Summary

The nervous system allows us to move, feel, and think, and it is involved in nearly all of the functions of the human body. Nerves communicate signals between the brain and muscles, allowing us to move our hands and feet. Or, they relay messages about the environment through touch, taste, sight, and smell. Nerves can also communicate information about how we are feeling at any particular time and help to maintain homeostasis, or a stable state of equilibrium. The Nervous System discusses the development and organization of this diverse system, its functions, and potential injuries and complications.

Specifications

Full-color photographs and illustrations. Sidebars. Glossary. References. Further reading. Web sites. Index.

About the Author(s)

F. Fay Evans-Martin, Ph.D., has a dual background in the areas of pharmacology and biopsychology. She holds a B.S. in biology, an M.S. in pharmacology, and a doctorate in psychology. Her postdoctoral research was conducted in spinal cord injury at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and in nicotine self-administration at the University of Pittsburgh.

Introduction by Denton A. Cooley, M.D., President and Surgeon-in-Chief of the Texas Heart Institute, Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas