2. Reading activities

   1. Read and translate the text: The Nervous System

The nervous system links us with the outside world and coordinates the activities of the other body systems. The nervous system enables us to respond to stimuli. Together with the endocrine system, the nervous system works continuously to preserve homeostasis.

The two principal divisions of the nervous system are the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.

The brain is one of the most complicated structures ever been constructed by nature. The outer nervous tissue of the cerebrum is known as cerebral cortex. It consists of folds, ridges and fissures. There are four cavities within the brain. They are called ventricles. The ventricles contain cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid protects the brain and spinal cord from shock.

Thalamus and hypothalamus are two important parts of the brain. Thalamus is a mass of grey matter. It monitors the stimuli we receive by suppressing some of them and increasing others. Hypothalamus regulates many basic body functions, such as sleep, appetite, temperature and some emotions (fear and pleasure).

The PNS includes all of the cranial and spinal nerves. The PNS may be subdivided into somatic and autonomic divisions. Sensory receptors and nerves concerned with changes in the outside environment are somatic. Sensory receptors and nerves that regulate the internal environment are autonomic. The autonomic nervous system regulates the action of the glands, smooth muscles of the hollow organs and the heart. Both systems have afferent nerves, also called sensory nerves, that transmit messages from receptors to the CNS and efferent nerves, also called motor nerves that transmit information back from the CNS to the structures that must respond. The autonomic system has sympathetic pathways and parasympathetic pathways.

3. Post-reading activities

3.1 Answer the questions to the text:

1. What links us with the outside world and coordinates the activities of the other body systems? 2. What are the two principal divisions of the nervous system? 3. The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, doesn’t it? 4. What part of nervous system is the centre of regulation and coordination of the body activities? 5. What surrounds the brain and spinal cord? 6. What is the function of the cerebrospinal fluid? 7. What does thalamus monitor? 8. What does hypothalamus regulate?

3.2 Fill in the blanks:

1. The eye is the sense organ of .... 2. The ear is the sense organ of .... 3. The weight of the ... is up to two kilograms. 4. The outer nervous tissue of the cerebrum is known as ... . 5. ... surround the brain and spinal cord. 6. The spinal cord is a column of nervous ... . 7. ... perform the function of the coordination of the human activities all over the body.

(tissue, cerebral cortex, hearing, brain, vision, membranes, nerve cells )

3.3 Suggest the Ukrainian equivalents:

the nervous system, the two principal divisions, control center of the body, determine appropriate responses; the outer nervous tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, a mass of grey matter, regulates many basic body functions.

3.4 Suggest the English equivalents:

зв’язує нас з навколишнім світом; відповідати на подразники; центральна нервова система; периферична нервова система; складки, борозни, щілини; захищає головний та спинний мозок.

3.5 Say if it is true or false:

1. The nervous system coordinates the activities of the other body systems.

2. The CNS consists of the brain and neurons.

3. The spinal cord is one of the most complicated structures ever been constructed by nature.

4. The outer nervous tissue of the cerebrum is known as cerebral cortex.

5. Cerebral cortex consists of folds, ridges and fissures.

6. Hypothalamus is a mass of grey matter.

7. Thalamus regulates many basic body functions.

3.6 Read and translate additional text:

Sleep

During sleep, we usually pass through five phases of sleep: stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. We spend almost 50 percent of our total sleep time in stage 2 sleep, about 20 percent in REM sleep, and the remaining 30 percent in the other stages.

During stage 1, which is light sleep, we drift in and out of sleep and can be awakened easily. Our eyes move very slowly and muscle activity slows. People awakened from stage 1 sleep often remember fragmented visual images. When we enter stage 2 sleep, our eye movements stop and our brain waves become slower, with occasional bursts of rapid waves called sleep spindles. In stage 3, extremely slow brain waves called delta waves begin to appear, interspersed with smaller, faster waves. By stage 4, the brain produces delta waves almost exclusively. It is very difficult to wake someone during stages 3 and 4, which together are called deep sleep. There is no eye movement or muscle activity. People awakened during deep sleep do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes after they wake up. When we switch into REM sleep, our breathing becomes more rapid, irregular, and shallow, our eyes jerk rapidly in various directions, and our limb muscles become temporarily paralyzed. Our heart rate increases, our blood pressure rises. When people awaken during REM sleep, they often describe bizarre and illogical tales – dreams.