The Nervous System (for convenience) is divided into two main parts. They are the Central (Cerebrospinal) System and the Autonomic System. Since the autonomic system is dependent on the cerebrospinal nervous system we’ll concentrate on the cerebrospinal system.
the cerebrospinal nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves given off by these, to the outer parts of the body. 31 pairs of nerves emerge from the spinal cord, each nerve having two roots / one anterior (front of the spine) carrying motor nerves and one posterior (back of spine) carrying sensory nerves. Motor nerves carry impulses to the muscles having the responsibility for bodily movement whereas the sensory nerves have responsibility for carrying sensory impulses which provide for the brain, information about sensation.
the nerves are named according to the section of the spine from which they emerge:-
8 pairs of cervical nerves
12 pairs of thoracic (dorsal) nerves
5 pairs of lumber nerves
5 pairs of sacral nerves
1 pair of coccygeal nerves
in addition to the Spinal nerves we have 12 pairs of cranial nerves. some of these are motor nerves, some are sensory, some are motor and sensory and others are mixed, possessing both motor and sensory fibres.
the following is a list of the Cranial nerves:-
OLFACTORY: sensory nerve of smell
OPTIC: sensory nerve of sight
OCULO-MOTOR: motor nerve supplying most of the muscles of the eye
TROCHLEAR: motor nerve to the external oblique of the eye
TRIGEMINAL: the largest cranial nerve, it is motor and sensory. mainly a sensory nerve but has a small motor branch to the muscles of mastication. the trigeminal nerve supplies most of the skin of the face and the head, it also supplies the teeth and membranes of the mouth and nose.
ABDUCENS: motor nerve to the lateral rectus muscle of the eyeball.
FACIAL: motor and sensory. mainly a motor nerve to the muscles of expression of the face, and to the scalp, but sensory in that it is concerned with taste
ACOUSTIC: sensory nerve of hearing
GLOSSO-PHARYNGEAL: a mixed nerve. it is a motor nerve to a muscle of the pharynx, secreto-motor to the parotid gland, and sensory to part of the tongue and soft palate. it is the nerve of taste
VAGUS: a mixed nerve supplying larynx, pharynx, lungs, heart, stomach, oesophagus and liver
SPINAL ACCESSORY: usually considered to a be a motor nerve, it divides into two parts. One part accompanying the vagus and the other branching to the trapezius and sterno-mastoid muscles
HYPOGLOSSAL: motor nerve to the muscles of the tongue
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