Unleash Your Brain Power

An Overview of the Brain and Nervous System

• The brain receives input, processes information, and produces output.
• The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
• The PNS consists of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and somatic nervous system (SNS).
• The ANS regulates the internal environment, while the SNS regulates the external environment.
• The spinal cord contains motor and sensory neurons and pathways.
• Dermatomes refer to the strip of skin innervated by one nerve, while myotomes refer to a group of muscles innervated by the same motor nerve.
• The ANS branches into sympathetic and parasympathetic, which have opposite effects on various bodily functions.
• The enteric nervous system regulates gut functions.
• The brain is organized into different structures, including the forebrain, brainstem, and cerebellum.
• Information flows through the brain from inputs to outputs in each region.
• Neuromodulation involves the release of acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine to various brain areas.
• The cerebellum is involved in refining movements and has connections to the cerebral cortex. The diencephalon includes the thalamus and hypothalamus, which relay information and regulate homeostatic processes.