Intro to the Nervous System Notice: To optimize your learning in this course, we advise that you complete the labs and modules as indicated in the BIOD 152 Lab Schedule. The nervous system receives and processes information and sends out signals to the muscles and glands to elicit an appropriate response. In this way, the nervous system integrates and controls the other systems of the body. In the human nervous system, the central nervous system (Figure below) includes the brain andhe spinal cord (dorsal nerve cord), which lie in the midline of the body The skull protects the brain and the vertebrae protect the spinal cord. The central nervous system can send signals or impulses to and receive impulses from the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes all nerves not in the brain or spinal cord which are the cranial nerves that connect directly to the brain and the spinal nerves which project from either side of the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system connects all parts of the body to the central nervous system and can be divided into a sensory or afferent division and a motor or efferent division. The peripheral nervous system receives impulses from the sensory organs via the afferent division and then relays signals or impulses from the central nervous system to muscles and glands via the motor or efferent division. The efferent division can be further divided into the All Combined portage Modules learning Exam Biod 152/A&P somatic system and the autonomic system. The somatic system nerves control skeletal muscles, skin, and joints. The autonomic system nerves control the glands and smooth muscles of the internal organs and are not generally under conscious control and can be divided into two systems: the sympathetic system which activates and prepares the body for vigorous mu