NERVOUS TISSUE.

The nervous tissue in the body is organized to comprise the nervous system, which is automatically divided into two
divisions: CNS which refers to the brain and the spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system (PNS) which relates to all
other nervous tissues in the body
• Made up of closely packed cells
• Very little amount of intercellular substance
• Present in all organs
Cells of Nervous Tissue
I. Neurons
II. Neuroglial Cells
I. Neurons
• Functional unit of nervous tissue
• High degree of irritability (i.e., the ability to react to stimulus) and conductivity (ability to transmit stimulus)
• Performs all the functions of nervous tissue
• Shapes:
• Stellate – ventral gray matter
• Spherical
• Pyramidal- cerebral cortex
• Flask-shaped- “Purkinje cells”
• Fusiform
• Ovoid
Parts of a Neuron
1.Perikaryon (soma)
2.Processes ( the number and location of these processes,
especially the dendrites, largely determine the shape of the
neuron). Two types of processes of neurons:
– Axon
– Dendrite
• *Neurons are incapable of cell division. However, axons
and dendrites can regenerate when damaged, provided
the cell is intact.
• A neuron will only have one axon
• Dendrites could be absent, solitary, or numerous

1.Perikaryon
-the cell body
-nucleus is surrounded with basophilic neuroplasm enclosed by a neurolemma.
-also has cytoplasmic organelles, cytoskeleton and inclusions
• Nucleus
-large; spherical or ovoid; centrally located
-sometimes, more than 1 per cell
-nuclear envelope is structurally similar to other cells
-finely dispersed chromatin
-pale in routine histologic prep; nucleolus is prominent.
• Organelles:
 Golgi complex
 Free ribosomes
 Mitochondria
 Lysosomes
 Peroxisomes
 Centrosome
 Nissl Bodies – distinct; parts of well-developed rER
• Cytoskeleton
-composed of neurofibrils
1. microfilaments
 2. intermediate filaments (neurofilaments)
3. Microtubules
• Inclusions
1. Fat droplets
-lipochrome and lipofuscin
2. Melanin granules
3. Iron granules
*number of inclusions increases with age
2. Neuron Processes
-cytoplasmic extensions of the cell body
-more than 90% of cytoplasm is in the processes
2 Types of Processes:
a. Axon- conducts impulses away from the body
b. Dendrite- carries impulses toward the body.
*Only one axon per neuron. Dendrites could be absent, solitary, or numerous.
Basic Morphological Types of Neurons:
• Unipolar
– only one process(axon) is present; exists in early embryonic life
• Pseudounipolar
– A single process leaves the cell body but soon bifurcates; craniospinal
ganglia
• Bipolar
• when a single dendrite and an axon arise at opposite poles of the cell
body; olfactory epithelium of the nose in vestibular and cochlear
ganglia
• Multipolar
– When numerous dendrites are present
Basic Functional Classifications of neurons:
1. Sensory Neurons (afferent neurons)
-when they receive stimuli and transmit impulse toward CNS.
2. Motor Neurons (efferent neurons)
-When they transmit impulse from CNS to effector cells.
3. Interneurons (association neurons)
-when they convey impulse from one neuron to another.

Dendrite
-most neuron contains many dendrites
-provides most of the receptive surface of the neuron
-branch more extensively, but are shorter than axons.
-contain Nissl bodies, mitochondria and neurofibrils.
-no Golgi complex
Axon
-arises from axon hillock
-no Nissl granules
-axoplasm contains sER and mitochondria
-axolemma -extension of perikaryon cell membrane
-more slender and longer than dendrite
-only one axon is present in one neuron but it gives of collateral branches.
-boutons(terminals)- rounded swellings
”bouton terminaux”- at the end of axon
“bouton en passant”- along the course of its branches
 Coverings of Axons
-neurilemmal sheath- envelopes all axons
Schwann sheath- in PNS
Schwann cells
-encased external to their plasmalemma by basal lamina
-normally needed to completely cover an axon
Nodes of Ranvier- point of discontinuity between successive Schwann cells
Myelin Sheath
-lies internal to the Schwann sheath
-formed by myelin(black with tissues fixed with osmium tetroxide)
Myelinated axon-with myelin
Unmyelinated axon- without myelin

