Human Body Homeostasis and Nervous System Function

Homeostasis and Body Interaction

The interaction process fulfills two objectives:

• Adapt the body to changing conditions.
• Connect and coordinate the different parts of our body.

Homeostatic process is a series of different processes in which the body's stability is maintained. These processes allow the organs to maintain a balanced condition so they can function properly.

Components of the Nervous System Pathway

• The sensory organ: Receives information from the environment.
• The nervous system: Transforms the stimuli into nerve impulses.
• The effector organs: Receive the response from the nervous system.

Types of Effector Systems

1. Locomotor system: Formed of muscles and bones.
2. Endocrine system: Produces regulating hormones.

Neurons: Specialized Nerve Cells

Neurons are the most specialized cells in the body. They are made up of a cell body, which is similar to other cells, and have two kinds of long extensions:

• Dendrites: Short, branched extensions of the cell body that receive nerve impulses from other neurons.
• Axon: A long extension, made up of cytoplasm, that carries nerve impulses from the cell body to another neuron.

Types of Neurons

There are three kinds of neurons:

• Sensory neurons: These transmit the information from the receptors to the nerve centers.
• Motor neurons: These transmit the information from the nerve centers to effectors.
• Interneurons: These connect the sensory neurons with the motor neurons. They are located in the brain and in the spinal cord.

The Synapse Mechanism

The synapse is found between the end of the axon of the first neuron and a dendrite of an adjacent neuron. At the axon terminal, there are small vesicles called synaptic vesicles that contain substances known as neurotransmitters. These join the dendrite membrane of the adjacent neuron, and then the nerve impulse can be started.

Protection of the Nervous System

The nervous system is made of:

• Skull: Protects the brain.
• The spine: Protects the spinal cord.
• The meninges: The external membrane is the Dura, the middle membrane is the Arachnoid, and the inner membrane is the Pia mater.

Structure of the Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is nerve tissue that runs through the spinal canal. It has two main parts:

• The grey matter: Composed of neuron cell bodies, it is shaped like a butterfly, and it contains a small channel called the Ependyma with cerebrospinal fluid.
• The white matter: Composed of neuron axons covered in a white substance, the myelin. It is in the outer area of the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is protected by the spine and the meninges.