Your nervous system controls everything you do, including breathing, walking, thinking, and feeling. The nervous system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and billions of nerves throughout your body. These nerves are like tiny wires that run through your whole body to send messages to and from the brain.
We have two nervous systems, the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and the Central Nervous System (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord while the peripheral nervous system PNS consists of the nerves which carry messages to and from the brain and the spinal cord.
The PNS works with nerves, the aplexus, and a gaglion. Here are the definitions for these new words:
- Nerve: a bundle of nerve fibers
- Aplexus: network of interjoining nerves
- Gaglion: aggregation of nerve cells (cell bodies and processes)
The CNS consists of your cervical nerves, thoracic nerves, lumbar nerves, sacral nerves, and your coccygeal nerves.
The autonomic functions operate largely by feflexes in which sensory signals from visceral organs are received by nerve centers within the brain or spinal cord. Motor impulese travel out and from the centers on peripheral nerve fibers within the nerves to visceral muscles or glands which respond by contracting or secreating.
Impulses from each visceral organs are supplied with nerve fibers. Impulses on one set of fibers tend to activate the organ while impulese on the other set inhibit it. The actions of the organ are regulated by alternately being activated or inhibited.
Defect Indications
This short list can encompass a multitude of issues when the nervous system is negatively impacted:
- pain
- trauma
- damage
- over stimulation
- under stimulation
Medical Terms
Different health issues impacting the nervous system may include:
- Neuritis (neuropathy)
- Polyneuritis
- Sciatica
Neurtiris is a term used to denote damage to a nerve regardless of the cause. The term “neuropathy” is most commonly used unless the damage is of an infectious nature.
neuro: having to do with the nerves
itis: inflammation
pathy: disease
Polyneuritis designates a condition in which many of the peripheral nerves are involved.
Sciatica is a general term used when pain radiates down the back of the thigh and leg. It is frequently caused by a herniated disk or a narrow vertebral canal. However, it can also occur as a result of injury or disease.