II. Practice the pronunciation

Nerve, an element, central, peripheral, nervous system, especially, sensation, motion, muscles, eyes, ears, glands, bundle, fiber, sheath, connective tissue, myelin, impulses, chemical, through, transmission, structure, via, substance, sensory nerves, nerve junction, trigger, appropriate, cause, intense, heat, cranial, spinal, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal.

III. Remember the following prepositional phrases

to consist of	состоять из
to cover with	покрывать чем-л.
to be transmitted by ...	передаваться посредством чего-л.
to carry out	проводить, выполнять
to pick up	подхватывать, получать (сигнал)
to pass smth to	предавать что-л. куда-л.
to jerk away	резко отдернуть
to branch off	отходить, разветвляться

IV. Read and translate the following parts of the sentences taken from the text

1. Peripheral nervous system, that carries impulses ...

2. Motor nerves cause movement through the action of muscles.

3. Specialized nerve endings in the skin ...

4. From one nerve to another structure ...

5. Bundle of fibers covered with ...

V. Give English equivalents

Нерв, нервная система, миелин, оболочка нерва, покрывать ч-л, разветвляться, собирать, волокно, соответствующий ответ, передавать, получать импульсы, нервные окончания, копчиковые нервы, резко отдернуть, поясничные нервы, спинной мозг, головной мозг, пучок, грудные нервы, двигательные импульсы, шейные нервы, крестцовые нервы, черепные нервы.

VI. Read the text “Nerve” and translate it.

VII. Complete the following sentences

1. Nerves consist of ... of fibers covered ... a sheath of ... ... .

2. The main ... are named according to the regions to which they ... off.

3. ... nerves collect information from the body and ... it in the form of ... impulses.

4. Nerve is an element of the ... or ... nervous system.

5. ... nerves cause movement through the action of ... .

6. The spinal nerves consist of 8 pairs of ... ..., 12 pairs of ... ..., 5 pairs of ... ..., 5 pairs of ... ..., 1 pair of ... ... .

7. The brain may react by ... other nerves to ... shivering.

VIII. Answer the questions

1. Nerve is an element of the central or peripheral nervous system, isn’t it?

2. What do nerves consist of?

3. What carries impulses from the brain or spinal cord to different parts of the body?

4. Where do nerves carry impulses to?

5. Do nerves consist of bundles of fibers or muscles?

6. What are nerve impulses transmitted by?

7. How is final transmission from one nerve to another carried out?

8. How does the brain get information about cold or heat?

9. What nerves collect information from the body and transmit it to the central nervous system for action?

10. What is the role of motor nerves?

11. Are the main nerves called according to the regions to which they branch off?

12. How many pairs of cranial and spinal nerves are there in the human body?

13. Name the main pairs of nerves according to the regions they branch off.

The Nervous System - Part II

The nervous system is a network of billions of interconnected nerve cells (neurons) that receive stimuli, coordinate this sensory information, and cause the body to respond appropriately. The individual nerve cells transmit messages by means of a complicated electrochemical process.

The nervous system is comprised of two main divisions: the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and the spinal cord; and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which consists of spinal nerves and cranial nerves that link the CNS with the body’s receptors and effectors.

What are receptors and effectors?

The receptors include the various sensory cells and sense organs, whose function is to sense and respond to various types of stimulation. For example, eyes respond to light, and ears respond to sound.

The effectors are all of the parts of the body, such as muscles and glands, that respond to nerve impulse instructions from the CNS.

What are the functions of the CNS?

The CNS integrates the information from the PNS and sends instructions to various parts of the body so that appropriate responses are made to continually changing conditions. The brain is also involved in the processes of thinking, learning, memory, and intelligence.

What are the functions of the PNS?

The PNS signals changes in the environment, as registered by the receptors, to the CNS. The instructions from the CNS to different parts of the body are also carried by the PNS.

Anatomically, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is part of the PNS. However, in terms of function, the ANS can be considered as a separate system. The ANS is concerned with controlling the body’s involuntary activities, such as the beating of the heart, intestinal movements, and sweating. The actions of the ANS can be modified by the CNS, but it also has a degree of independence.