The Nervous System Jacki Malone, RN, BSN Montgomery County ATC, Health Sciences

The Nervous System Complex Organized Consists of: ◦Brain ◦Spinal cord ◦Nerves

The Nervous System Enables the body to respond and adapt to changes in and outside of the body Control center

The Nervous System Basic unit= ◦Cell ◦A NEURON ◦Neurons  Receive info  Send info out to other neurons, muscles or glands  Info sent through rapid fire impulses

Neuron

Speed of transmission…. R45T8Y R45T8Y Fun fact: ◦If we lined up all the neurons in our body it would be around 600 miles long.

Nerve Bundle of many nerve fibers Pathway for information between brain and spinal cord to/from the muscles and organs

The Nervous System

CNS CNS= Central Nervous System Consists of: ◦Brain ◦Spinal Cord

CNS-BRAIN Brain= mass of nerve tissue Has four ventricles (hollow spaces) ◦Filled with cerebro spinal fluid  Absorbs shock  Carries nutrients

CNS-BRAIN Main areas of brain ◦Cerebrum-thought, memory, speech, sight, smell, hearing ◦Cerebellum-muscle coordination, balance, posture ◦Midbrain-conduct impulses between brain and body ◦Pons-chewing, tasting, spit production ◦Medulla oblongata-connects to spinal cord, regulates heart beat, respirations & BP ◦Diencephalon-houses thalamus and hypothalamus (relay center and autonomic nervous system)  Regulates temperature, appetite, water balance, sleep cycle, anger, fear, pleasure, pain, affection

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The Brain

Fun fact: ◦The left side of human brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. ◦ ◦ 8

CNS-The Spinal Cord Responsible for reflex actions and carrying messages to the brain and back to the muscles and glands Starts at medulla oblongata and ends at the first or second lumbar vertebrae Housed inside the spine

Peripheral Nervous System PNS Somatic Autonomic Nervous System

Somatic Nervous System 12 pairs of cranial nerves & branches ◦Responsible for special senses  Sight, hearing, taste, smell  Sensations-touch, pressure, pain, temp 31 pairs of spinal nerves and branches ◦Carry messages to and from the spinal cord ◦Each nerve goes directly to a particular part of the body

Autonomic nervous system Helps maintain balance Allows body to react in times of emergency

Autonomic Nervous System Autonomic Sympathetic Nervous System Parasympathetic Nervous System

Sympathetic Nervous System Prepares the body to act by ◦Inc HR ◦Inc RR ◦Inc BP ◦Dec activity in the digestive tract ◦FIGHT OR FLIGHT

Parasympathetic System After the emergency is over: ◦Dec HR ◦Dec RR ◦Dec BP ◦Inc activity in the digestive tract

Diseases and Abnormalities of the Nervous System

Cerebrovascular Accident CVA = Cerebrovascular Accident STROKE Occurs when blood flow to the brain is impaired No O2=brain damage

Cerebrovascular Accident Symptoms of CVA ◦Loss of consciousness ◦Weakness ◦Paralysis on one side of the body ◦Difficult swallowing ◦Speech and language impairment ◦incontinence

Epilepsy Brain disorder Seizure syndrome Abnormal electrical impulses Different kinds of seizures Treatment: anticonvulsant drugs

Paralysis Loss of function and sensation below the level of injury Usually results from brain or spinal cord injury

Alzheimer’s disease Progressive degeneration and death of brain neurons Not reversible, no cure Symptoms: ◦Memory loss ◦Decrease in judgment ◦Speech difficulties ◦Leads to death

Shingles Herpes zoster Acute inflammation of nerve cells Old chicken pox virus hides out in your body Follows a nerve path Symptoms: fluid filled vesicles, severe pain, redness, itching, fever and abnormal skin sensations Tx: pain relief, control itching. Usually goes away in 1-4 weeks…..

Shingles

Careers in the Nervous System Anesthesiologist Rad tech Accupuncturist Neurosurgeon Neurologist

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