Question

Describe the various parts of the human nervous system. What are the functions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

The nervous system is responsible for controlling and coordinating all the activities of the body. The three major functions of the nervous system are;

• Gathering sensory information from body and external environment.
• Processing and interpreting the sensory information received.
• Conveying appropriate response to the sensory information received.

The nervous system is mainly classified into two;

• The Central Nervous System (CNS) consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
  

1. The brain is majorly involved in the perception and processing of the sensory input. It also regulates voluntary motor responses and homeostatic mechanisms.
2. The spinal cord act as a pathway for the transfer of information between the brain and the peripheral nervous system. It also initiates the reflex actions.

• The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consists of sensory/motor neurons and ganglion.

1. The sensory neurons gather sensory input and transfer it to CNS. Whereas, motor neurons transfers impulses from CNS to muscles/glands for the response to sensory stimuli.
2. The ganglion is a nerve cell cluster that acts as a relay station for the information from sensory neurons to CNS or, in vice-versa, from CNS to motor neurons.