Topic > Why the Nervous System is Important: An Overview

Nervous tissue is a vital part of our nervous system. Without the nervous system, humans would not be able to function. Nervous tissue is made up of cells called neurons, which allow the body to transmit messages through electrical nerve impulses. Neurons help us make sense of stimulation, control muscle contractions, and coordinate many bodily functions and movements. Additionally, nervous tissue is what allows us to have awareness, form memories, exhibit reasoning abilities, and experience complex emotions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The main components of the nervous system are the brain and the spinal cord. We refer to these organs as the “central nervous system”. Because it is such a necessary part of our being, we have bones (the skull and spine) to surround and protect the central nervous system. All other nerves or ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord are called the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system allows the central nervous system to connect with every other part of our body. The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. Our ability to voluntarily move our muscles is thanks to the somatic nervous system. In contrast, the autonomic nervous system is largely involuntary and helps with breathing, heart rate, and other “automatic” functions of the body. If I ever have a car accident, learning about the nervous system and its functions will help me communicate with medical professionals. For example, if I lose sensation in one part of my body, I can help them determine the source of the injury. Now I will know how to treat potential head, neck and spine injuries to prevent serious damage. Works CitedBear, M.F., Connors, B.W., & Paradiso, M.A. (2016). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Carlson, N. R. (2013). Behavioral physiology (11th ed.). Pearson.Kandel, E.R., Schwartz, J.H., Jessell, T.M., Siegelbaum, S.A., & Hudspeth, A.J. (Eds.). (2013). Principles of neural science (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.Purves, D., Augustine, G.J., Fitzpatrick, D., Hall, W.C., LaMantia, A.S., McNamara, J.O., & Williams, S.M. (2018). Neuroscience (6th ed.). Sinauer Associates. Squire, L.R., Berg, D., Bloom, F.E., du Lac, S., Ghosh, A., Spitzer, N.C., ... and Zigmond, M.J. (Eds.). (2013). Fundamental neuroscience (4th ed.). Elsevier/Academic Press. Bullock, T. H., & Orkand, R. K. (2004). Introduction to the nervous system. In Neuroscience in medicine (pp. 3-23). Humana Press.Siegel, G.J., Agranoff, B.W., Albers, R.W., & Fisher, SK (Eds.). (2001). Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular, and Medical Aspects (6th ed.). Lippincott-Raven.Brodal, P. (2004). The central nervous system: structure and function (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. Glickstein, M. (2013). The cerebellum: a neural system for the study of movement, control and its disorders. Princeton University Press.Martin, J.H. (2019). Neuroanatomy: Text and Atlas (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.