Fibers called nerves carry important messages back and forth between your body and your brain. That network -- your nervous system -- has two parts: Everything your body does is connected in some way to your nervous system. It tells your heart to beat. It tells your lungs to breathe. It controls the way you move, the words you say, and how you think and learn. It also controls your senses and memories. The messages traveling in your nerves are sent through billions of nerve cells called neurons. The spaces between these cells are called synapses. The cells are linked to one another through chemicals called neurotransmitters that move across the synapses to the next neuron. Dopamine and serotonin are types of neurotransmitters. This process continues until the message gets to the right place. Some messages move faster than 200 miles per hour. This is also how
messages get from your body back to your brain and spinal cord. For example, if you step on something sharp, the nerves in your foot send a message from neuron to neuron to your central nervous system that says, Hey, this hurts. Your
brain and spinal cord respond with a message to your foot: Pull away now. Your nervous system has lots of protection. Your brain is guarded by your skull, and your spinal cord is shielded by small bones in your
spine (vertebrae) and thin coverings (membranes). They’re both cushioned by a clear fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. Still, things can go wrong with your nervous system just like any other part of your body. When a disorder damages it, that affects the communication between your brain, your spinal cord, and your body. Examples of these disorders include: Just like other parts of your body, your brain needs sleep for rest and repair, so a
good regular sleep schedule is key. A healthy balanced diet that features foods high in omega-3 fatty acids is important, too. Those include fatty fish
like salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, herring, and farmed trout. Stress also can affect your nervous system, but you can do a few things to manage it:
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What is the nervous system?The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It controls much of what you think and feel and what your body does. It allows you to do things like walk, speak, swallow, breathe and learn. It also controls how the body reacts in an emergency. The nervous system is made up of:
The brain is made up of different parts. These include the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the thalamus, the hypothalamus and the brainstem. The spinal cord carries motor and sensory signals between the brain and nerves. It also contains separate circuits for many reflexes. Peripheral nerves carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body. Nerves have different kinds of pathways within them:
The nervous system is mainly made up of cells called neurons. These are responsible for carrying messages to and from different parts of the body. Neurons are connected to each other, and to other cells, by synapses, which carry electrical signals, and neurotransmitters, which are the body’s chemical messengers. What does the nervous system do?The nervous system is responsible for:
A part of the nervous system, called the autonomic nervous system, controls a lot of the body processes we don’t think about, like breathing, sweating or shivering. There are 2 parts to the autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic nervous system, which controls how you respond in an emergency (it makes your heart beat faster and causes you to release adrenaline), and the parasympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for rest. They work together to manage how the body responds to our changing environment and needs. For example, your pupils will change size to allow the right amount of light into your eyes so that you can see properly. What are the common diseases of the nervous system?There are thousands of conditions that start in or affect the central nervous system, including:
What are the symptoms of nervous-system problems?There are many different symptoms that could suggest a problem with the central nervous system. They include:
Other symptoms that might suggest a problem with the central nervous system include:
It is important to seek medical help if you have symptoms like these that do not go away on their own. There are also many diseases that affect the peripheral nervous system. These disorders and common symptoms are described here. Why is it important to have nerves?The nervous system plays a role in nearly every aspect of our health and well-being. It guides everyday activities such as waking up; automatic activities such as breathing; and complex processes such as thinking, reading, remembering, and feeling emotions. The nervous system controls: Brain growth and development.
What nerve controls your body?Spinal Nerves
The spinal cord is part of your central nervous system. It begins at the bottom of the brain stem and continues down to your lower back. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, and they control sensory, motor, and other functions of your body.
What are the 3 types of nerves?There are three types of nerves in the body:. Autonomic nerves. These nerves control the involuntary or partially voluntary activities of your body, including heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation.. Motor nerves. ... . Sensory nerves.. |
What do nerves do in the body
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