What is Neuron ?

The CNS is located in the skull and vertebral canal of the spine. It includes the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. All remaining nerves in other parts of the body are part of the PNS.

Everyone’s body has a CNS and a PNS. But it also has voluntary and involuntary nervous systems. The body’s voluntary (somatic) nervous system controls things a person is aware of and can control consciously, such as moving their head, arms, legs, or other body parts.

The body’s involuntary (vegetative or automatic) nervous system controls processes in the body that a person doesn’t consciously control. It’s always active and regulates a person’s heart rate, breathing, metabolism, among other critical body processes.

The CNS and PNS both include voluntary and involuntary parts. These parts are linked in the CNS, but not in the PNS, where they usually occur in different parts of the body. The involuntary part of the PNS includes the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems.

The sympathetic nervous system tells the body to get ready for physical and mental activity. It causes the heart to beat harder and faster and opens the airways for easy breathing. It also temporarily stops digestion so the body can focus on fast action.

The parasympathetic nervous system controls bodily functions when a person is at rest. Some of its activities include stimulating digestion, activating metabolism, and helping the body relax.

The body has its own nervous system that just controls the bowel. The enteric nervous system automatically regulates bowel movements as a part of digestion.

Scientists are now developing ways to “hack” into the immune system, gaining the ability to control brain cells with the flash of a light. The cells can be programmed to react to light through genetic altering.

Hacking can help scientists learn about the functions of different groups of neurons. They can activate several brain cells at the same time and observe their effects on the body.