Unit 9: Human Regulation and Reproduction
Learning aim A: understand the interrelationship and nervous control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Criteria covered:
A. D1: assess the role of the nervous system in coordinating the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
A. M1: expla...
Regulation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
Understand the interrelationship and nervous control of the cardiovascular. and respiratory system.
Introduction
This assignment is about the organization of the nervous system and how the heart, blood vessels and lungs are being
coordinated by depending on the changing needs of the body.
The nervous system
The nervous system is a network of neurons whose primary function is to produce, modulate, and transfer information
between all the body's various parts. This allows the nervous system to perform a variety of essential functions, including
the control of essential body functions, feeling, and movement. Finally, the mechanisms of the nervous system oversee all
that makes us human, including our consciousness, perception, behavior, and memories.
. (Figure 1:
showing a flow chart of describing the human nervous system's organization, basic structure, and function made through
using the combination of Anatomy+and+Physiology+of+the+Nervous+System.jpg and NSdiagram.png)
Components of central and peripheral nervous system.
• Central nervous system (brain and the spinal cord)
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The skull and the vertebral column are homes to these.
The sections of the brain and spinal cord interact with each other through several neural pathways when processing
information and planning appropriate body responses. They send the final output to the rest of the body via nerves of the
peripheral nervous system that originate directly from them. The head, spine, and thoracic and abdominal viscera are all
innervated by 12 cranial nerves, while the spinal cord has 31 pairs of spinal nerves. The innervation of the viscera, as well
as the rest of the body not supplied by the cranial nerves, is supplemented by the spinal nerves (upper and lower limbs).
• Peripheral nervous system
Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent), or mixed nerves make up peripheral nerves.
, • Somatic nervous system (branches which go into the motor and sensory nerves)
The voluntary part of the peripheral nervous system is the somatic nervous system. It is made up of all the fibers found in
cranial and spinal nerves that enable us to move our bodies freely (efferent nerves) and feel sensations in our skin, muscles,
and joints (afferent nerves). Touch, pressure, vibration, pain, temperature, stretch, and position sense from these three types
of structures are all examples of somatic sensation. On the other hand, the autonomic nerves carry sensation from the glands,
smooth muscles, and cardiac muscles.
• Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the peripheral nervous system's involuntary component. It is made up entirely of visceral
motor fibers and is divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The proper operation of these two mechanisms
is critical for preserving homeostasis.
• Sympathetic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for increased physical activity. It causes responses like rapid breathing,
increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, and blood flow redirection from the skin, kidneys, stomach,
and intestines to the heart and muscles, where it is needed.
• Parasympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system allows the body to conserve energy. The nerves delay the heart's movements, redirect
blood away from the muscles, and increase peristalsis and gland secretion.
(Figure 3)
The role of autonomous nervous system which is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
on the heart, the blood vessels, and the lungs.
The autonomic nervous system is divided into two sections. The Sympathetic is the first, and the Parasympathetic is the
second. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have opposing behavior, but it is their antagonistic
relationship that controls some of the body's most essential functions.
1. Autonomic fibers are either afferent or efferent and belong to the peripheral nervous system. Internal organs send
impulses to the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems' centers by visceral afferent (sensory) fibers.
The autonomic centers send efferent impulses to the visceral organs through the visceral efferent (motor) fibers and
constantly control their activity based on the information they provide. The ganglia and pre- and postganglionic
nerve fibers carry these impulses.
2. Preganglionic neurons are in the grey matter of the central nervous system, which consists of neuronal cell bodies,
neutrophil (dendrites and unmyelinated axons), glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synapses, and
capillaries. Their axons attach to the bodies of postganglionic neurons in autonomic ganglia. The neuronal bodies
of second-order neurons, whose axons provide autonomic innervation to the muscles, make up a ganglion, which is
a neural tissue outside of the central nervous system.
− The thoracolumbar division is named after the sympathetic nervous system centers located in the thoracic and
lumbar parts of the spinal cord. Near to the sympathetic nervous system centers are ganglia of the sympathetic
nervous system.
− The fibers of the preganglionic sympathetic nervous system are short.
− Since they must travel a longer path to enter their target tissues, postganglionic sympathetic nervous system fibers
are longer.
− Norepinephrine is released by postganglionic sympathetic nervous system fibers (except for those that supply the
sweat glands which release acetylcholine).
− Since the parasympathetic nervous system activates the body to "eat and breed," the sympathetic nervous system is
antagonistic to it.
• Parasympathetic nervous systems
, (Figure 6 - https://www.netterimages.com/images/vpv/000/000/008/8829-0550x0475.jpg)
− The craniosacral division is named after the parasympathetic nervous system centers located in the brainstem and
sacral parts of the spinal cord. The ganglia of the parasympathetic nervous system are located further away from
the parasympathetic nervous system.
− preganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system are long.
− Since ganglia are so close to their target organs, postganglionic of the parasympathetic nervous system fibers are
small.
− Acetylcholine is released by postganglionic parasympathetic nervous system fibers.
Differences between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system
− Smooth muscle contraction. − Smooth muscle relaxation.
− Increased cardiac muscle contraction due − Coronary muscle relaxation.
to stimulation of the conduction system. − Increased gland secretion.
− Reduced gland secretion, apart from sweat
glands.
Similarities between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
− Instead of a single neuron, both divisions of the Autonomous nervous system execute their
impulses from centers to periphery through a sequence of two multipolar neurons.
− The preganglionic neuron is a first-order neuron located in the autonomous nervous system
centers, and its axons synapse with the postganglionic neuron found in the autonomic ganglia.
− As a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine is released by all preganglionic fibers in the autonomic
nervous system.
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