FROG’S NERVOUS SYSTEM

Division:
• Central nervous system
• Peripheral nervous system and
• Autonomic nervous system

a.) Central Nervous System

* BRAIN
- elongated, bilaterally symmetrical, white coloured structure safely situated in the cranial cavity of the
skull.
- (Piamater) surrounded by a thin, pigmented and vascular connective tissue membrane, which is closely
applied with the brain.
- (Duramater) a tough, fibrous membrane lining the interior of the cranial cavity outside the membrane.
- (Meninges/Menix) is what you call the two membranes: piamater & duramater.
- (Subdural) the space between the piameter and duramater, filled with a kind of shock absorbing
watery, clear lymphatic cerebro-spinal fluid. It is also found in the cavities of brain and central
canal of spinal cord.

* BRAIN DIVISION
1.Forebrain or Prosencephalon.
2. Midbrain or Mesencephalon.
3. Hindbrain or Rhombencephalon.

1.FOREBRAIN/PROSENCEPHALON
- largest part of the brain consisting of a pair of anteriorly directed olfactory lobes, a pair of cerebral
hemispheres, and a diencephalon.
(Olfactory Lobes)
- are anterior small, spherical structures which are fused together in the median plane. Each lobe gives off
an olfactory nerve and possesses a small cavity rhinocoel or olfactory autricle.
(Cerebral Hemispheres)
- 2 cerebral hemispheres are long, oval structures separated from olfactory lobes by a slight constriction.
- They are wider behind and narrower in front.
- They are separated from each other by a deep median longitudinal fissure.
- (Paracoel) or a large lateral ventricle on which each cerebral hemisphere contains. It is continuous
anteriorly with the rhinocoel.
- Posteriorly the lateral ventricles communicate with each other and with the ventricle of diencephalon
called (diocoel) by an opening, the (interventricular foramen or foramen of Monro)
- The nerve cell bodies form masses around the lateral ventricles and lie in layers. Fibres of the
olfactory, tactile and optic impulse reach the cerebral hemisphere which may act as correlating centres
but the hemispheres are largely olfactory in function.
- On ventro-lateral side of each of the cerebral hemispheres there is a thick fibrous tract called the
(corpus striatum) containing a network of white medullated nerve fibres and nerve cells. The corpora
striata of two hemispheres are joined by a transversely running tract of fibres called (anterior
commissure) and above which is another commissure (upper line) partly representing the hippocampal
commissure of the brain of reptiles and mammals. They have a thick roof called the (pallium) in which
more nerve cells have moved to the periphery.
- (Cerebrum) The pallium of cerebral hemispheres controls the activities of the olfactory, tactile and
optic organs, whereas the cerebral hemispheres coordinate the activities of the neuromuscular
mechanism of the body, but these are supposed to be the seat of intelligence and voluntary control in
higher animals.
(Diencephalon)
- controls the metabolism of the fats and carbohydrates and also regulates the genital functions.is a short
unpaired structure of the forebrain situated behind the cerebral hemispheres.
- (Singular thalamus/Optic Thalami) thick lateral walls.
- (Hypothalamus) thick floors.
- Its roof is thin and lined with a vascular membrane, (the Anterior choroid plexus.)
- Behind it arises a hollow, thin-walled stalk, called the (Pineal stalk/epiphysis) which terminates
dorsally at the brow spot. The pineal stalk or epiphysis, which originally was continuous with
the brow spot, becomes constricted off from it in early larval life
- On the ventral side of diencephalon is the (optic chiasma) or crossing of the optic nerves which go the
eyes. Just behind the optic chiasma is a flattened bilobed infundibular lobe or infundibulum
extending posteriorly and divided by a median longitudinal groove.
- The (hypothalamus) is an important centre regulating the whole endocrine system as well as other parts
of the brain. It is composed of anterior and posterior parts. The anterior part of the hypophysis
has no connection with the brain.

2. MIDBRAIN/MESENCEPHALON
- It is well developed consisting of two dorso-lateral large rounded optic lobes.
- (Optic Lobes) are centres for impulses coming from the eyes. They are supposed to be concerned with
the sensation of sight and the control of the movement of the eye muscles. Their cavities are
called optocoel or optic ventricles communicating with each other and the fourth ventricle
behind through a narrow cavity, the (iter or aqueduct of Sylvius.)
- (Crura Cerebri) two thick longitudinal bands of nerve fibres are present below the optic lobes. These
form the floor of midbrain. Lying transversely between the diencephalon and optic lobes is a
band of nerve fibres called posterior commissure.
3. HINDBRAIN/RHOMBENCEPHALON.
- It consists of the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata
(Cerebellum) is a rudimentary narrow transverse solid band lying dorsally immediately behind the optic
lobes. Its function is probably to regulate the vestibulo-oculomotor system controlling movements
of the eyes. It controls the mechanism of the automatic movements and also brings about
coordination in movements of locomotion. It is in correlation with the medulla oblongata and
regulates complex muscular movements of the body.
(Medulla Oblongata) is short and somewhat triangular structure which is simply a widening of the spinal
cord. It is an important nerve centre. It has nerve centres of all reflex functions and, thus,
regulates particularly those functions of the body which are not directly under the control of the
will like heart beating, respiration, swallowing, taste, hearing, sound production and secretions of
various digestive juices.
- Its cavity is also triangular called fourth ventricle or (metacoel) which is joined in front to the iter but
posteriorly it is continuous with the central cavity of the spinal cord. Its roof is thin, vascular
and thrown into folds called the (posterior choroid plexus.)
- From the sides of medulla arises several pairs of cranial nerves. Its lower surface is divided by a
median fissure which is continuous with the ventral fissure of the spinal cord. On the dorsal
surface of the medulla oblongata there is a triangular area of reddish brown colour which is
called posterior choroid plexus.
(Spinal Cord)
- The medulla oblongata continues behind as spinal cord, lying in the neural canal of the vertebral
column. It is short, somewhat flattened dorsoventrally and terminates behind the lumbar
swelling in a tapering narrow thread called filum terminale lying in the urostyle.
- The filum terminale with the nerve roots on either side is sometimes called cauda equina as it looks like
a horse tail. It presents two enlargements during its course, one at the level of the forelimbs where nerves
for arms arise and one far behind at the level of hindlimbs where nerves for hindlimbs arise