Nervous Overview

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Nervous Overview Objectives

List the organs and functions of the central and peripheral parts of the nervous system.
Describe the somatic and autonomic components of the motor response.
Indicate the locations of some of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, including the sciatic nerves, median & ulnar nerves, and cranial nerves.

The nervous system not only keeps us breathing and circulating blood, it also can solve complex problems like a Rubik’s cube.

We are starting our examination of the nervous system with two brief and complementary overview videos.

Nerves are bundles of neurons (nerve cells) that (1) receive sensory information, (2) send it to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) for processing, and then (3) respond in some motor fashion, like causing muscle to contract.

The motor nerve response is voluntary and under our control is called _____, are the nerve response that is involuntary and out of our control is called _____.

The autonomic (sometimes called “vegetative”) part of the motor nervous system has two components that generally work opposite each other: the _____ that often stimulates organ activity, and the _____ that often inhibits organ activity.

The nerves are often running along large blood vessels throughout the body.

Sciatic Nerves

Run from the lumbar region of the spine down the back of each leg.

Median and Ulnar Nerves

Run down each forearm and through the wrist.

Cranial Nerves

Several sets of nerves that extend from the cervical spine to the brain.

The next section introduces the neurons that communicate and the glial cells that support them.

Check your knowledge. Can you:

list the organs and functions of the central and peripheral parts of the nervous system?
describe the somatic and autonomic components of the motor response?
indicate the locations of some of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, including the sciatic nerves, median & ulnar nerves, and cranial nerves?

Go back to the Nervous System Guide Overview

Go forward to the Neurons Page

Nervous System Lecture Guide Contents

The material from this guide and corresponding lecture is assessed on the weekly quiz.