Everyday actions that humans are involved in can only be completed with the collaboration of different body systems. The nervous system sends the impulse to muscles and triggers senses to occur. The skeletal system provides support of the body and the muscular system enables movements to take place. The task of eating a hamburger in response to its smell involves the nervous system, skeletal system, and muscular system.
The smell of the hamburger triggers impulses of the nervous system. The afferent division of the peripheral nervous system, which involves sensory triggers as well as the central nervous system, are both activated. The chemical smell of the hamburger enters the nasal cavity. The chemical dissolves in the olfactory mucosa which stimulates the olfactory receptor cells. The olfactory receptor cells then transmit the impulse and enter the olfactory tract which is the pathway to the olfactory nerve. Once this chemical has entered the central nervous system, it is input into the mammillary body of the brain which acts as a memory bank. The sense of smell of the hamburger then triggers the urge to eat the hamburger. This simple action actually involves numerous body structures from the nervous system, skeletal system, and muscular system. To be able to reach for the burger, structures of the skeletal system are necessary. The scapula must support the arm and hand movement. The humerus, radius, and ulna must also support the arm in movement and allowing motion to occur. The joint that allows the ulna and humerus to move is the humeroulnar joint which is a hinge joint. Another joint that allows the shoulder to move is the glenohumeral joint which is a ball and socket joint. The bones themselves are only for support, however, the nerves and muscles together must aid in the completion of the task. There are specific muscles used to complete motion and movements of the arm. To flex the arm and elbow, the biceps brachii, brachialis, pectoralis major, triceps brachii, deltoid, and latissimus dorsi must be stimulated by nerves to complete arm movement necessary to reach for and eat the burger. The nerves that stimulate this impulse are the axillary nerve, median nerve, radial nerve, musculocutaneous nerve, and ulnar nerve. The hand is equally important in eating the burger for grasping purposes. The nervous, skeletal, and muscular system all work together in this action as well. Not only does the ulnar nerve send impulses for flexion in the arm, but for impulses in the wrist and hand. The carpals that aid in hand movement, mobility, and support include the hamate, trapezoid, trapezium, and capitate bones. Carpals, that aid in functions of the wrist, include pisiform, triquetrum, lunate, and scaphoid bones. These carpals rely on the temperomandiular joint, which is a condyloid joint, to allow movement between the bones. Carpals also utilize the gliding joint, acromioclaviular joint, to allow movement. The metacarpals generally aid in hand motion and hand support. The carpals and metacarpals have a saddle joint between them called the carpometacarpal joint that allows flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction movement. The phalanges, which are distal, middle, and proximal bones, aid in motion, support of the hand, and functions of the hand. These bones must all utilize muscles and nerves to enable functions. To flex the wrist, the flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi ulnaris, and extensor carpi radialis al work together. These muscles also abduct and adduct the hand. The extensor digitorium extends the fingers which, essentially, are important for grasping an object such as the hamburger. Now that the burger has been picked up, it is time to eat it. The facial nerve aids in stimulating muscles to open the mouth. The orbicularis oris is the main muscle necessary for opening the mouth. Chewing consists of the combination of nerves and muscles. The trigeminal nerve activates the muscles necessary for mastication or chewing (Marieb, 2010). Both the masseter and temporalis are responsible for closing the jaw for chewing. The orbicularis oris keep the food in the mouth as well as its previously mentioned function of opening the mouth. The secretion action of the salivary glands is important for digestion. The facial nerve activates this impulse. When food is chewed it needs to be moved from one side of the mouth to the other. This action involves the tongue muscle which is stimulated by the impulses of the hypoglossal nerve. While chewing of the burger is going on in the mouth, the food is being tasted. This is strictly a sensory action. The nervous system is the primary system involved. Both the vagus nerve and glossopharyngeal nerves are stimulated. The glossopharyngeal nerve receives taste reception from the back of the tongue. The vagus nerve, which has a dual function, helps control the soft palate of the mouth. It controls the impulse that controls the epiglottis. The hypoglossal nerve is an important nerve for the motor function of the tongue’s involvement of swallowing. Other systems not mentioned are occurring to complete this simple task, however, the cohesiveness of the body systems are necessary. The task of eating a hamburger in response to its smell involves the nervous, skeletal, and muscular system, and all work together to complete a simple task. To fully carry the task out from start to finish, these multiple systems must collaborate in sync to ensure the body’s response to carrying out the task is done properly.

REFERENCE
Marieb, E. N. (2010). Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Retrieved from http://wgu.coursesmart.com/9780321547613/