What is the nervous system?

The nervous system is a complex collection of nerves and cells that transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body.

The nervous system has two main parts, the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system is made up of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems, which are made up of nerve fibres from the spinal cord that cover the whole body, including muscles and internal organs.

The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The brain has two hemispheres which are divided into lobes, they include; the encephalon, the brain, the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata, and the diencephalon. In the brain, the neurons – which are made up of a nucleus, axons, and dendrites – play an important role, communicating through axons and dendrites, sending electrical signals that release neurotransmitters.

How does the nervous system function?

The main function of the nervous system is to process signals while coordinating the body. The nervous system is responsible for managing, supervising, and controlling bodily functions, including muscles, joints, and internal organs.

The nervous system uses receptors to gather information, which are placed all over the body such as in the eyes, ears, and the skin, among others. The receptors gather data and send it to the nerves via the nervous system.

The nervous system ensures the internal functioning of the body and controls breathing and heartbeat among many others things. Other functions that it controls include:

Brain growth and development
Thoughts and emotions
Learning and memory
Sleep
Movement, coordination, and balance
Stress
Ageing
Body temperature
Appetite and thirst

What diseases can affect the nervous sytem?

There are many diseases and disorders that can affect the nervous system, the most common ones are:

Other diseases include neuropathies and metabolic disorders, injuries, sectioning, mononeuropathies, or neuralgias.

What treatments are available for nervous system diseases?

What specialist do I need to see for a nervous system disease?

The specialists who diagnose and treat nervous system diseases are neurologists and neurosurgeons. However, as the disease progresses, the patient may see many specialists including; psychologists, oncologists, resident doctors, and many more.

Mr Nicholas Thomas - Pituitary Tumours