Nervous system. The nervous system includes all the organs and tissues which enable animals to respond to changes in their environment.
A change in the environment is called a response. The nervous system of mammals is composed of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
The nervous system of mammals is composed of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
Central Nervous System
This is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. Both are made up of thousands of nerve cells or neurones.
The functions of the central nervous system are the correlation of impulses from various sense organs and the storage of impulses as information or impressions in the brain for reaction to future similar stimuli.
The Brain:
the brain is enclosed in a bony case called the cranium. It is divided into fore, mid and bind brain
The forebrain consists of olfactory lobes which receive sensory impulses for smell and the cerebrum which is the seat of consciousness, intelligence, memory and all voluntary actions.
The midbrain consists mainly of optic, lobes which control sight. The hindbrain consists of the cerebellum which is concerned with balance and body posture, receives impulses and coordinates action, respiration, heartbeat, digestive movements and blood supply.
The Spinal Cord:
The spinal cord stems from the medulla oblongata and runs through the neural canal of the vertebral column or backbone. It communicates between the brain and other parts of the body. It controls all the reflex (involuntary) actions of the body. reed about breeding here
The Peripheral Nervous System:
The peripheral nervous system consists of the cranial and spinal nerves and the autonomic nervous system.
The cranial and spinal nerves of the peripheral nervous system together with the central nervous system mediate relations between the animals and their external environment.
On the other hand, the autonomic nervous system, consisting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems regulates events within the animal.
A neurone (nerve cell)
is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system. It helps in receiving and relaying of transmission of impulses.
A neurone has three main parts:
The dendrite, cell body and the axon (nerve fibre or axis cylinder).
The cell body has dendrites extending from it, and a central nucleus. The axon is surrounded by myelin sheath which is interrupted at intervals, forming nodes of Ranvier. The axon terminates in dendrites.
TYPES OF NEURONES
(i) Sensory or Afferent Neurone: These neurones carry impulses from receptors, such as the eyes, skin, ears, etc. to the central nervous system.
(ii) Motor or Efferent neurone: These neurons carry impulses from the central nervous system, such as muscles and glands in the body
(iii) Intermediate or Relay neurons: These neurons receive, transmit and interpret messages in the spinal cord and brain
Transmission of Nerve Impulse
The dendrites usually receive messages and pass them to the cell body which then passes them (messages) out through the long axon to the dendrites of another nerve cell.
However, there is no direct connection between the fibres of adjacent neurones. The junction between one end of a dendrite of one neurone and that of an axon of the next neurone is known as a synapse.
The message passes from cell to cell across these synapses.
Reflex actions:
These are actions carried out by animals in response to certain stimuli without first thinking or planning for them. They are not under the control of the brain.
They are quick, automatic responses and entirely stereotyped in nature.
Examples of simple reflexes or involuntary actions include (i) the blinking of the eyes (ii) the beating of the heart (iii) sneezing (iv) the sudden removal of hands, legs or skin from a hot object. (v) the jerking of the legs on tapping the knee cap.
Reflex Arc:
A reflex arc is the path traced out by the impulses concerned in a simple reflex action. It consists of three neurotics – afferent, and intermediate anal efferent neurones.
The message from the external stimuli is received by the sensory or receptor organs such as the skin in the case of the sudden removal of the leg from the hot object. The stimulus is sent to the brain or spinal cord
through the sensory or efferent neurone. The intermediate or relay neurone in the brain and spinal cord receives, transmits and interprets the message.
The interpreted message is then sent through the motor or efferent neurone to the organ or effector such as the muscle, which then causes the appropriate response, leading to the sudden withdrawal of the leg from the hot object.
FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
(i) It coordinates body functions
(ii) It is responsible for bringing about locomotion or movement
(iii) It enables the body to respond to external stimuli
The nervous unit is a complex network of cells and tissues that enables communication between different parts of the body. It plays a crucial role in regulating and coordinating various bodily functions. Here are some of the key functions of the nervous system:
Sensory Function: The nervous unit receives information from the internal and external environments through sensory receptors.
These receptors detect stimuli such as light, sound, temperature, pressure, and chemical signals. The information is then transmitted to the brain and spinal cord for processing.
Integration: The nervous system processes and interprets sensory information. It integrates incoming signals with stored information and generates appropriate responses.
This integration occurs mainly in the brain, where complex cognitive processes, such as perception, memory, learning, and decision-making, take place.
Motor Function: The nervous system controls and coordinates voluntary and involuntary movements of muscles and organs.
It sends signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, enabling body movements. Motor neurons are responsible for transmitting these signals, initiating muscle contractions, and regulating organ functions.
Homeostasis: The nervous system helps maintain a stable internal environment in the body, a state known as homeostasis.
It regulates various physiological processes, including body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and hormonal balance.
The autonomic nervous system, a division of the peripheral nervous system, plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis.
Regulation of Body Systems: The nervous system controls and regulates the activities of other body systems.
It works in coordination with the endocrine system to control the release of hormones, which help regulate bodily functions. The nervous system also influences immune system responses, digestive processes, and the circulatory system.
Reflex Actions: The nervous unit is responsible for generating rapid, automatic responses to certain stimuli, known as reflex actions.
These responses are mediated through reflex arcs, which bypass the brain and produce quick reactions to protect the body from harm. Examples include the withdrawal reflex when touching something hot or the knee-jerk reflex.
. AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION
24. THE CONCEPT OF MECHANIZATION
What are Hybrid and Hybrid Vigor breeding?
A hybrid is an animal which is the product of crossing animals of two different breeds. It has both a dominant and recessive characters. A superior hybrid has 75% dominance and 25% recessive.
Hybrid vigour or heterosis is increased vigour and performance resulting from crossing two superior breeds. When two superior breeds e.g Pedigree friesian and Jersey breeds mate the resultant offspring have both the character of high milk yield and high butterfat content.
Thus it is said the offspring have hybrid figure which is an increased performance and figure than both the two parents.
what is Epitasis in animal breeding
This is the masking of the effect of one gene (recessive gene) by another gene(dominant) which is non-allelic, that is situated on a different locus.
This is aimed at preventing the recessive gene from being expressed.
BREEDING SYSTEMS
They are categorized into two namely; Inbreeding and Out-breeding
- Inbreeding
Mating of animals which are related i.e. have certain alleles of genes in common.
Reasons:
To increase genetic uniformity in a herd.
To increase phenotypic uniformity.To get proven sires.
To fix required characteristics when developing a new breed.
used in animal of higher prepotency (stud Bulls)
Originally posted 2022-01-01 14:37:02.