Chapter 7, Problem 1O

Summary Introduction

To describe: The general organization of the nervous system.

Introduction: The organ system that is responsible for the transmission of signals is termed as the nervous system. The cells of the nervous system are known as nerve cells or neurons.

Explanation of Solution

The nervous system of vertebrates has two main divisions, namely, the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The central nervous system consists of a well-developed brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system mainly consists of sensory receptors and neurons, which are bundles of long fibers or axons that connect the central nervous system to the other parts of the body. The peripheral nervous system has two divisions, namely, the efferent division (motor neurons) and afferent division (sensory neurons). The afferent division carries the information from the sensory receptors or the sensory organs to the central nervous system, while the efferent division carries the impulses from the central nervous system to the peripheral organs. The efferent division consists of two components, namely, the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls the body movement through skeletal muscles, and the autonomic nervous system controls the movement of smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, adipose tissues, and glands. The autonomic nervous system is divided into three parts, namely, the parasympathetic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, and enteric nervous system.