The nervous system (NS) denotes a collection of human body organs as well as connections, which have expressly differentiated cells referred as neurons or other specialized biochemicals, tissues, and supportive cells that assist in the normal working of the human body NS (Swanson, 2015). The human nervous system helps in addressing acquisition, processing, understanding, storing, as well as coordinating or transmitting signals in the body. Therefore, many body organs, as well as sensory organs, possess discrete and different roles. The nervous system (NS) can be categorized into two, that is, peripheral nervous system (PNS) as well as central nervous system (CNS). Such a grouping or categorization is based on the distribution of such organs in the body. This essay discusses the distinctions between peripheral nervous system as well as the central nervous system with a bias to how they are arranged, roles, or functions, and the organs of the two systems.
The CNS primarily is composed of the spinal cord as well as the human brain. The brain, as well as spinal cord of the human being, possesses definite bony covering, which is supplemented with some soft tissues to offer it protection. The human brain is subdivided or grouped as hind, mid, as well as forebrain. The discrete regions of the forebrain ensure that functional mapping or control for sensory perceptions, executive functions, and muscular movements are properly executed (Ireland, 2011). The brainstem constitutes the midbrain and is significant for ensure that an individual remains active, for instance, reflexes of defensive physiology, control of cardiac pacemaker, as well as respiration. The hind-brain of human is responsible for the creation of one's cerebellum that is significant in the keeping of body balance.
On the contrary, the human spinal cord is restricted by the top of brainstem, anterior lumbar, as well as posterior neuronal extensions. These are differentiated into distinct regions, which help in controlling information or signals from a person’s brain sent to the PN or transmitted to carry out reflex roles of the human organs at the peripheral (Swanson, 2015).
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The barrier of blood brain as well as osteolithic is not covering or protecting the PNS. The PNS have the ganglia and all the necessary nerves for the coordination of body nerves. The peripheral nervous system is divided into many categories, which include autonomic, sensory, as well as motor. It is significant to highlight that the motor nerves of PNS are further categorized into involuntary and voluntary. The actions of the involuntary are linked to the functions of autonomic nerves (Ireland, 2011). The activities or functions of the voluntary motor are generated via cranial nerves and spinal nerves; besides, they are conveyed or sent by the cerebral cortex. Additionally, the involuntary motor is primarily visceral organs; for that reason, are in the systematic scope or range of autonomic nervous.
The human sensory nerves are further divided into cranial as well as spinal, are responsible for the sense of pressure, touch, proprioception, cold, temperature, as well as the vibration that is sent or signaled to sensory cortex within the human brain. Additionally, the autonomic nerves sometimes develop spinal nerve plexi and have distributions within cranial nerves (Ireland, 2011). Autonomic nerves are categorized using their actions or functions of parasympathetic as well as sympathetic. Autonomic nerves also carry out the functions of visceral human organs.
The CNS is responsible for coordinating all the activities occurring in the human body. In human beings, the CNS is situated within the meninges; besides, comprises the spinal cord as well as the brain. The PNS occupies as well as extends or protrudes outside the CNS (Mai, 2010). The main role of CNS is also connected to the roles of the peripheral nervous system, which significantly helps in controlling the behavior of people. On the contrary, PNS has the role of linking CNS with many other human organs within the body or extremities.
The CNS is situated in the human dorsal cavity. The spinal cord is located within the body spinal cavity. The brain, on the other hand, rests within the head's cranial cavity. The PNS lacks the protection of bone as well as a barrier of blood-brain, on the contrary, the central nervous system has the protection of blood-brain barrier and bones (Starr, 2015). All forms of mechanical shocks, toxins, as well as injuries can affect the peripheral nervous system. Additionally, the PNS has the system of autonomic nervous as well as somatic nervous.
The PNS function to integrate vital information as well as details, which are collected from a person’s external surrounding. On the contrary, the CNS functions to process all the collected information from PNS. Processing of the collected information marks the end of the functions of the central nervous system, although the PNS' functions continue (Starr, 2015). The peripheral nervous system helps in the transfer of the information or signals from gland cells, muscle cells, as well as sensory cells to the one’s central nervous system and from CNS to other parts of the body.
The CNS helps in the communication of all forms of involuntary signals or information whereas the PNS assists in the communication of voluntary signals or information. Additionally, the peripheral nervous system helps in the regulating or controlling pressure of blood, body temperature, as well as thirst while the CNS does not have any role to play within that context (Starr, 2015).
References
Mai, J. (2010). Human Nervous System. Academic Press.
Swanson, L. W. (2015). Neuroanatomical Terminology: A lexicon of classical origins and historical foundations. Retrieved from: https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=--PRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PR4&dq=Swanson,+L.+W.+%282015%29.+Neuroanatomical+Terminology:+A+lexicon+of+classical+origins+and+historical+foundations.&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Swanson%2C%20L.%20W.%20%282015%29.%20Neuroanatomical%20Terminology%3A%20A%20lexicon%20of%20classical%20origins%20and%20historical%20foundations.&f=false.
Ireland, K. A. (2011). Visualizing human biology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Starr, C. (2015). Human Biology. Place of publication not identified: Cengage Learning.
