Introduction to the Nervous System: Subdivisions of the nervous system

This short, targeted simulation is adapted from the full-length “Gross Function of the Nervous System” simulation.

Without your nervous system, you wouldn’t be able to speak, walk, swallow, breathe … or play Labster simulations! The nervous system is the human body’s control center, allowing us to process and react to external stimuli by regulating other systems. In this simulation, you will explore the nervous system and its subdivisions on a 3D model.

Learn about the central and peripheral nervous systems
Identify key parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems on a 3D body scan. You will discover how they communicate with each other and influence day-to-day bodily functions. Dig deeper into the subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system to learn about sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) divisions.

Relate the subdivisions to your own experiences
Study the difference between autonomic and somatic nervous systems and which organs and muscles are controlled by each. Is your hand reaching for another piece of chocolate really a voluntary action?

What happens to the nervous system when you are scared?
Finally, learn about the two subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system that are triggered when we find ourselves in stressful or relaxing situations. Choose between two scenarios: “fight or flight” or “rest and digest” and see how organs are affected under these circumstances. Can you observe your own body to define the what happens when sympathetic and parasympathetic responses are triggered?