Nervous System

nervous system

the master controlling and communicating system of the body

sensory input

information gathered by sensory receptors about internal and external changes

integration

processing and interpretation of sensory input

motor output

activation of effector organs (muscles and glands) produces a response

central nervous system (CNS)

• brain and spinal cord

• integration and control center - interprets sensory input and dictates motor output

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

• the portion of nervous system outside CNS

• consists mainly of nerves that extend form the brain and the spinal cord

spinal nerves

to and from the spinal crod

cranial nerves

to and from brain

peripheral nervous system

has two functional divisions

sensory (afferent) division

• somatic and visceral sensory nerve fibers

• conducts impulses form receptors to the CNS

motor (efferent) division

• motor nerve fibers

• conducts impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles and glands)