There are two systems in the human body which control and coordinate body functions, first the hormonal system and the system that will highlighted in this report the nervous system. The nervous system offers these following characteristics: The nervous control is rapid. It takes place through electrical signals called nerve impulses. Nerve impulses travel in certain direction.
The brain receives this sensory information through the spinal cord, once received the brain processes this information and initiates responses. The spinal cord is the primary route for this information to and from the brain.
Bundled together these nerves carry messages back and forth the same way that telephone wires do. Sensory nerves send messages to the brain through the spinal cord which is inside of your backbone, while the motor nerves carry messages back from the brain to all the muscles and glands inside your body. Image from: http://chirotalk.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/success-stories-of-the-amazing-human-body/
When a neuron is stimulated by heat, cold, touch or some other message it sends a tiny electrical pulse which travels through the length of the neuron, however when it gets to the neuron it needs help getting to the next one that’s where the chemicals in these neutrons come into play with an electrical pulse that triggers the release of the chemical which carries the pulse to the next cell and so on.
It is amazing and kind of reminds me of dominoes the way these neurons react with one another sending the message along until the message gets to the brain, only at a much faster speed then actual dominoes fall!!!
Peripheral nervous system which is outlined in purple in this diagram consists of all the neural tissue that lies outside the central nervous system. These are the nerves throughout your external body which feel these sensations, good or bad then pass it on to the central system to have the brain process what just happened. So when you step on a sharp object the peripheral nerves in your foot send that starts the domino chain reaction through the body until it gets to the central nerve system for processing of this feeling. Image from: http://www.eruptingmind.com/basic-functions-nervous-system/
Another part of the nervous system is the automatic nervous system which includes the sympathetic division which is the fight or flight, or the part in you nervous system that tends to be activated when there is increased autonomic activity, for example when you exercise the sympathetic division will increase your heart rate and pulse. Then there is the Parasympathetic division, which is just the opposite of the sympathetic division which slows down your heart rate for example when you relax to watch TV, meditate, prepare for sleep or in general just relax. Images : http://www.eruptingmind.com/basic-functions-nervous-system/
This system consists of all neutrons connected with skeletal muscles, skin and sense organs. In this system the efferent nerves send signals for muscle contraction when a move is made by the body.
