Biological Implications

Mr. Ibrahim Rawhi Ayasreh

RN, MSN, ACNS

The nervous system is composed of two major

divisions: the central nervous system (CNS) and
the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Central Nervous system consists of : brain, nerve
tisses, and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous system consists of : Afferent
System, and Efferent System.

Brain
- The brain consists of six major parts :
Cerebrum.
diencephalon.
Mesencephalon.
Pons.
Medulla.
Cerebellum.

Cerebrum

The cerebrum is composed of two hemispheres.

The left hemisphere appears to be dominant in most
people. It controls speech, comprehension, rationality, and
logic.
The right hemisphere is nondominant in most people.
Sometimes called the creative brain, the right
hemisphere is associated with affect, behavior, and spatial
perceptual functions.
Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes.

Cerebrum

Frontal lobes : control voluntary body movement,

including movements that permit speaking, thinking, and
judgment formation. The frontal lobe may also play a role
in the emotional experience.

Parietal lobes. The parietal lobes control perception and

interpretation of most sensory information (including
touch, pain, taste, and body position). Language
interpretation is associated with the left hemisphere of the
parietal lobe.

Cerebrum

Temporal lobes: The upper anterior temporal lobe is

concerned with auditory functions, while the lower part is
dedicated to short-term memory.

Occipital lobes: The occipital lobes are the primary area

of visual reception and interpretation.

Diencephalon

Thalamus: integrates all sensory input (except smell) on its

way to the cortex. The thalamus also has some involvement
with emotions and mood.
Hypothalamus: regulates the anterior and posterior lobes of
the pituitary gland. It exerts control over the actions of the
autonomic nervous system, and regulates appetite and
temperature.
Limbic system: which is sometimes called the emotional
brain, is associated with fear and anxiety; anger and
aggression; love, joy, and hope; and sexuality and social
behavior.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals are stored in the axon terminals of presynaptic

neurons.
Electrical impulses cause the release of these chemicals
into the synaptic cleft. The neurotransmitter combines
with receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron, resulting in
a determination of whether another electrical impulse is
generated.

Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine: Acetylcholine is implicated in sleep,

arousal, pain perception, the modulation and coordination
of movement, and memory acquisition and retention.
Acetylcholine may have some role in certain disorders of
motor behavior and memory, such as Parkinsons,
Huntingtons, and Alzheimers diseases.
Increased levels of acetylcholine have been associated
with depression.

Neurotransmitters

Norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter associated with the fightor-flight syndrome of symptoms that occurs in response to stress.
Norepinephrine may have a role in the regulation of mood, in
cognition and perception, in cardiovascular functioning, and in
sleep and arousal.
Norepinephrine has been implicated in certain mood disorders such
as depression and mania, in anxiety states, and in schizophrenia.
Levels of the
Norepinephrine are thought to be decreased in depression and
increased in mania, anxiety states, and in schizophrenia.

Neurotransmitters

Dopamine is involved in the regulation of movements and

coordination, emotions, voluntary decision-making ability,
and because of its influence on the pituitary gland, it
inhibits the release of prolactin.
Decreased levels of dopamine have been implicated in the
etiology of Parkinsons disease and depression.
Increased levels of dopamine are associated with mania
and schizophrenia.

Neurotransmitters

Serotonin: may play a role in sleep and arousal, libido,

appetite, mood, aggression, and pain perception.
Increased levels of serotonin have been implicated in
schizophrenia and anxiety states.
Decreased levels of serotonin have been associated with
depression.

Neurotransmitters
GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA)

GABA : interrupts the progression of the electrical

impulse at the synaptic junction, producing a significant
slowdown of body activity.
Decreased levels of GABA have been implicated in the
etiology of anxiety disorders, movement disorders such as
Huntingtons disease, and various forms of epilepsy.