Nervous and Endocrine Systems: Functions, Diseases, and Health

Posted on Dec 15, 2024 in Biology

The Function of Relationship

1-Processes that are included in the function of relationship

  • Adaptation of the organism to changing environmental conditions, both external and internal.
  • The relationship and coordination of different parts of our body to act as a unit.

The processes involved in the function of relationship are made by: the sense organs that capture the information from the environment as a stimulus and transmit it to the nervous system that receives, processes and develops a response, which is transferred to effector organs, which are responsible for carrying it out.

Target organs are:

  • The musculoskeletal system that handles the movement of the body.
  • The endocrine system produces hormones that regulate the functioning of the body.

The nervous system also has other functions:

  • Get the information transmitted by the sensory organs.
  • Interprets the information.
  • Develop appropriate responses.
  • Transfer the necessary orders to the effector organs.
  • Coordinates the functioning of all organs of our body.
  • Make mental and intellectual functions.
  • It’s responsible for emotions and feelings.

Neurons and Their Formation

2 – What are neurons? How are they formed?

Neurons are the most differentiated cells in our body. They have a part like any other cell, called the cell body, and a few specialized extensions, which are of two types:

  • Dendrites: They are short, very numerous and branched.
  • Axons or neurites: They are long and have a small branch at its end, there is only a single axon on each neuron.

Neuron Types by Function

3-Neuron types by function. Explain

  • Sensitive: They lead the recipient to information from the major nerve centers.
  • Motor: transmit commands to the effector organs.
  • Intercalated or association: Located between the motor and sensory neurons and are located on the higher nerve centers.

Nerve Currents

4-Describe current nervous

Neurons have a unique ability: to generate and transmit nerve currents. When a neuron is stimulated, some electrical changes originate in their membrane running through it in its entirety and are transmitted from dendrites to the axon.

Neurons are not isolated, among them establishing functional connections, called synapses, that allow nerve impulses pass from one to another through certain areas, located between the tail end of the axon of a neuron and a dendrite of the next neuron.

At the synapse there is no physical contact between neurons and that, despite being very close, there is a narrow space between them known as synaptic gap or cleft.

Neurotransmitters

5 – How neurotransmitters are released?

At the end of the axon are very small vesicles that contain substances called neurotransmitters.

When the nerve impulse reaches the end of the axon, the vesicles rupture and neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic gap. They bind to the membrane of the dendrite of the adjacent neuron, which can make this start a new nerve impulse.

It is responsible for regulating and coordinating relations with the external agency. It consists of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS).

Cerebrospinal Nervous System

6 – What is the cerebrospinal nervous system function?

It is responsible for regulating and coordinating relations with the external agency. It consists of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS).

Peripheral Nervous System

7-Function peripheral nervous system. What is it?

It will connect the sensory organs to nerve centers and nerve centers in the effector organs.

It consists of the nerves, a kind of cord axons formed by several partners.

Classification of Nerves

8-Classification of the nerves as nerve impulse transmission

  • Sensitive nerves: They transmit information from one sense organ.
  • Motor nerves: They send commands to the effector organs.
  • Mixed nerves: They contain axons of both types (sensory and motor).

Ganglia

9 – What are the ganglia?

Tiny bumps are formed by groups of bodies of neurons.

Protection of the Central Nervous System

10 – How do you protect the central nervous system? What has two zones?

Because of its great importance and the fragility of its structures are protected from any external injuries by:

  • The skull and spine, inside which is housed.
  • Three membranes, called meninges, lying between bone protection and nervous organs. Among the meninges are in the cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the shock effect on the nerve centers.

In the CNS is divided into two areas that look different:

  • Gray matter is composed of cell bodies and dendrites, which are control centers with specific functions.
  • White matter, there is only neuronal, axons, covered by an insulating layer called myelin.

Spinal Cord

Spine 11: What is it and what are their functions?

