Nervous System Biology

Nervous System Biology

NERVOUS SYSTEM BIOLOGY
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Table of Contents
1. Basic structure and functions of the nervous system........................................................................2
1.1 Components parts of the central and peripheral nervous system...............................................2
1.2 The Autonomic nervous system..................................................................................................2
1.3 Structure of the sensory and motor neurone system..................................................................3
The motor neurone system...........................................................................................................3
The Sensory neurones system.......................................................................................................3
2. The nature of nerve impulses............................................................................................................4
2.1 Transmission of an action potential.............................................................................................4
2.2 All or nothing nature of nerve impulses......................................................................................5
2.3 Role of the myelin sheath and the refractory period...................................................................5
3. The principle of synaptic transmission...............................................................................................6
3.1 Structure of a cholinergic synapse...............................................................................................6
3.2 The role of synapses in the nervous system................................................................................7
3.3 The cause and effects of synaptic inhibition................................................................................7
References.............................................................................................................................................9

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1. Basic structure and functions of the nervous system
1.1 Components parts of the central and peripheral nervous system
The nervous system is a major portion of the human body system which is used to
control and coordinate the body system. There are major two components of the
nervous scheme such as the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
(Open Text Book, 2018). The central nervous system contains brain and spinal cord but
peripheral scheme contains pairs of spinal nerves, cranial nerves and the sense organs.
The peripheral nervous system alienated into dual portions, for example, the autonomic
nervous scheme and somatic system (Nave, and Werner, 2014). It is observed that the
autonomic system interconnects with the glands and internal organs but somatic
system communicates with the voluntary muscles and sense organs.
In the central structure the spinal cord is interconnected with the brain with the help of
brain stems. Mainly, such kind of system contains sensory impulses in order to provide
information to the brain and central system is endangered through the CSF, skull and
meninges (Andres, et al., 2008). The central nervous system in the human body contains
the brain, skull, ventricles, spinal cord and meninges. Moreover, the autonomic nervous
system categorized into major two fragments such as the sympathetic and
parasympathetic division. Somatic nervous system contains a motor system and a
sensory system where the sensory system is used as an input process and motor
nervous works as the output process. It is evaluated that the motor nervous system also
contains impulses which away from the central nervous system to glands and the
sensory system contains impulses towards the central system to carry information.
1.2 The Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is a portion of the peripheral system that communicates
with the glands and internal organs of the human body system. Such kind of system is
also responsible for the automatic body functions, for example, heart beat or rate,
respiratory rate, and blood pressure which are not under voluntary control system
(Nunez, et al., 2008). The autonomic nervous system also helps individuals to control
and manage the homeostasis and it provides a platform to these functions for

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automatically taking place. Such kind of nervous system is also categorized into major
two parts which are the following:
 The sympathetic system
 The parasympathetic system
The sympathetic system is also called as the accelerator which controls and monitors
the human body system in order to enhance the overall energy. When any action is
required in the body system, the sympathetic nervous system will trigger the brain by
increasing the heart rate and enhancing the flow of blood. It is also discussed that this
nervous system allows the human body system to respond in less time in any critical
situation.
The parasympathetic system is also called as the brake that helps the human body
system to monitor the human body system or functions. In which once a threat has
passed this nervous system will reduce the heart rate and flow of blood. The main
advantage of this nervous system is that it has the potential to allow individuals to
return their body system into a normal situation.
1.3 Structure of the sensory and motor neurone system
The motor neurone system
It is used to control and manage the muscle that has a cell body on one end and
dendrites on the other end (Madison, et al., 2007). Mainly, this kind of system contains
signals and information from the central coordination to the outside parts like skin, and
glands of the human figure. The main function of this system is that it collects the
relevant information from other neurons and conveys commands to human muscles.
The Sensory neurones system
Such kind of system contains impulses towards the central nervous system in order to
get related information. Sensory neurons gather signals and information about what is
going on outside and inside of the human body system and transport that signals into
the central system so it can be handled (Pugdahl, et al., 2007). It is observed that this
neuron system obtain information from the outer parts of the human body system like
periphery into the CNS system (De, et al., 2008).