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Related Concept Videos

Nervous System01:21

Nervous System

2.9K
The nervous system coordinates body functions through its complex network of nerve cells, enabling sensation and movement. It is divided into two primary parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and coordinating responses. The spinal cord functions as a major signaling pathway for the brain and the rest of the body.
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Organization of the Nervous System01:13

Organization of the Nervous System

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The nervous system is one of the most complex systems in our body. It is organized into two main divisions: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The CNS, comprising the brain and spinal cord, houses billions of neurons. The brain is housed in the skull, while the spinal cord is linked to the brain through the foramen magnum of the occipital bone and is surrounded by the protective structure of the vertebral column. It is responsible for processing various...
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Functional Divisions of the Nervous System01:23

Functional Divisions of the Nervous System

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The nervous system, responsible for sensing, integrating, and responding to various stimuli, is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS has two functional divisions: the sensory or afferent division and the motor or efferent division.
The sensory division transmits information from sensory receptors in the body to the CNS. It provides the CNS with knowledge about somatic senses (such as tactile, thermal, pain, and proprioceptive sensations)...
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What is a Nervous System?01:25

What is a Nervous System?

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Overview
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Autonomic Nervous System: Overview01:26

Autonomic Nervous System: Overview

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The human nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS contains nerve cells, clusters of nerve cells, and the sensory receptors that are outside the CNS. The PNS has two types of nerve cells: sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent). Sensory cells send signals to the CNS from receptors, and motor cells carry signals from the CNS to organs, muscles, and...
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Peripheral Nervous System: Ganglia and Nerves01:24

Peripheral Nervous System: Ganglia and Nerves

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The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is a crucial component of the body's neural network, extending beyond the central nervous system (CNS) to bridge the gap between the CNS and the external environment. It encompasses nerves, ganglia, and sensory receptors.
Nerves
The nerve is a bundle of axons that serves as the communication highway in the PNS. Each nerve is ensheathed in a protective layer of connective tissue called the epineurium. This outermost layer safeguards the nerve and supports the...
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Designing and Implementing Nervous System Simulations on LEGO Robots
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Elementary nervous systems.

Detlev Arendt1,2

  • 1Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|February 8, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The evolutionary origin of the nervous system likely began as a nerve net coordinating tissue movements, not local reflexes. This nerve net facilitated larger body sizes and complex behaviors in early animals.

Keywords:
nervous system evolutionnervous system originsneuron evolution

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • The origin of the nervous system is a long-standing debate with differing perspectives.
  • Early studies focused on cellular-level origins and local sensory-motor reflexes.
  • Later studies emphasized tissue-level coordination via nerve nets and diverse effector mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss divergent views on nervous system origins.
  • To explore validation of these views using molecular and single-cell data.
  • To propose a consensus on the early evolution of nervous systems.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on nervous system evolution.
  • Analysis of molecular and single-cell data to validate hypotheses.
  • Comparative analysis of different theoretical models for nervous system origins.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests the first nervous system was a nerve net, not localized circuits.
  • Nerve nets likely coordinated contractile systems, ciliary movements, or antimicrobial peptide secretion.
  • The evolution of nerve nets correlated with increasing animal body size and behavioral complexity.

Conclusions:

  • The initial manifestation of the nervous system was likely a nerve net.
  • Diverse nerve nets evolved for various coordination tasks (e.g., contractile vs. ciliary).
  • Nerve nets played a crucial role in the evolution of animal behavior and body size.