human nervous system

Table of Contents

Introduction
Human nervous system interactive
Prenatal and postnatal development of the human nervous system
- Neuronal development
- Morphological development
- Postnatal changes
Anatomy of the human nervous system
- The central nervous system
  - The brain
    - Cerebrum
      Lobes of the cerebral cortex
      Cerebral ventricles
      Basal ganglia
    - Brainstem
      Epithalamus
      Thalamus
      Hypothalamus
      Subthalamus
      Midbrain
      Pons
      Medulla oblongata
    - Cerebellum
  - The spinal cord
    - Cellular laminae
    - Ascending spinal tracts
      Dorsal column
      Spinothalamic tracts
      Spinocerebellar tracts
    - Descending spinal tracts
      Corticospinal tract
      Rubrospinal tract
      Vestibulospinal tract
      Reticulospinal tract
      Autonomic tracts
- The peripheral nervous system
  - Spinal nerves
    - Structural components of spinal nerves
    - Functional types of spinal nerves
    - Cervical plexus
    - Brachial plexus
    - Lumbar plexus
    - Sacral plexus
    - Coccygeal plexus
  - Cranial nerves
    - Olfactory nerve (CN I or 1)
    - Optic nerve (CN II or 2)
    - Oculomotor nerve (CN III or 3)
    - Trochlear nerve (CN IV or 4)
    - Trigeminal nerve (CN V or 5)
      Ophthalmic nerve
      Maxillary nerve
      Mandibular nerve
    - Abducens nerve (CN VI or 6)
    - Facial nerve (CN VII or 7)
    - Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII or 8)
    - Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX or 9)
    - Vagus nerve (CN X or 10)
    - Accessory nerve (CN XI or 11)
    - Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII or 12)
- The autonomic nervous system
  - Sympathetic nervous system
    - Sympathetic ganglia
    - Neurotransmitters and receptors
  - Parasympathetic nervous system
  - Enteric nervous system
Functions of the human nervous system
- Receptors
- Reflex actions
- Movement
  - Sensory receptors
    - Tendon organs
    - Muscle spindles
  - Basic organization of movement
    - Stretch reflexes
    - Reciprocal innervation
    - Posture
  - Lower-level mechanisms of movement
  - Higher-level mechanisms of movement
    - Cerebral hemispheres
    - Cerebellum
    - Basal ganglia
- The vestibular system
  - Sensory receptors
    - Saccule and utricle
    - Semicircular canals
  - Nerve supply
  - Vestibular functions
    - Vestibulo-ocular reflex
    - Conscious sensation
- Functions of the autonomic system
  - The eye
  - The urinary system
  - The reproductive system
  - The endocrine system
  - The cardiovascular system
    - Reflex pathways
    - Vasopressin and cardiovascular regulation
- Pain
  - Theories of pain
  - Lower-level pain pathways
    - Tissues
    - Peripheral nerves
    - Spinal cord
  - Higher-level pain pathways
    - Brain
    - Central pain
    - Referred pain
    - Changes in the cerebral cortex
- Perception
  - General organization of perception
  - Vision
  - Hearing
- Emotion and behavior
  - Emotion
  - The defense reaction
  - Mating
  - Urination and defecation
  - Eating and drinking
  - Temperature regulation
  - Reward and punishment
  - Circadian rhythms
- Higher cerebral functions
  - Analytical approaches
  - Hemispheric asymmetry, handedness, and cerebral dominance
  - Language
  - Memory
  - Executive functions of the frontal lobes

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Human nervous system

human body system interactive

human embryonic development

human embryonic development

right cerebral hemisphere of the human brain

left cerebral hemisphere of the human brain

Can we create a computer replica of the human brain?

cerebellum; human brain

Two halves of the human brain are separated with arrows pointing to each half and a question mark in the center.

functional areas of the human brain

Read Next

Hand washing. Healthcare worker washing hands in hospital sink under running water. contagious diseases wash hands, handwashing hygiene, virus, human health

17 Questions About Health and Wellness Answered

pulmonary veins and arteries, circulation, cardiovascular system, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC)

13 Questions About How the Human Body Works Answered

Slowworm. Anguis fragilis. Blindworm. Lizard. Anguidae. Close-up of a slowworm's head.

7 Questions About Lizards, Snakes, and Other Reptiles Answered

Discover

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding

7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Portrait of a mountain gorilla at a short distance. gorilla close up portrait.The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Falling Stars: 10 of the Most Famous Endangered Species

Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news

Who Invented the Internet?

Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.

What Is the Emoluments Clause?

Gutzon Borglum. Presidents. Sculpture. National park. George Washington. Thomas Jefferson. Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota.

9 Memorials and Monuments in the United States

human nervous system: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

Human nervous system

human embryonic development

human embryonic development

right cerebral hemisphere of the human brain

left cerebral hemisphere of the human brain

cerebellum; human brain

functional areas of the human brain

structures of the human brain

lower cervical section of human spinal cord

human spinal cord

Can we create a computer replica of the human brain?

Two halves of the human brain are separated with arrows pointing to each half and a question mark in the center.

How do researchers study the mechanism of predictive coding?

What are functions of the brainstem?

How does the cerebellum help maintain muscle tone, posture, and equilibrium?

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

human sensory reception nervous system disease nervous system disease neural engineering human body human digestive system human respiratory system renal system human cardiovascular system human endocrine system human reproductive system human skin human skeleton human muscle system human development

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Quiz

Muscles of facial expression, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC). Human face, human head.

Characteristics of the Human Body

Male muscle, man flexing arm, bicep curl.

Facts You Should Know: The Human Body Quiz

Male muscle, man flexing arm, bicep curl.

Facts You Should Know: The Human Body Quiz

Superficial arteries and veins of face and scalp, cardiovascular system, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC)

The Human Body

List

Hand washing. Healthcare worker washing hands in hospital sink under running water. contagious diseases wash hands, handwashing hygiene, virus, human health

17 Questions About Health and Wellness Answered

pulmonary veins and arteries, circulation, cardiovascular system, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC)

13 Questions About How the Human Body Works Answered