The spinal cord is a nerve cord that runs inside the channel formed by the spine. The functions of the bone are:

  • Make reflex actions. It is named for the development of a response to a stimulus without the involvement of the brain.
  • Drive sensory impulses to the brain and motor commands from east to effector organs.

Brain Functions

12-Explains the functions of the brain, as is noting that it does.

The brain is the central nervous system housed inside the skull or cranium. In the brain are four different regions: the medulla, brain stem, cerebellum and brain.

  • The medulla is the extension of the cord. The nerve pathways upstream and downstream are intertwined, so that half right brain receives information from the left side of the body and vice versa. Furthermore medulla is responsible for regulating various bodily functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure and ventilation, among others.
  • The brain stem regulates the sleep-wake states, visual and auditory reflexes, communication between the brain and other parts of the brain, and the selection of stimuli that will pass to the brain.
  • The cerebellum is the organ responsible for receiving information relating to the balance that sends the ear. Regulates the activity of the muscles involved in maintaining balance. It also coordinates the motor commands sent by the brain to be precise movements.
  • The brain. Brain functions are varied and complex:
    • Receives information from all sensory organs, except the organ of balance, and produces the corresponding sensations. The neural pathways that transmit this information end up in specific areas of the cerebral cortex.
    • It processes the information received and prepares responses and orders for the effector organs.
    • Coordinates and controls the operation of all parts of the nervous system.
    • Hosts the intellectual faculties and higher nervous functions such as memory, reasoning, intelligence, consciousness and will.

Nerve Acts

13-Explain the acts nervous

Neurons in different parts of the cerebro-spinal nervous system are multiple neural circuits that cause complex networks. The nerve-current flowing through them produces two types of nerve acts: reflections and volunteers.

Reflex actions

They are quick and automatic, they do not participate in the brain. These are acts that occur when you need a quick response. Reflex actions involved in the three types of neurons:

  • Sensitive. From the skin and their axons enter via the dorsal roots (dorsal) from the bone.
  • Interlayers. Synapse with sensory neurons and transmit nerve impulses to motor neurons.
  • Motor. Leave the spinal anterior roots of (ventral) and, upon reaching the corresponding muscles, causing contraction and the reflex movement.

Voluntary acts

They are varied, changing and more elaborate than reflexes, engaging in a fundamental way the cerebral cortex.

Autonomic Nervous System

14-Function and autonomic nervous system types

The autonomic nervous system, also known as autonomic or involuntary, is responsible for the proper regulation and coordination of internal organs, ie those functions that are independent of the will.

Higher centers of the autonomic nervous system are located in the lateral gray of the spinal cord, medulla oblongata and hypothalamus, and they leave the nerve fibers that innervate different organs. There are two types of autonomic nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic.

  • Sympathetic nervous system. It is responsible for activating the body’s organs to work more intensively.
  • Parasympathetic nervous system. Unlike its predecessor, its action causes relaxation and performance is slower and less intense of the organs.

Endocrine System

15 – What is the endocrine system? Name the glands.

The endocrine system is a coordinator and effector, comprising a set of endocrine glands, so called because they produce substances (hormones) are secreted into the blood, ie are ductless.

Hormones are organic molecules of diverse chemical composition that, upon reaching a certain blood-borne cells, make these carry out certain actions, such as coordination, control and regulate various organs throughout the body to function properly and as a unit

Major glands: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenals, ovaries and testes.

Drugs and Their Effects

16 – What is the drug? Explain the effects of drugs and types of these.

The drug is a chemical which, when introduced into the body, alters one or more of its functions. The substances that are usually conceptualized as drugs are used without a prescription.

Drug effects

Drugs acting on the central nervous system producing tolerance and dependence.

