somatic nervous system

Examples of somatic nervous system in the following topics:

• Introduction to the Nervous System

  • The basic unit of the nervous system is the neuron.
  • The nervous system can be divided into two major parts—the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
  • The PNS can be further subdivided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
  • The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements such as those in the skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscles.
  • The nervous system of the human body, including the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) and all the nerves of the body (peripheral nervous system).

• The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

  • The peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to environmental stimuli to gather sensory input and create motor output.
  • The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of the two major components of the body's nervous system.
  • The PNS can also be divided into two separate systems: the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
  • The somatic nervous system keeps the body adept and coordinated, both through reflexes and voluntary action.
  • The somatic nervous system controls systems in areas as diverse as the skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscles.

• The Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, which process sensory input and provide instructions to the body.
  • The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the two major subdivisions of the nervous system.
  • Together with the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the CNS performs fundamental functions that contribute to an organism's life and behavior.
  • The nervous system has three main functions: gathering sensory information from external stimuli, synthesizing that information, and responding to those stimuli.
  • The three major components of the central nervous system: 1) the brain, 2) brain stem, and 3) spinal cord.

• Somatosensation: Pressure, Temperature, and Pain

  • The human sense of touch is known as the somatic or somatosensory system.
  • By gathering external stimuli and interpreting them into useful information for the nervous system, skin allows the body to function successfully in the physical world.
  • The receptors collect and convert physical stimuli into electrical and chemical signals through the transduction process and send these impulses to the nervous system for processing.
  • A somatic system disorder (formerly called a somatoform disorder) is a type of psychological disorder related to the somatosensory system.
  • Somatic system disorders present symptoms of physical pain or illness that cannot be explained by a medical condition, injury, or substance.

• Intro to the Central Nervous System

• Biology of Emotion

  • The limbic system, autonomic nervous system, and reticular activating system interact in the processing of emotion.
  • The limbic system, autonomic nervous system, and reticular activating system all interact to assist the body in experiencing and processing emotions.
  • The hypothalamus plays a role in the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is a part of any emotional reaction.
  • The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is part of the peripheral nervous system in humans.
  • The ANS can be further subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

• Development of the Human Brain

  • The mental processes and behaviors studied by psychology are directly controlled by the brain, one of the most complex systems in nature.
  • The human brain is one of the most complex systems on earth.
  • The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system, which alongside the peripheral nervous system is responsible for regulating all bodily functions.
  • All sensory and motor information that travels between the forebrain and the spinal cord passes through the midbrain, making it a relay station for the central nervous system.
  • The forebrain is the most anterior division of the developing vertebrate brain, containing the most complex networks in the central nervous system.

• The Endocrine System

  • The endocrine and nervous systems work together to act as a communication system for the human body.
  • The endocrine system acts as a communication tool within the human body, working in tandem with the nervous system to communicate with the body's other internal systems.
  • Both the nervous and endocrine systems send messages everywhere inside the human body.
  • In the nervous system, signals travel very quickly, leading to instantaneous responses.
  • However, within the endocrine system, signals move slowly but last longer.

• Introducing the Neuron

  • The neuron is the basic building block of the brain and central nervous system.
  • Nearly 86 billion neurons work together within the nervous system to communicate with the rest of the body.
  • Myelin is produced by glial cells (or simply glia, or "glue" in Greek), which are non-neuronal cells that provide support for the nervous system.
  • In the central nervous system, the glial cells that form the myelin sheath are called oligodendrocytes; in the peripheral nervous system, they are called Schwann cells.
  • Motor neurons are neurons located in the central nervous system, and they project their axons outside of the CNS to directly or indirectly control muscles.

• Stimulants

  • Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), the sympathetic nervous system (part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the fight-or-flight response), or both.
  • Some stimulants produce a sense of euphoria, especially those that exert influence on the central nervous system.
  • Addiction to some central-nervous-system stimulants can quickly lead to medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial deterioration.
  • Over time, stimulants can disrupt the functioning of the brain's dopamine system, dampening users' ability to feel any pleasure at all.