General Objective: At the end of the lesson, students should:

● understand that humans detect and respond to changes in their external and internal
environment.
Specific Objective: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. List the two main divisions of the nervous system from memory with at least 90%
accuracy.
2. Discuss what each division of the nervous system is made up of using handout and
textbook with at least 80% accuracy.
3. Label a diagram of the human brain from memory with at least 90% accuracy
4. Describe the functions of the five main parts of the brain from memory with at least 80%
accuracy.
5. Distinguish between a neurone and a nerve from memory with at least 90% accuracy.
6. Label a diagram of a neurone from memory with at least 80% accuracy.
7. List the properties of neurones using information from handout, with at least 80%
accuracy.
8. Explain the functions of motor and sensory neurons and spinal synapses using
information from handout, with at least 80% accuracy.

9. Name the three types of neurones and state their function using information from
handout, with at least 80% accuracy.

Skills: Analyzing and interpreting information, recall, critical thinking, labelling, annotating

Key Vocabulary: neurone, synapse, receptors, effectors, reflex action, cerebrum,

cerebellum, medulla Oblongata, accommodation, Follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH), Luteinsing Hormone (LH), Thyroxine, Myopia

Content

The Nervous System

Co-ordination is the process by which receptors detect stimuli, both internal and external, and
pass messages to effectors causing them to respond appropriately. This maximizes the organism
chance of survival. Co-ordination is brought about by the nervous and endocrine system.

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NB: Receptors – A part of an organism that detects a stimulus e.g. sense organs in animals,
and the tips of roots and shoot in plants.

Effectors- The part of an organism that responds to a stimulus e.g. muscles and glands in
animals and the region just behind the tips of roots and shoots in plants.

Stimulus – a change in the environment

Response – a change in an organism or part of an organism, brought about by a stimulus.

The Nervous System is divided into two parts:

1. The Central Nervous System (CNS)

2. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The Central Nervous System is made up of:

1. The brain
2. The spinal cord

The CNS receives messages from the PNS and transmit messages to all parts of the body.

The Peripheral Nervous System is made up of: The somatic nervous system and the autonomic
nervous system

The somatic nervous system is made up of:

1. Cranial Nerves
2. Spinal Nerves

The somatic nervous system is responsible for conscious activities. The cranial and spinal nerves
connects the brain and spinal cord to receptors in the skin and skeletal muscles

3. Autonomic Nervous system

Autonomic nervous system: A part of the nervous system that regulates key involuntary
functions of the body, including the activity of the heart muscle; the smooth muscles, including
the muscles of the intestinal tract; and the glands

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The autonomic nervous system can be taught of as an "automatic" system of nerves that connect
the brain & spinal cord to various organs to control unconscious (involuntary) activities. It
includes nerve fibers that arouse the body for stress or "fight or flight" responses and then returns
the body to a resting state.

The autonomic nervous system consists of the:

1. Sympathetic nervous System

2. Parasympathetic Nervous System

Sympathetic nervous System

The function of the sympathetic nervous system is to initiate involuntary action. The
sympathetic nervous system (SNS) controls the body's responses to a perceived threat and is
responsible for the "fight or flight" response. This system makes the body more alert.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) controls homeostasis and the body at rest and is
responsible for the body's "rest and digest" function. This system helps to restore the body to a
state of calm.

Structure Sympathetic Stimulation Parasympathetic Stimulation

Iris (eye muscle) Pupil dilation Pupil constriction

Salivary Glands Saliva production reduced Saliva production increased

Oral/Nasal Mucosa Mucus production reduced Mucus production increased

Heart Heart rate and force increased Heart rate and force decreased

Lung Bronchial muscle relaxed Bronchial muscle contracted

Stomach Peristalsis reduced Gastric juice secreted; motility

increased

Small Intestine Motility reduced Digestion increased

Large Intestine Motility reduced Secretions and motility

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 increased

Liver Increased conversion of

glycogen to glucose

Kidney Decreased urine secretion Increased urine secretion

Adrenal medulla Norepinephrine and

epinephrine secreted

Bladder Wall relaxed Wall contracted

Sphincter closed Sphincter relaxed

Blood vessel Blood vessels dilate Blood vessels constrict

The PNS is the system that takes messages to the CNS and relay them back to the effectors
in the body. (The PNS consist of nerves running to and from the CNS that joins all part of the
body to the CNS).

Cranial Nerves: There are 12 pairs connected to the brain. Most supply receptors and effectors
of the head.

Spinal Nerves: These are pairs of nerves connected to the spinal cord. They supply receptors
and effectors of the rest of the body.

The Autonomic Nervous system is a part of the PNS that controls involuntary action. It
contains motor fibres which connects the CNS to effectors.

The Brain

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Function of the different structures of the Brain

Cerebellum – Deals with regulation and coordination of movement, posture, and balance.

Medulla- Controls heartbeat, blood pressure and breathing movement (involuntary action)

Cerebrum – The cerebrum or cortex is the largest part of the human brain, associated with
higher brain function such as thought and action. ( It controls conscious thought)

Hypothalamus - The structure is involved in functions including homeostasis, emotion, thirst,

hunger, circadian rhythms, and control of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, it controls
the pituitary.

Pituitary glands- Secretes different hormones.

The cerebral cortex is divided into four sections, called "lobes": the frontal lobe, parietal lobe,
occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Here is a visual representation of the cortex:

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What do each of these lobes do?

● Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and
problem solving, smelling,
● Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli
● Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing
● Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, and
speech

Difference between nerves and neurons

The term "neuron" refers to a single nerve cell that transmits impulses along its length
The term "nerve" refers to a structure made up many neurons.
Properties of Neurons
Irritability
Conductivity
There are three types of nerves
1. Motor nerves Efferent nerves

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2. Sensory nerves Afferent nerve
3. Mixed nerves
● Motor nerves are referred to as the effector or efferent nerves. They only contain neurones
that carry nerve impulses form to effectors. E.g., some of the cranial nerves leading from the
brain

● Sensory nerves are referred to as receptor nerves or afferent nerves. They only contain
neurones that carry nerve impulses from receptors to the central nervous system (CNS). E.g.,
the optic nerve which transmit impulses from the retina of the eye to the brain.

● Mixed nerves / intermediate nerves are nerves that are made of both sensory and motor
neurons. They carry impulses to and from the CNS.

NB: Most nerves are mixed nerves e.g., all spinal nerves.
There are three types of neurones:
1. Sensory neurone (receptor)
2. Motor neurone (effector)
3. Relay Neurone (connector)

● Sensory neurones carry impulses for the receptors to the CNS

● Motor Neurones carries impulses from the CNS to effectors
● Relay Neurones carries impulses from sensory neurons to motor neurones or from one relay
neurone to another

A synapse is a structure that links a sensory neuron with a relay Neurone or motor neurone. It
allows for the transmission of nerve impulses.

Motor Neurone

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 Sensory Neurone

Functions of the Structures of a Neurone

❖ Cell body - Contains the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell organelles. It controls the activity of

the neurone and makes all the protein it needs.

❖ Dendrites –Receives impulses from other neurones and carries them to the cell body.

❖ Axon – Carries impulses away from the cell body

❖ Sheath of myelin – allows impulses to jump from node to node and speeds up impulses

along the axon

❖ Node of Ranvier - speed up the passage of nerve impulses along the axon

Movement of impulses

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Receptor Relay neurone Effector
Stimulus Sensory neurone CNS Motor neuron Response