By Sabrina Kent and Kelsie Cunha

 The nervous system controls all of the responses and activities within a horses behavior.  The nervous system is connected to the brain and the spinal cord, the brain sends messages through the spinal cord and to muscles.  The nervous system co-ordinates most of the bodies internal functions. For example, it controls digestion, respiration, the contractions of the heart and of smooth muscles in blood vessels, and the release.

 When an animal is born, it is born with all of the neurons it will ever have.  A horse’s shape and size varies with the placement of the nervous system, but most neurons still contain the same parts.  Other than nerve cells, the nervous system also has a collection of glial cells. These cells control the speeds of the signals. They also help sustain the nerve cells, provide nutrients, get rid of unwanted chemicals, and they stimulate the growth of axons.

 Central Nervous System !  Peripheral Nervous System  Autonomic Nervous System

 The Central Nervous System is the center of all nervous control. It consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is located in the cranial cavity. And the spinal cord is located in the vertebral/spinal column.  People say it is like the horse’s computer.

 It governs the nerves that are located outside of the Central Nervous System. It consists of the Sensory Nerves and Motor Nerves.  Sensory Nerves -carry information from the body parts to the Central Nervous System. Motor Nerves - carry information from the Central Nervous System to the body parts.

 The Autonomic Nervous System is part of the Peripheral Nervous System. It controls the involuntary systems such as the circulatory system (heart), respiratory system (lungs), etc. The Autonomic Nervous System has two major systems: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.

 The brainstem passes all of the nerve fibers that go to the spinal cord  The medulla and pons of the brainstem control breathing rhythm, coughing, blood pressure, and heart rate  Other centres control posture, muscle tone, and sleep  The cerebellum co-ordinates movements and controls posture and balance

 Cranial nerves help the horse with eating and drinking  They also help to twist the face and moving the eyes and ears

 The sciatic nerve helps with motor and sensory functions  It works with the movement and feeling in the leg

 Nerve bundles travel through the spinal cord in pairs through holes between adjoining vertebrae  The grey matter in the spinal cord respond to impulses in pathways coming from the brain

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