What is the neural system?
The neural system of all animals is composed of highly specialised cells called NEURONS which can detect, receive and transmit different kinds of stimuli.
The neural organisation is very simple in lower invertebrates.
For example, in Hydra it is composed of a network of neurons.
The neural system is better organised in insects, where a brain is present along with a number of ganglia and neural tissues.
The vertebrates have a more developed neural system.
What is the function of the neural system?
- The functions of the organs/organ systems in our body must be coordinated to maintain homeostasis.
- Coordination is the process through which two or more organs interact and complement the functions of one another.
- For example, when we do physical exercises, the energy demand is increased for maintaining an increased muscular activity.The supply of oxygen is also increased. The increased supply of oxygen necessitates an increase in the rate of respiration,heart beat and increased blood flow via blood vessels.
- When physical exercise is stopped, the activities of nerves, lungs, heart and kidney gradually return to their normal conditions.
- Thus, the functions of muscles, lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidney and other organs are coordinated while performing physical exercises.
- In our body the neural system and the endocrine system jointly coordinate and integrate all the activities of the organs so that they function in a synchronised fashion.
- The neural system provides an organised network of point-to-point connections for a quick coordination.
- The endocrine system provides chemical integration through hormones.
What is the neural system in humans?
- The human neural system is divided into two parts :
- The central neural system (CNS)
- The peripheral neural system (PNS)
- The CNS includes the brain and the spinal cord and is the site of information processing and control.
- The PNS comprises of all the nerves of the body associated with the CNS (brain and spinal cord).
- The nerve fibres of the PNS are of two types :
- (a) Afferent fibres
- (b) Efferent fibres
- The afferent nerve fibres transmit impulses from tissues/organs to the CNS
- The efferent nerve fibres transmit regulatory impulses from the CNS to the concerned peripheral tissues/organs.
- The PNS is divided into two divisions called somatic neural system and autonomic neural system.
- The somatic neural system relays impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles while the autonomic neural system transmits impulses from the CNS to the involuntary organs and smooth muscles of the body
- The autonomic neural system is further classified into sympathetic neural system and parasympathetic neural system
What is neuron and its function?
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NEURON IS STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL UNIT OF NEURAL SYSTEM
- Neuron is a microscopic structure composed of three major parts, namely, cell body, dendrites and axon.
- The cell body contains cytoplasm with typical cell organelles and certain granular bodies called Nissl’s granules.
- Short fibres which branch repeatedly and project out of the cell body also contain Nissl’s granules and are called dendrites.
- These fibres transmit impulses towards the cell body.
- The axon is a long fibre, the distal end of which is branched.
- Each branch terminates as a bulb-like structure called synaptic knob which possess synaptic vesicles containing chemicals called neurotransmitters.
- The axons transmit nerve impulses away from the cell body to a synapse or to a neuro-muscular junction.
- Based on the number of axon and dendrites,the neurons are divided into three types, i.e.,
- Multipolar (with one axon and two or more dendrites; found in the cerebral cortex),
- Bipolar (with one axon and one dendrite, found in the retina of eye) and,
- Unipolar (cell body with one axon only; found usually in the embryonic stage).
- There are two types of axons, namely,myelinated and non myelinated.
- The myelinated nerve fibres are enveloped with Schwann cells, which form a myelin sheath around the axon.
- The gaps between two adjacent myelin sheaths are called nodes of Ranvier.
- Myelinated nerve fibres are found in spinal and cranial nerves
Unmyelinated nerve fibre is enclosed by a Schwann cell that does not form a myelin sheath around the axon, and is commonly found in autonomous and the somatic neural systems