ABSTRACT
The nervous system is a fascinating, complex and remarkable structure. It is one of the two major regulatory systems of the body, the other being the endocrine system. However, the nervous system not only regulates internal body functions, it facilitates the body’s ability to interact with the environment. The nervous system is the body’s most rapid means of maintaining homeostasis and to achieve this it must be able to constantly react and adjust to internal and external stimuli. These stimuli are detected and conveyed by nerves to the brain where they are analysed and interpreted resulting in a coordinated response. Neuroanatomy and physiology are the foundations upon which an understanding of nervous system disorders is based (Crossman and Neary 2000). The aim of this chapter is to provide a clear and concise overview of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, with particular emphasis upon changes that occur as part of normal childhood growth and development.