-CNS axons also have neurilemmal sheaths and larger ones are myelinated, but NO SCHWANN CELLS IN CNS!!
Oligodendrocytes
- takes over the function of Schwann cells in CNS
-not surrounded by basal lamina
-forms segments of myelin sheaths of numerous neurons
-lesser amount of cytoplasm associated with myelin
-Nodes of Ranvier
*An axon and its coverings comprise a nerve fiber

Synapse
-point of contact between a neuron and another cell
-site of transmission of a nerve impulse
-allows neurons to communicate with each other or with effector (muscle and gland) cells and accomplish their
integration and control functions
-estimated total number= 1014 or 100 quadrillion
Types of Synapses
a. Electrical
b. Chemical
A. Electrical Synapse
-occurs rarely
-brain stem, retina, and cerebral cortex
-consists of gap junctions
-allows cells to exchange molecules and small ions
B. Chemical Synapse
-more common than electrical
-nerve impulse is transmitted by means of neurotransmitters
Presynaptic neuron- communicates the impulse in a chemical substance; participated by buotons
Postsynaptic cell- a cell that receives the impulse; can be a neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell
Impulse Transmission at the Synapse
Types of Synapse Between Neurons
 Axodendritic- between the axon of one neuron
 Axosomatic- between a dendrite or perikaryon of another neuron
 Axoaxonic-between axon synapse and another axon
 Dendrodendritic
 Somatodendritic
 Somatosomatic
 Somatoaxonic
 Dendroaxonic
 Axoaxodendritic

II. Neuroglial cells

-supporting cells that intersperse between neurons in nervous tissue
-protect neurons, aid in neuron functions, and play a role in neural nutrition.
-outnumber neurons 5-10x; smaller
-can undergo mitosis
4 Types of Neuroglia in CNS
A. Astrocytes
B. Oligodendrocytes
C. Microglia
D. Ependymal cells
2 Types of Neuroglia in PNS
a. Schwann cells
b. Satellite cells
A. Astrocytes
-largest and most numerous
-”star-shaped” and has numerous branching processes
-involved in both repair and metabolic functions
-form scar in tissue damage
Types of Astrocytes:
a. Protoplasmic- found within gray matter and spinal cord; many
branching processes
b. Fibrous- located chiefly in white matter; longer and more slender
processes
B. Oligodendrocytes
-have smaller, fewer, and shorter processes than astrocytes.
-provide neurilemmal covering for axons
-scanty cytoplasm; ovoid/spherical nucleus; smaller but more deeply-
staining than astrocytes.
-located mainly in the white matter
C. Microglia
-smaller than astrocytes and oligodendrocytes
-distributed throughout the CNS
-small and elongated nucleus; scanty cytoplasm with many lysosomes
-probably arise from hematopoietic stem cells
-phagocytes
-remove cellular debris from sites of injury or normal cell turnover
D. Ependymal Cells
-cuboidal cells with short cillia and microvilli
-comprise the simple cuboidal epithelium that lines the cavities of CNS(e.g ventricles of the brain and central canal of
spinal cord)
-forms secretory epithelial linings of choroid plexuses that secrete CSF
-ciliary movement helps circulate CSF.
a. Schwann Cells
-forms the neurilemmal and myelin sheaths of peripheral nerves
b. Satellite Cells
-small, flattened cells that surround cell bodies of neurons that are in ganglia. A.k.a mantle cells, amphicytes
-counterpart of astrocytes in PNS
-provides structural support and involves in numerous neuron metabolic processes

