1. The Nervous System

2. What’s it for? Your nervous system controls everything you do. The main organ of the nervous system is the brain. It is called the nervous system because it is made of billions of nerve cells. Without your nervous system you could not walk, write, talk, swim, read, etc.

3. Parts of the Nervous System Your nervous system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and your nerves in your body.

4. The Brain The brain is like the control center of the nervous system. The brain has four main parts: CerebrumCerebellumThalamusBrain stem Controls your ability to think and move around Controls coordination and balance Carries information from your sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin, tongue) Controls breathing, heartbeat, and digestion

5. The Spinal Cord The spinal cord acts as a highway where messages from the brain travel to the body and back again. The messages are tiny electrical signals that travel at over 200 mph.

6. The Nerves The nerves let you feel sensations like hot and cold. The nerves deliver their messages and the brain interprets them.