Thursday 18 September 2014

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM


Nervous system is one of the smallest and yet most complex and important in linking and integrating every cell or tissue with each other. It is the major "homeostatic mechanism along with  endocrine system. The nervous system serves as a "master" which controls and coordinates all parts of the body viz, reading, writing, walking, talking, dancing, etc., which require "thinking" as well as actions like breathing and heart beat, which occur without thinking!! Further, because of its property of carrying information from one part of the body to other, it also serves as a means of biocommunication. One of the basic features of a living organism is response to the environment or reaction to stimuli-- both external as well as internal. This  function is also brought about by nervous system, e.g., plants bend towards light, we pull our hands away fro the hot object and Amoeba moves towards food. etc. This system is responsible for perceptions, behavious, and memory in human beings too, which made him reach to the pinnacle of the evolutionary tree!!

  The nervous system is made up of millions of units called as neurons (about 100 billion in brain alone!! as well as some supporting cells -the neuroglial cells in humans.

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