ANATOMIC DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Nervous system is one of the two major integration and control systems of the body
-these functions are performed by:
1. collecting stimuli from the environment by means of receptor
2. transmitting these stimuli(nerve impulses), to highly organized reception and correlation areas for interpretation.
3. issuing orders to effector organs for appropriate responses to the stimuli
I. Central Nervous System- has no connective tissue stroma, protected by bone (skull, spinal column), lined by meninges
 Brain
 • Meninges
3 Layers:
a. dura mater(parechymenix)- outermost layer; firm and made up of dense irregular connective tissue
b. arachnoid membrane- middle layer; smooth on outer surface; with “cobweb-like” connective tissue
strands connecting to pia mater
c. pia mater- innermost membrane; closely applied to brain; thin; highly vascular.
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
-clear, slightly viscous fluid that circulates through the ventricles of the brain and subarachnoid space.
-80-150 mL; SG of 1.004- 1.008; contains sugar, inorganic salts and traces of protein.
-only cells normally present are lymphocytes (1-3/mL)
-protects CNS by acting as a water cushion
-constantly being renewed; comes from blood vessels of choroid plexuses, but some are also produced by pia
mater and brain substance.
• Choroid Plexus
-chief sources of CSF
-clumps that protrude into the brain ventricles
-lined by ependymal cells that form a simple cuboidal epithelium called ependyma.
• Spinal cord
• In spinal cord, the outer and inner surface of dura mater is lined by a simple squamous epithelium.
• Subarachnoid space- contains CSF; a space that separates arachnoid membrane and pia mater
Arrangement of Neurons in CNS
2 Areas:
A. Gray matter
-contains cell bodies whose nuclei account for the gray color of gray matter, dendrites and proximal
portions of axons and neuroglial cells;
-occupy peripheral area of the brain and central area of the spinal cord.
B. White matter
-no nerve cell bodies; myelin sheath of axons account for white color
- occupy central area of the brain and peripheral area of the spinal cord.

II.Peripheral Nervous System

a. organized to form :
b. 12 pairs of cranial nerves
c. 31 pairs of spinal nerves and their associated ganglia.
• Ganglia
-collection of cell bodies of neurons that have a common function in PNS.
-counterpart of a nucleus in CNS
-delineated from surrounding structures by a connective tissue capsule
-in the ganglion, each neuron is surrounded by supporting cells called satellite cells.
• Peripheral Nerves
-a bunch of myelinated nerve fibers
-enclosed by a dense irregular connective tissue sheath called epineurium.
 endoneurium- loose connective tissue that wraps each nerve fibers
 fascicles(nerve bundles)
 perineurium- a connective tissue sheath that envelops each nerve fascicle.

Afferent (Sensory) Nerve Fibers

- transmit impulses from skin, muscles, bones, internal organs and special senses to CNS.
Efferent (Motor)Nerve Fibers
-order muscles or glands to secrete

Peripheral Nerve Endings-

-termination of nerves in ET, CT, and MT
-sensory, motor, or secretory in function
-2 peripheral nerve endings:
1. Sensory Nerve Endings (afferent)
-collect stimuli; dispersed all over the body.
-Classified as:
a. simple / free
b. expanded-tip
c. encapsulated
- Ruffini’s corpuscle
- Krouse’s bulbs
- Vater-Pacinian corpuscles
- Meissner’s corpuscles
- Neuromuscular spindles
- Golgi tendon
2. Motor Nerve Endings (efferent)
• Motor End Plates
– Axon terminals of somatic motor neurons
• Visceral Motor Nerve Endings
– Do not form specialized junctional complexes
– Terminate at a short distance from the cells they innervate

Functional Division of the Nervous System

a. Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
-include all neurons in CNS or PNS that are associated with muscles, skin, and sense organs
Somatic afferent(sensory) neurons
-reception of sensory stimuli from external environment and proprioceptive stimuli from skeletal muscles, tendons and
joints
Somatic efferent(motor) neurons
-innervate skeletal muscles responsible for voluntary movements

b. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

-includes all neurons concerned with the regulation of visceral organs
*Both divisions have afferent, efferent, and interneurons.
Autonomic efferent neurons(visceral efferent neurons)
-control the activity of cardiac and smooth muscles, and glands– structures that are not under conscious control
Divisions of ANS:
a. Sympathetic (thoracolumbar)
b. Parasympathetic (craniosacral)
c. Enteric