The Human Nervous System

The nervous system controls all the biological processes and movement in the body. It receives information in the form of electrical signals and interprets it to generate responses which are passed through the nervous system. Essentially, the nervous system is a biological information highway consisting of a network of nerve cells or neurons.

The human nervous system consists of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and is effectively the the center of the nervous system. It processes the information received from all parts of the body and sends back appropriate responses. The peripheral nervous system consists of the various nerves that connect to the different parts of the body.

The human nervous system

Basic Functions of Nervous System

1. It controls and coordinates the body functions.

2. It receives sensory impulses from the sensory organs through afferent nerve fibers (sensory function), analyzes and interprets this information and initiates the motor impulses which are carried to effector organs like muscles and glands to show response (motor function).

3. It keeps the previous stimuli as the experiences or memory which guide the animal in future.

4. It coordinates the visceral functions to maintain a homeostasis in the body fluids.

Mode of Control of Nervous System

There are two control systems in the human body which control and coordinate the body functions: nervous system and hormonal system. Nervous control differs from the hormonal control in following characteristics:

1. The nervous control is rapid.
2. It takes place through electrical signals called nerve impulses.
3. Nerve impulses travel in specific direction.

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