The Nervous System
Science · The Human Body · conceptual
Understand that the nervous system has two parts — the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and nerves that branch throughout the body — and that nerve signals travel at high speed to coordinate senses, thought, and movement
What mastery looks like
- Name the two parts of the nervous system: central (brain + spinal cord) and peripheral (nerves throughout the body)
- Describe the reflex arc: stimulus → sensory nerve → spinal cord/brain → motor nerve → muscle response
- State that nerve signals travel extremely fast, which is why reflexes happen almost instantly
Check your understanding
Can The Nervous System explain how a message travels from their finger to their brain when they touch something hot, and then back to their hand to pull it away?
Prerequisites
Required first
Helpful