Have you ever wondered how you perceive things in this world, move your limbs, and walk? Today we are going to talk about a very amazing system inside our body that helps us with all of this. It is the Somatic Nervous System . It works like a messenger that carries information around our body. Let's see what it is, how it works, and how it is important to us.
What is the Somatic Nervous System?
Simply put, your somatic nervous system is part of your peripheral nervous system . It's like a network of nerves that runs throughout your body. It's the system that carries the things you feel, like touch, smell, taste, and sound, to your brain, and it's the system that carries the commands from your brain to your muscles to help you move.
Just think, it's because of this somatic nervous system that you can feel the heat of a hot cup of coffee, that you can sense when a mosquito bites you, and that you can raise your arm or move your leg as you please.
What is the difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems?
There are two main parts of our peripheral nervous system. One is the somatic nervous system that we are talking about. The other is the autonomic nervous system .
- The somatic nervous system is related to the things that we consciously control . That is, the things that you can do with your mind. For example, you can raise your hand if you want to, you can talk, you can walk. These are under your control.
- The autonomic nervous system is what controls things that happen automatically, without us even thinking about them . Things like breathing (even when we're sleeping), heart rate, and digestion. We don't have to think about these things.
Although both of these are parts of our peripheral nervous system, they are divided in this way based on the function they perform.
What happens to the somatic nervous system?
This system performs two main functions.
1. Sensory Input
Except for one of our five senses (which is sight, because the eye and the optic nerve are directly connected to the brain), all other sensations go to the brain through this somatic nervous system.
- The sensations in your head – that is , what you hear (hearing), smell, taste, and the touch of the skin on your head – all go to the brain through this system.
- This system is also where you feel touch in your body below the neck . Those sensations first travel to the spinal cord, and from there to the brain.
Imagine, you hear the sound of a friend talking to you, smell the food your mother is cooking, and taste the taste of ice cream all with the help of this somatic nervous system.
2. Movement Control
The muscles in your body work, which means they help you move, touch things, and speak, using signals from the brain. The somatic nervous system carries these signals from the brain to the muscles.
When you consciously raise your arm, climb a flight of stairs, or kick a ball, the brain gives the command for all of this, but the somatic nervous system is the "cable line" that carries those commands to the muscles.
How does the somatic nervous system help other internal organs?
This system often helps us feel pain in organs inside our bodies. It's called "referred pain." That is, even though the problem is actually in one place, the pain is felt in another nearby place.
A good example is when someone has a heart attack and experiences pain in their left arm, back, jaw, or stomach. One reason for this is the structure of our nervous system.
Another example is the way we control our breathing. Normally, we breathe automatically, which is controlled by the autonomic system. But if we want, we can also consciously control our breathing, that is, the inhalation and exhalation of the breath. That's when the somatic system also helps.
Where is this located?
Your somatic nervous system originates in the brain and extends throughout the body through the spinal cord.
- Head and neck: These are spread through the cranial nerves . These are 12 pairs of nerves. 11 of them are connected to the somatic system. The second cranial nerve (CN II), which connects to the eyes, is actually part of the brain, not the somatic system.
- From the neck down: The 31 pairs of spinal nerves that come from the spinal cord are connected to the somatic system. These nerves are further divided into smaller nerves that travel throughout the body.
Some of these nerves are sensory nerves . They carry information in only one direction: from the body to the brain. Others are motor nerves . They also carry information in only one direction: from the brain to the muscles.
These cranial nerves and spinal nerves branch out into smaller branches and spread to places like the fingertips, toes, and under the surface of the skin.
How does this look?
Our entire nervous system is like an upside-down tree .
- The brain is like the root of a tree.
- The spinal cord is like the trunk of a tree.
- The peripheral nervous system – specifically the somatic nervous system – is like the branches and shoots of a tree, spreading throughout the body. The nerves that run under our skin and to the ends of our limbs are like the tiniest branches on a tree.
What is this made of?
Our peripheral nervous system, that is, along with the somatic nervous system, is made up of different types of nerve cells and structures.
- Neurons: These are nerve cells. They manage signals, converting them into chemical or electrical forms.
