Nervous System
Nervous System
The Nervous System is a complex network of nerves and cells, known as neurons, that transmit signals between different parts of the body. It is essentially the body's electrical wiring and is fundamental to everything humans experience. The nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Central Nervous System
The central nervous system is the control center of the body. It consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is the most complex organ in the body and controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger, and every process that regulates our body. The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain. Its main function is to transmit neural signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. It is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for coordinating the body's movements, and also for receiving external stimuli. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.
Function
The nervous system helps all the parts of the body to communicate with each other. It also controls numerous body functions like the heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, reflexes and body temperature. The nervous system allows organisms to interact with the environment by coordinating sensory and motor information.
Disorders of the Nervous System
There are many disorders of the nervous system that can occur, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease. These disorders can have a significant impact on the life of the individual affected, and research is ongoing to find treatments and cures.
See Also
WikiMD neurology
External links
- Comprehensive information from the National Institute of health.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD