Question

Explain how nerves help the different organs in the body to work together.

Answer 1

Hint: The nerves carry electrical impulses to and fro between the brain/spinal cord and the muscles/organs of the body. Nerves are also responsible for sensations such as pain, pleasure, temperature, hearing, vision and other senses by relaying information from the muscle or tissue back to the brain.

Complete answer:
The body and its organs are controlled mainly by- the central nervous system, the endocrine system and the local self-regulatory system (autocrine, paracrine, immune response, etc.). The nervous system includes a collection of nerves and specialized cells, neurons, which can detect, receive and transmit different types of stimuli. The nervous system is divided into two broad categories- central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Nerves carry orders from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) in the form of electrical impulses. The body is controlled by these fast-moving electrical impulses carried by the nerves. The afferent nerve fibres carry impulses from the tissues/organs to the CNS whereas efferent nerve fibres do vice-versa.

The peripheral nervous system comprises all the nerves of the body that transmit impulses to the brain and spinal cord. It is divided into somatic neural systems and autonomic neural systems. The somatic neural system transmits impulses from the CNS to the skeletal muscles for all sorts of voluntary movement while the autonomic neural system transmits impulses from the CNS to the involuntary organs and smooth muscles of the body. The nerves comprise the PNS. All sorts of impulse transmission (for voluntary or involuntary action) is done by these nerves to maintain the coordination within the body as well as outside the body (i.e., movement).

Note: The autonomic neural system is further divided into sympathetic neural system and parasympathetic neural system. The sympathetic system is known as the “fight or flight” system while the parasympathetic system is considered the “rest and digest” system.