain Receptors Reflex Action Cerebellum Cerebrum Brain Stem