The nervous system is the body’s communication and control network that receives information, processes it, and coordinates responses and functions throughout the body.
The nervous system consists of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body). Together, they control movement, sensation, thought, memory, emotions, and the automatic functions that keep us alive, such as breathing and heartbeat.
Nerve cells, called neurons, communicate using rapid electrical signals and chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. This allows the nervous system to respond almost instantly to changes both inside and outside the body.
KEY COMPONENTS
- Brain: Processes information and coordinates body functions.
- Spinal cord: Carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
- Peripheral nerves: Connect the central nervous system to muscles, skin, and internal organs.
- Autonomic nervous system: Controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure.
QUICK FACT
The nervous system can transmit signals at speeds of more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) per hour, allowing the body to react almost instantly to many stimuli.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Central Nervous System: only the brain and spinal cord.
- Autonomic Nervous System: a division of the peripheral nervous system involved largely in involuntary regulation.
- Endocrine System: The nervous system communicates rapidly using electrical impulses and neurotransmitters, while the endocrine system communicates more slowly through hormones carried in the bloodstream.
SEE ALSO
