The Nervous System
The nervous system is the part of an animal's body that maintains an internal homeostasis by sending signals throughout the body and allows the animal to interact with the world around it by controlling voluntary and involuntary movements. Every animal on earth except the sponge has a nervous system. There are two types of nervous systems found in most animals: central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system. An animal with a central nervous system has a brain and a spinal cord. A peripheral nervous system consists nerves bundled together into fibers. These two systems work in conjunction to allow the animal to move and live. More information on the individual systems below.
Parts of the Nervous System
Central Nervous System
A central nervous system consists of a brain and spinal cord. A brain is an organ, consisted mainly of neurons. Neurons are cells that can transmit and process information through electrical and chemical signals. These cells are the fundamental building blocks of every nervous system. The spinal cord is a long, tube-like bundle of nerves. The spinal cord has three main jobs: to bring motor signals from the brain to the body, to bring sensory information from the body to the brain, and a center for controlling certain reflexes.
A central nervous system consists of a brain and spinal cord. A brain is an organ, consisted mainly of neurons. Neurons are cells that can transmit and process information through electrical and chemical signals. These cells are the fundamental building blocks of every nervous system. The spinal cord is a long, tube-like bundle of nerves. The spinal cord has three main jobs: to bring motor signals from the brain to the body, to bring sensory information from the body to the brain, and a center for controlling certain reflexes.
Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is what brings electrical impulses from the central nervous system to the muscles and organs. There are two parts of the peripheral nervous system: the automatic and somatic nervous system. The automatic system is what monitors your heart rate and digestion without you having to consciously have to think about it. The somatic system is what allows you to send signals from your brain to your arms telling them to move, all this being voluntary and you are aware that you are doing it. Without these systems, the brain and spinal cord would have no way of bringing their signals and instructions to the rest of the body.
The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is what brings electrical impulses from the central nervous system to the muscles and organs. There are two parts of the peripheral nervous system: the automatic and somatic nervous system. The automatic system is what monitors your heart rate and digestion without you having to consciously have to think about it. The somatic system is what allows you to send signals from your brain to your arms telling them to move, all this being voluntary and you are aware that you are doing it. Without these systems, the brain and spinal cord would have no way of bringing their signals and instructions to the rest of the body.