• Consists of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Central Nervous System:

• Brain
• Spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System:

• Cranial nerves
  • The branch from the brain
  • Connect the brain, sensory organs, and effector at the head
• Spinal nerves
  • The branch from the spinal cord
  • Connect the spinal cord, sensory organs, and effector at the other parts of the body
• Sensory receptors
  • Place at end of the cranial nerves and spinal nerves in organs

Hypothalamus

Function:

• Regulates homeostasis such as blood osmotic pressure and body temperature
• Regulates sleep, hunger, and thirst
• Controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland
• Regulates the coordination of the endocrine and nervous systems

Cerebrum

• The largest part of the brain, consisting of two hemispheres
• The left hemisphere controls activity on the right side of the body and vice versa

Function:

• Controls all activities of the mind (thinking, memory, learning, reasoning, personality)
• Interpret information from receptors
• Controlling skeletal muscle action (controlled muscle movement)

Pituitary gland

• Located below the hypothalamus
• Divided into two lobes: the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe of the pituitary

Function:

• Secretes hormones to regulate the growth of the body and other endocrine glands

Thalamus

Function:

• Organizes incoming and outgoing information in the central cortex
• Integrates information from sensory receptors and enhances signals to the brain

Medulla oblongata

Function:

• Regulates uncontrolled (autonomic) actions such as heartbeat, peristalsis and respiration
• Reflex centres (blinking, coughing and sneezing)

 Cerebellum

• Divided into two hemispheres

Function:

• Coordinates muscle contraction (regulates body movements)
• Receive information on posture and position
• Controls body balance and produces precise movements

Functions of the spinal cord:

• Located between the ventrible poles
• Functions to control reflex actions and deliver signals to and from the brain

Peripheral Nervous System:

• Peripheral nerves consist of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
• The somatic nervous system controls all voluntary actions
• The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions such as heartbeat and blood vessel contraction
• The function of the peripheral nervous system is to connect sensory receptors and effectors to the central nervous system