Erika Thompson Human Anatomy and Physiology 201 with Lab Research and Report Nervous System

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Composed of a complex matrix of nerve cells connecting every portion in our body we have the nervous system. Without this, the ability to be apart of the human species, properly function let alone s... urvive wouldn’t be possible. This report will discuss the relationships between the branches of the nervous system and the communication pathway between the heart and the brain. It will also continue by addressing how this system helps maintain homeostasis in the human body and discuss a disease that is triggered from imbalances of the autonomic nervous system. The nervous system is divided into two major divisions: the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. Each of these divisions are subdivided into further categories: the peripheral divides into the somatic NS and the automatic NS which further divides into the sympathetic NS and parasympathetic NS. The central NS is broken down into the brain and spinal cord, which also is further broken down into separate divisions—refer to Figure 1 for a visual aid of this breakdown. For this portion of the report we will focus primarily on the relationship between the central and peripheral nervous systems and then its ability to communicate to sensory organs. As mentioned previously, the central nervous system is composed of the spinal cord and the brain. Formed by the vertebrae is the vertebral canal, this is where the spinal cord resides. The brain is located within the skull and the two are connected via the foramen magnum of the skull. The peripheral nervous system connects the remaining parts of the body to the central NS via nervous tissues. It is through this relationship that information is shared between the two in order to command the body’s activities. Included in the peripheral NS there are two neuron subdivisions: motor neurons, efferent, which connect the central NS to muscles and glands and sensory neurons, afferent, which connects sensory organs to the central [Show More]

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