Week 5

THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. These are
made up of sensory nerves which arise from all parts of the body to thencentral nervous system and the
motor nerves running from the central to all parts of the body. The peripheral nervous system receives
signals changes from the environmentnregistered by the receptors or sense organs and send them to
the central nervous system which integrates the information .it receives and send appropriate messages
to the effectors accordingly.

The PNS consists of twelve (12) pairs of cranial nerves and thirty one (31) pairs of spinal nerves. The
cranial nerves arise from the brain while the spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord. The peripheral
nervous system is subdivided into two systems. These are; (i) Somatic nervous (ii) automatic nervous
system.

SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEMS

The SNS consists of motor (efferent) neurones that connect the CNS to each skeletal muscle. It serves
the parts of the body which take part in responses to external stimuli and all voluntary actions.

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEMS

The ANS consists of motor (efferent) neurones that connect 0the CNS to glands, smooth muscles and
cardiac muscles. It regulates all the body’s involuntary activities such as heart beat, respiratory
movement e. t. c. The ANS is subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system which
works in opposition to one another.

1. Sympathetic nervous system is made up of nerves which connect internal organs to the thoracic and
lumber areas of the spinal cord. The effect of this nervous system dominates in times of emergency and
exertion; it regulates homeostatic mechanisms such as vasodilation,.vasoconstriction and secretion by
sweat gland etc.

2. Parasympathetic nervous system is made up of nerves which connect internal organs to several
cranial nerves and spinal nerves of the sacral region. The effect of this nervous system

dominates during normal relaxed periods.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HORMONAL AND NERVOUS COORDINATION

NERVOUS COORDINATION HORMONAL COORDINATION

1. Messages are transmitted as electrical Messages are transmitted as chemical impulses.

impulses.

2. Transmission is via nerve fibres. Transmission is via blood stream.

3. Transmission is very fast. Transmission is slow.

4. Response is fast, shot-lived and precise. Response is slow, long-lasting and widespread.

5. It is mainly controlled by the brain and the It is controlled by the pituitary gland.
spinal cord.

6. Effectors (muscles and glands) receive the Target organs receive the message
message.

THE NEURONES (STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION)

Neurones (nerve cells) are the basic structural and funtional unit of the nervous system and are
responsible for transmission of impulses within the body.

Each neurone is composed of some basic parts namely:

1. a cell body (soma)

2. One or more short extensions or processes called DENDRONS each of which branches to form many
DENDRITES. .
3. a long process called axons which branch at the free end and terminate at the synaptic knobs.

The cell body may be oval, polygonal or star shaped with alarge nucleus and dense granulated
cytoplasm which give it its greyish colour. It relays impulses it receives from the dendrons to the axon.

The dendrons carry nerve impulses that their dendrites received to the cell body. The dendrites are the
main receptive regions of the neurones and may be stimulated by sensory receptors and other neurones
carrying impulses.

The axons carry electric impulses away from the cell bodies to the proper destination usually some
distance away. The axon of a motor neurone going to a skeletal muscle may be several metres long.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF NEURONES

In vertebrates, it is common to group neurones according to their functions, these are:

1. Sensory (afferent) neurones which transmit impulses from the receptors to the CNS.

2. Motor (efferent) neurones which transmit impulses away from the CNS to the effectors (mus cles and
glands).

3. Relay (association or intermediate) neurones which connect the pathways of sense

TRANSMISSION OF NERVE IMPULSES

Transmission of impulses along a neurone is by electrical (through a nerve fibre) and chemical (across a
synapse) means. Three phases involved include

1. RESTING STATE: – A state when a neurone is not transmitting an impulse. In this state, the nerve fibre
is electrically polarized with excess sodium ions (Na ) outside the cell and excess potassium (K ) inside
the cell. Therefore the cell becomes positively charged outside and negatively charged inside.

2. ACTION STATE: – When the dendrites of a neurone receive impulses, the neurone becomes
depolarized and the cell membrane suddenly permits the inflow of sodium ions and outflow of
potassium ions. The cell body then transmits the impulse to its axon.

3. TRANSMISSION BETWEEN NEURONES: – Transmission here isby chemical means. When an impulse
reaches the synapse, it stimulates the secretion of a chemical substance called acetylcholine which
transmits the impulse to another neurone or muscle fibres.

REFLEX AND VOLUNTARY ACTIONS

Actions are responses to stimuli. These actions are grouped into two: involuntary (reflex) and voluntary
actions.

REFLEX ACTIONS
Reflex actions are automatic responses to stimuli which do not involve the conscious or higher centre of
the brain. These actions are mainly protective, guarding us from dangerous stimuli and helping us to
maintain posture and balance. Reflex actions include jerking of the legs, blinking of the eyes etc.

VOLUNTARY ACTIONS

These are actions initiated and controlled by the conscious part of the brain, which involve thoughts
before performance.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REFLEX AND VOLUNTARY ACTIONS

REFLEX ACTION VOLUNTARY ACTION

1. Actions does not involve higher centre of the brain Actions involves higher centre of the brain.
(unconscious)

2. 2. Involves smaller number of neurones. Involves numerous neurones.

3. Response is rapid Response is slow

4. Response is stereotyped Response varies with circumstances.

5. It is inborn It can be learnt.

EVALUATION

1. State 2 division of peripheral nervous system.

2. Differentiate between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

3. State 3 difference between hormonal and nervous coordination

4. Define reflex and voluntary action.

ASSIGNMENT

1. The muscle and the gland together are referred to as ______ a) receptor b) effector c) neurone d)
sensory cell

2. A neurone that transmits messages from the sense organ to the central nervous system is a) sensory
neurone b) motor neurone c) relay neurone d) effector

3. Which of the following is not a structural part of a typical neurone a) axon b) dendron c) cell body d)
dendrite
4. Which of the following neurons has no myelin sheath a) afferent b) efferent c) relay d) motor

5. A point where one neurone connects with another is called (a) dendron b) myelin sheath c) synapse d)
ganglion