- Glial Cells: These are the supporting cells in the nervous system. Although they do not transmit signals, they help neurons that do transmit signals.
- Nuclei: These are clusters of nerve cells that perform the same function or have the same connections.
- Ganglia: These are larger, more closely connected groups of nerve cells. For example, the cochlear and vestibular ganglia, which help us hear and balance.
Now let's look at the two main ones in a little more detail.
Neurons - nerve cells
Neurons are a very special type of cell. They are found only in the nervous system. They are the ones that send and receive signals throughout the body. These signals come in the form of electrical and chemical signals. These signals are used by the different systems in the body to communicate with each other. A neuron has these parts:
- Cell Body: This is the main part of the cell. This is where signals are processed and sent to other parts.
- Axon: Each neuron has one axon. This is like a long arm extending out from the cell body. At the end of the axon are finger-like structures. This is where electrical signals are converted into chemical signals. These finger-like structures, called synapses, transmit those chemical signals to other nearby nerve cells.
- Dendrites: These are small, branch-like structures that extend from the cell body. (The name comes from a Latin word meaning "tree-like"). These dendrites receive chemical signals from synapses with other neurons.
- Myelin: This is a thin fatty layer that surrounds the axons of many neurons. It protects the axon and helps some signals travel faster.
Neurons are connected to each other, forming a very complex network, like a net. A single neuron can sometimes be connected to thousands of other neurons. Neurons come in different lengths. They can grow or shrink depending on where they are located and what they do.
Glial Cells
Glial cells do a lot of work. They help neurons grow and maintain themselves when we are young. They also manage how neurons function throughout our lives. They protect our nervous system from infection, regulate the chemical balance of the nervous system, and form the myelin sheath around the axons of neurons. What's amazing is that there are ten times more glial cells than neurons in our nervous system!
What are the common diseases that affect this system?
As we have already mentioned, the somatic nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system. Therefore, this somatic system can also be affected by peripheral neuropathy, a condition that affects the peripheral nervous system. This means that the peripheral nervous system is either diseased or damaged. Here are some of the main reasons that affect this:
- Type 2 Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your somatic nervous system, especially the nerves in your legs and feet. This is why people with diabetes are at risk of losing sensation in their feet. Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy.
- Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions: An example is Guillain-Barré Syndrome .
- Leprosy (Hansen's disease / Leprosy): Although this disease, which is rare in developed countries, is most commonly seen on the skin, it can also spread deep into the body and damage the somatic nerves.
- Congenital and genetic conditions: These are problems that are present at birth. Genetic conditions are those inherited from parents.
- Infections: Nerve damage can be caused by viruses like HIV or bacteria like Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease . Another common example is the persistent nerve pain that comes with shingles (sometimes called shingles).
- Medications and medical procedures: Some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer can damage parts of the somatic nervous system. This type of nerve damage can also occur as a side effect of surgery.
- Poisons and toxins: Toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead can damage somatic nervous tissue, causing problems with sensation and muscle control. Many chemicals from factories can also cause this type of damage.
- Trauma: Injuries that damage nerves can cause long-term, sometimes permanent, damage to the tissues of the somatic nervous system. When the injury causes swelling, it can also impinge on peripheral nerves. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Sciatica are examples of conditions that result from this type of nerve impingement.
- Tumors: Both malignant tumors, i.e. cancer , and benign tumors, can disrupt your somatic nervous system, affecting your senses or the way you control your muscles.
What are the symptoms of this condition?
The symptoms of somatic nervous system problems depend on which nerves are damaged.
When motor nerves are damaged:
This is how they affect your muscles:
- Cramps, spasms, tremors or twitches .
- Wasting/shrinking of muscles .
- Loss of control .
When sensory nerves are damaged:
These symptoms occur:
- Loss of touch sensations: This can cause you to have reduced sensation, like you're wearing gloves. You may also have reduced sensation to heat or vibration, and you may not even realize you're holding something hot. If this condition affects your hands or feet, you may have difficulty walking, maintaining your balance, or grasping small objects like coins or keys.
- Tingling or numbness / Paresthesia: This is also called a "pins and needles" feeling. It's like your arm or leg going numb.
- Neuropathic Pain: This is often felt as a burning or sharp pain in the affected area. This pain is caused by signals from damaged or malfunctioning nerves, not by anything actually painful at the time. This pain can often be so severe that it is difficult to sleep well or perform daily activities.
What are the common tests performed to check the health of this system?
There are many tests that can help diagnose problems that affect your somatic nervous system. Often, the first thing you'll do is a neurological exam . Your doctor will ask you to use different parts of your body, especially your arms, legs, and feet, in certain ways. This can help them figure out which nerves, where in the spinal cord, or part of the brain are the problem.
Other common tests are:
- Blood tests: These can detect a variety of things, from immune system problems to toxins, especially metals like mercury and lead.
- EEG (Electroencephalogram): A test that measures the electrical activity of the brain.
- EMG (Electromyogram) / Nerve Conduction Test: A test that measures the function of muscles and nerves.
- Genetic testing: Especially when there is a suspicion of a congenital condition that may be inherited from parents.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A test that can take detailed pictures of the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues.
What are the common treatments for somatic nervous system problems?
Treatment for your somatic nervous system problems depends largely on the underlying cause, any other associated conditions, and your symptoms. In many cases, treating the underlying cause of peripheral nervous system problems can also reduce the impact on the system.
Here are some types of treatments that can be done:
- Medications: There are many medications available to treat somatic nervous system problems. These can treat symptoms such as pain, muscle tremors, and twitching.
- Surgery: This can free a nerve that is compressed by surrounding tissue or swelling, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): This involves using a gentle electric current to interrupt the sending or receiving of pain signals from malfunctioning nerves.
- Nerve ablation: This procedure involves deliberately damaging a dysfunctional nerve, making it unable to send or receive signals. This treatment is useful for some types of chronic pain.
- Physical Therapy: This can help you recover from injuries or medical procedures, or reduce symptoms of pain. It can also help you learn to live with, adapt to, or adapt to new or worsening conditions that affect your ability to move or perceive the world around you.
- Acupuncture: This method, which involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, is a well-known part of traditional Chinese medicine. However, its use in modern medicine is also growing. Many doctors (especially anesthesiologists and pain management specialists) use acupuncture to treat people who cannot or do not want to take painkillers or other medications.
- Devices and wearable equipment: This includes medical devices like braces, walking frames, and specially designed shoes. These adapt to changes in your body and still help you function in the world around you.
How can situations like this be avoided?
Many conditions that affect your somatic nervous system can be prevented or controlled. While some conditions cannot be prevented, their effects can often be delayed or their severity reduced. Here are some things you can do to prevent, control, or delay these problems:
- Eat a balanced diet: Vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin B12, can damage your nervous system. Other vitamins, especially B6, can be toxic if taken in excess.
- Stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight: This will help you stay strong and flexible enough to avoid many injuries that can damage your nerves. This can also help prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes, especially if you also control your diet. This can help prevent or delay the effects of type 2 diabetes on your nerves.
- Wear safety equipment: Injuries are a common cause of nerve damage, so safety equipment is essential. Whether you use this equipment at work or for fun, safety gear can help you prevent nerve injuries or reduce their severity.
- Manage health conditions: Chronic health problems, like type 2 diabetes, or others that affect your nervous system, can often be treated. Managing these conditions usually means seeing your doctor regularly, taking medications, and more. Managing conditions can help prevent or delay the progression of chronic conditions.
Your somatic nervous system is a system that you don't think about using much, but it's incredibly important. It's through this part of the nervous system that you get information about the outside world – from the temperature outside to the smell of your favorite food.
Take-Home Message
So, you probably now understand how important the Somatic Nervous System is to our daily lives. It is because of this that we experience the world and move the way we want. Taking good care of this system can make a big difference to your overall quality of life. Therefore, it is very important to try to prevent conditions that affect it and, if you have such a condition, manage it as best as possible. If you have any questions or doubts, do not forget to seek medical advice.
` Somatic nervous system, nervous system, sensation, movement, peripheral neuropathy, neurons, nerve health
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න