1. The Nervous System

2. Reacting to Stimuli  In order to maintain homeostasis and survive your body has to be able to react to changes in the environment.  Stimulus - A change in your environment that you react to such as smell, sound, taste, feeling, and sight.

3. Primary Functions of the Nervous System:  Receive stimuli from inside and outside the body  To interpret the stimuli  To react to stimuli and initiate responses for survival  Ex. Moving hand away from fire

4. Central Nervous System Brain : organ that has 3 distinct parts that all serve to control and coordinate the body’s activities 1. Cerebrum 2. Cerebellum 3. Brain Stem Spinal Cord : a bundle of nerves that begins in the brain stem and continues down the center of the back; connects with nerves outside the central nervous system and controls reflexes and directs sensations to the brain

5. Parts of the Brain 1. CEREBRUM: controls thoughts, voluntary actions, and the sensations related to the 5 senses Ex. Controls movement 2. CEREBELLUM: helps with balance, coordination and motor control 3. BRAIN STEM: located at the base of the brain and controls vital and involuntary processes (examples: breathing, digestion, and heart beating)

6. Peripheral Nervous System PERIPHERAL NERVES:  a network of nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and connects to the rest of the body  divided into groups called motor (related to movement) and sensory (related to the 5 senses) nervous systems