How Does It Work? by: Mandy Bourland The Nervous System How Does It Work? by: Mandy Bourland

Your nervous system has three components… Brain Nerves Spinal cord

The Most Important Part of the Nervous System… Your brain controls everything that happens in your body.

The brain has two sides. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.

Nerves are like telephone lines. They send messages all over your body. These messages move through your body faster than you can blink your eyes.

Nerves travel through the spinal cord. Your spinal cord is like an extension cord that runs down the center of your back. It is protected by the backbone.

Interesting Facts Each side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. Your brain is full grown by age 6. It weighs about three pounds. Your brain is made mostly of water. (85%)

What if you had no brain or nerves? You wouldn’t be able to see, hear, smell, or talk.

Ways to keep your nervous system healthy… Exercise Read, Read, Read THINK Wear a helmet

Summary Functions sends messages to the rest of the body controls all of the body functions Components Brain – control center Nerves – carry messages Spinal cord – a thick bundle of nerves

Healthy Habits Exercise Do challenging activities that make you think read, read, read Lift things carefully – use your legs, not your back

Works Cited Carratello, Patricia. My Body. Teacher Created Materials. 1980. Young, Ruth M. A Guide for Using The Magic School Bus – Inside the Human Body – in the classroom. Teacher Created Materials. 1996. Microsoft Windows Clipart. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia.