Anatomy & Physiology - Body Systems
The Neurological System
The branches of science that will help you understand the body parts and functions are anatomy and physiology. Anatomy deals with the study of the human body (the components, structure and position), and physiology is the study of how the body functions.
Body Systems
The body comprises several systems: The cardiovascular system, Digestive system, Endocrine system, Muscular system, Neurological system, Respiratory system and Skeletal system.
The Neurological System
Our body systems work in conjunction with each other, and none can work in isolation. The nervous system controls and coordinates all other systems' functioning in response to our surroundings. Our senses and messages detect each stimulus or change in our environment are interpreted by the brain that sends directions to the various organs to respond and adapt according to the external conditions that affect our body.
The Neurological System's function is to transmit and receive an ongoing series of messages via electrical impulses to and from the control centre situated in the brain. These messages are either those receiving "information" from various body tissues via the sensory nerves or those initiating the function of other tissues such as organs, muscles, etc.
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), comprising cranial nerves and spinal nerves. The PNS includes nerves emerging from the brain (cranial nerves) and nerves emerging from the spinal cord (spinal nerves). These nerves are divided into sensory nerves that conduct messages from various parts of the body to the CNS, whilst motor nerves conduct impulses from the CNS to muscles and glands. The PNS is further divided into the Somatic System (SNS) and Autonomic System (ANS), depending on the area of the body these messages are transmitted to and from.
The SNS consists of sensory neurons from the head, body wall, extremities, and motor neurons to skeletal muscle. The motor responses are under conscious control, so the SNS is voluntary. Specific peripheral nerves perform specialised functions and form the autonomic nervous system; they control various activities that occur automatically or involuntarily, such as the contraction of smooth muscle in the digestive system's walls. The autonomic system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. These two systems provide nerve stimuli to the same organs throughout the body but bring about different effects.
The Sympathetic Nervous System helps prepare the body for "fight or flight" and create conditions in the tissues for physical activity. It is stimulated by strong emotions such as anger and excitement and will speed up heart rate, increase sweat glands' activity, adrenal glands, and decrease those of the digestive system. It also produces a rapid redistribution of blood between the skin and skeletal muscles.
Conversely, the Parasympathetic Nervous System slows down the body and helps prepare for a more relaxed state, ready for digestion and sleep. It will increase the alimentary canal's peristalsis, slow the heart rate, and constrict the bronchioles in the lungs. The balance between these two systems is controlled to create a state of homeostasis where the internal stability of the bodily systems is maintained in response to the external environment.
Effect of exercise on the neurological system
Good coordination and balance are vital to the sportsperson. The quicker the reactions, the more chance the individual has "the edge" over the opposition or improves their personal best. As with most systems, the neurological system can be trained and improved with repetitive exercises. New and extended movements may be progressively attempted, practised and perfected involving action with the musculoskeletal systems and, importantly, the voluntary nervous system to initiate those actions.
It is also important to realise that nerves serving muscles under conscious control work in pairs. Therefore, it is often beneficial to exercise and stimulate the symmetrically uninjured part when rehabilitating.
We have already noted how other systems may benefit from exercise, and these improvements take place with the help of the neurological system. Like other systems, the neurological system may be adversely affected by smoking, lack of sleep, poor diet and stress.
The nervous system is adversely affected by age. As we grow older, neurons are lost and not replaced. There is also a decreased capacity for transmitting impulses to and from the brain, and voluntary and reflex actions become slower.
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- MACKENZIE, B. (2001) Physiology - Neurological System [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/physioln.htm [Accessed