Right now, without even thinking, your brain is sending zillions of tiny messages around your body — telling your heart to beat, your eyes to blink, and your fingers to tap this screen!
This message system is called the nervous system. It is like super-fast electric mail zooming through your body. 📮⚡
Tap Next to meet the tiny messengers that carry the signals.
Your messages travel along special cells called neurons (say: NEW-ronz). They are shaped a bit like a tree with long branches. Tap each glowing part to find out its job!
A message jumps from neuron to neuron like a spark passing along a line of friends holding hands. Press the button and watch the signal race from one end to the other!
Your messages travel on a special highway. The brain is the boss at the top. It connects to your spinal cord — a thick cable of nerves down your back — and nerves branch out to your whole body.
Brain 🧠 → spinal cord → nerves → your fingers, toes, and everything else!
Some messages go UP to the brain (like "ouch, that's hot!"). Some go DOWN from the brain (like "wave your hand!"). Drag each message into the right box — or tap it, then tap a box.
Some messages are SO urgent they don't even wait for your brain to decide! If you touch something hot, your spinal cord shouts "PULL BACK!" instantly. This is a reflex.
Let's practise! Watch the pot. When it turns 🔥 HOT, tap PULL BACK as fast as you can!
Look at everything your amazing brain and nerves do: