The Nervous System:
Introduction and the Cells that Compose It
Why did I pick the party background? Is
that what you're wondering? Well, it is because my FAVORITE system is the nervous
system. I am so thrilled to be doing it now!
Does that mean that the nervous system will be
your favorite, too? Probably not. But I can always hope!
Functions of the Nervous System:
The nervous system is said to control
our body actions. But even that is a multifunctional process... it controls our movements,
both voluntary and involuntary. So, not only does it coordinate our walking, but it
also controls blood vessel constriction and dilation. It controls our hormonal
environment as well.
Our nervous system allows us to sense
the world around us. All of our senses (vision, audition, olfaction, gustation,
touch, pain, temperature, proprioception, and balance) are understood through our nervous
system.
Our nervous system allows for emotions
and for higher level thought. In addition, we learn and have memory
due to our nervous system.
Although these functions are highly varied (and
the list is no where near complete), one thing that they have in common is that in order
to be able to do any of them, some form of communication (either from our world to us, us
to our world, or within ourselves) has to occur. The nervous system contains cells
that allow for communication, both within itself and to other systems (endocrine, muscle)
in our bodies. Another function of the nervous system that truly involves this kind
of communication is information integration. Basically, if we can sense
that something is hot, and we can move our hand, we have to integrate those two
items so that we pull our hand away from something hot before it burns. The nervous
system does that as well!
Therefore, in order to understand how all of
the nervous system functions are possible, you have to be able to understand how the
individual cells of the nervous system work. That is the first goal of this unit
this week.
Organization of this Unit's Pages:
