UNIT OVERVIEW

Every moment, your body detects changes around you and responds to keep you safe. When you touch something hot, you pull your hand away before you even think about it. When a ball comes towards you, you catch it or duck. This all happens because of your nervous system — a network that sends messages through your body at incredible speed.

In this unit, you will learn how your nervous system works. You will study how nerve cells communicate, how your brain and spinal cord control your body, and how your eyes and ears detect light and sound.

What you will learn:

• The structure and function of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems
• How neurons are built and how they send messages
• How reflex actions work
• How the human eye and ear work
• Common disorders, injuries, and drug effects on the nervous system
• How reaction time affects road safety

What you should already know:

• Grade 11: Basic effects of drugs on the nervous system
• Grade 10: Support and transport systems in mammals
• Basic cell structure

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