Nervous System Anatomy
Nervous System Anatomy - Related Videos
26:22
Homarus Americanus Stomatogastric Nervous System Dissection
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Cited by 3 •
2009
We describe the fine dissection of the stomatogastric nervous system from the stomach of the American lobster (Homarus americanus).
01:25
What is a Nervous System?
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2019
Overview The nervous system is the collection of specialized cells responsible for maintaining an organism’s internal environment and coordinating the interaction of an organism with the external world—from the control of essential functions such as heart rate and breathing to the movement needed to escape danger. Parts of the Nervous System The vertebrate nervous system is divided into two major parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS...
01:14
The Parasympathetic Nervous System
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2019
Overview The parasympathetic nervous system is one of the two major divisions of the autonomic nervous system. This parasympathetic system is responsible for regulating many unconscious functions, such as heart rate and digestion. It is composed of neurons located in both the brain and the peripheral nervous system that send their axons to target muscles, organs, and glands. The “Rest and Digest” System Activation of the parasympathetic system tends to have a relaxing effect on the body,...
01:25
The Sympathetic Nervous System
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2019
Overview The sympathetic nervous system—one of the two major divisions of the autonomic nervous system—is activated in times of stress. It prepares the body to meet the challenges of a demanding circumstance while inhibiting essential body functions—such as digestion—that are a lower priority at the moment. The “Fight or Flight” System As a student, you may have had the experience of walking into class and finding a surprise exam that you were not expecting. In the moment of realization, you...
11:53
Oral Administration of Rotenone using a Gavage and Image Analysis of Alpha-synuclein Inclusions in the Enteric Nervous System
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Cited by 37 •
2010
Parkinson's disease has been related to the exposure to pesticides. Here we show a method to deliver pesticides using a gastric tube at the desired concentration and a method to analyze their effect in alpha-synuclein accumulation in the enteric nervous system.
FAQs
The central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, serves as the main site for processing neural information. The peripheral nervous system extends this system through nerves and ganglia that connect with sensory receptors, muscles, and organs. Their anatomical relationship allows information to move between body tissues and central neural structures, supporting coordinated responses and regulation.
Neurons transmit information through electrical impulses and chemical synapses, providing the signaling activity that links sensory input, processing, and responses. Glial cells perform supporting, protective, and regulatory roles within neural tissue. Examining both cell types is important because nervous system anatomy depends not only on signal-carrying pathways but also on the cellular environment that maintains and regulates them.
Chemical synapses are communication points where neurons influence other cells, allowing information to pass through neural pathways. Their location and connections help reveal how anatomical structures participate in circuits rather than acting as isolated components. In neuroscience, mapping these relationships supports interpretation of neural processing and helps connect microscopic communication with larger functions such as sensation, movement, and thought.
Anatomical knowledge provides the structural framework for identifying which neural regions and pathways may participate in a circuit. Researchers can relate the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia, sensory receptors, muscles, and organs to patterns of information flow. This structural context makes it easier to interpret how connected elements contribute to coordinated functions and homeostatic regulation.
Localization links a function or disruption to particular nervous system structures or pathways. By examining how the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral connections relate to sensation, movement, thought, or homeostasis, neuroscience can interpret where dysfunction may occur. This approach supports diagnosis by providing an anatomical basis for relating altered function to affected neural tissue.
Treatment development relies on knowing which structures and connections support a targeted nervous system function. Anatomical information can guide efforts to restore or modify function by relating interventions to the relevant brain regions, spinal pathways, nerves, ganglia, or supporting cells. This context helps researchers evaluate how proposed treatments may influence neural signaling and coordinated body activity.