  • Tolerance is the body’s ability to develop resistance to the effects of a toxic and adapt to it after prolonged use of the substance. As a result, the body requires increasingly higher doses of the drug to achieve the same effect.
  • Dependence or addiction is the need to use a drug for the body to function properly. The unit can be of two types: physical and mental
    • Physical. The body accustomed to a drug can not do without it, because its deficiency causes disruption of the functioning of various organs, vomiting, tremors, diarrhea and so on. This set of symptoms is called withdrawal syndrome, commonly known as mono.
    • Psychic. Drugs alter brain function and cause a sense of pleasure and comfort that consumption ceases to be interrupted, resulting in people addicted discomfort, anxiety and dissatisfaction.

The psychological dependence on drugs is because they have a direct action on the central nervous system. Most interfere with the transmission of the nerve-current in the synapse and cause disruption to certain functions, which are different depending on the type of drug used. Among the most common can include:

  • Altered perception of reality (hallucinations).
  • New Sensations.
  • Changes in mental processes.
  • Increased resistance to fatigue.

Types of drugs

  • Central nervous system depressants. Retard the nerve processes. Belong to this type of opium and its derivatives (heroin, morphine …), sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills and alcohol.
  • Stimulants. Abnormally activated in the nervous system. Included in this group, cocaine, amphetamines, designer drugs and some nicotine snuff.
  • Psychedelic. Alterations of sensory perception. This is the case of LSD, mescaline, cannabis and synthetic drugs like ecstasy, Eve, etc..

Consequences of Drug Use

17-Consequences of drug use

  • Short term medical consequences. They derive mainly from poisoning caused by a high amount of drug in the body. These consequences vary depending on the drug and dose consumption: state of intoxication, seizures, hypertension, tachycardia and even coma and death.
  • Medical Consequences medium and long term. Like its predecessors, are very diverse, but most cause nervous system damage and cause the appearance of various types of dementia, psychosis and behavioral disturbances. In many cases, there are also liver and circulatory system. Moreover, when drugs enter the body through needles and these are shared, the risk of contracting some infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B …).
  • Social Consequences. Addictions are the cause of many problems both for the individual concerned, which is slowly losing interest in their studies, work, family, etc.., And the rest of society. The acquisition of the drug poses a huge financial outlay that often leads to the person addicted to crime in order to maintain it.

Fighting Drug Addiction

18-Fighting Drug Addiction

  • Prevention. The motivation of people who begin to use some kind of drug is very different: the search for new sensations, imitation of the behavior of friends or people in social or occupational environment, escape from personal problems, etc.. Information and education are essential to prevent drug use.
  • Quit. To make a person leave the drug addict, you must follow several steps:
    • Ensure that the affected individual is convinced of the existence of the problem and decide voluntarily cured.
    • Undertake a detoxification process to eliminate the physical dependence on drugs.
    • Ending the psychological dependence. This step is often more difficult than the last, since it is a long process which requires constant monitoring to prevent relapse.
    • The full reintegration of former drug addicts in the workplace and in social life.

Diseases of the Nervous and Endocrine Systems

19-Name the diseases affecting the central nervous system and affects the endocrine system.

Diseases affecting the central nervous system

Degenerative diseases
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Parkinson’s Disease
Mental illness
  • Schizophrenia
  • Neurosis
  • Psychosis
  • Anorexia
  • Depression
Other diseases
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epilepsy

Diseases affecting the endocrine system

  • Diabetes
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Endocrine-Dwarfism

Healthy Habits

20 Healthy Habits of nervous and endocrine systems

  • Take an orderly life and follow a regular schedule with time for rest and recreation.
  • Do not consume any drugs, since you’ve seen the dire consequences they have.
  • Exercise continuously intellectual and mental activities to encourage proper maintenance of nerve function.
  • Watch the feeding, so that diet, containing sufficient vitamins and phosphorus, necessary for optimal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Avoid obesity, since it is an important factor in the development of some types of diabetes.
  • Try that food contains enough iodine, necessary for the synthesis of the hormone thyroxine.
  • Avoid stress
  • Keep a critical attitude toward advertising that is not suitable for nervous and emotional stability.
  • Avoid, as far as possible, the negative influence of the psychological pressure taken by friends and colleagues whose ideas about healthy habits come into conflict with yours.