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7566_NERVOUSSYSTEM

The document provides an overview of the nervous system, detailing its divisions: Central Nervous System (CNS), Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), and Autonomic Nervous System. It describes the structure and function of neurons, including their components such as dendrites, axons, and synapses, as well as the role of neuroglial cells in supporting neuronal function. Additionally, it explains the myelination of nerve fibers and the connective tissue organization surrounding nerve fibers.

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2 views

7566_NERVOUSSYSTEM

The document provides an overview of the nervous system, detailing its divisions: Central Nervous System (CNS), Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), and Autonomic Nervous System. It describes the structure and function of neurons, including their components such as dendrites, axons, and synapses, as well as the role of neuroglial cells in supporting neuronal function. Additionally, it explains the myelination of nerve fibers and the connective tissue organization surrounding nerve fibers.

Uploaded by

lakshmiraman1770
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NERVOUS SYSTEM

DIVISIONS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

 Central Nervous system

 Peripheral nervous system

 Autonomic nervous system


CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)

 Brain
 Spinal Cord

 Responsible for integrating,


processing & coordinating sensory
data & giving appropriate motor
commands.
 Seat of higher functions such as
intelligence, memory, learning &
emotions
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Cranial Nerves : 12 pairs


Spinal Nerves : 31 pairs
Ganglion associated with cranial and spinal
nerves

Provides sensory information to the CNS & carries


its motor commands to the peripheral tissues &
systems
Dermatome

 A localized area
of skin that is has
its sensation via a
single nerve from
a single nerve
root of the spinal
cord
NEURONS
 Functional unit of nervous system
 10,000 million in number
 They do not proliferate after birth
 Excitable cells specialized for
reception of stimuli & conduction of
nerve impulse
 Consists of
 Cell body
 Processes
 Dendrites
 Axons
CELL BODY / SOMA
 Contains Nucleus, Neurofibrils, Nissl
granules.
 Shape- Pyramidal/fusiform/
stellate/flask shaped or polygonal.
 In CNS- Grey matter or nuclei
 In PNS - Ganglion
CELL BODY / SOMA
 The cell body of neuron has

nucleus, cytoplasm and organelles

 Nissl bodies are deep staining

substances in cytoplasm

 Contain ribosomal granules for

protein synthesis

 Disappear during injury by a process

called chromatolysis
DENDRITES

 Cytoplasmic extensions of cell body

 May be one or more

 In dendrites the impulses flow towards the soma or

cell body

 Branch and end in terminal arborizations

 Dendritic spines project from the terminal branches


AXON
 Efferent processes – carry impulses

away from cell body.

 Axoplasm – neurofibrils, microtubules

and vesicles rich in acetylcholine

 Axolemma – semipermeable

membrane covering the axoplasm.

 Arises at axon hillock devoid of nissl

granules.
 May be myelinated or unmyelinated
AXON

 In CNS - White matter, Tracts

 In PNS - Nerve fibres

 Post ganglionic fibers of ANS and somatic fibers

less than 1µm diameter are unmyelinated

Dendrites – Impulses towards cell body


Axons – impulses away from cell body
MYELIN SHEATH

 The sheath is interrupted by gaps –


nodes of Ranvier

 In CNS- Formed from Oligodendrocytes

 In PNS – Schwann cells


SYNAPSE - NEURONAL JUNCTIONS

 Specialized junction
between 2 or more
neurons
 Nerve impulses from
one neuron flow to
another neuron
across a synapse.
The synapse consists of:

1. Presynaptic ending that contains


neurotransmitters, mitochondria
and other cell organelles

2. Postsynaptic ending that contains


receptor sites for neurotransmitters

3. Synaptic cleft or space between the


presynaptic and postsynaptic
endings.
Synapse

 Types – Axo-dendritic, Axo-


somatic and Axo-axonic

 Axo-dendritic is most common


excitatory in nature
 Other types are involved in
presynaptic inhibition
NEURON CLASSIFICATION

 Neurons are classified according to their

- Number of processes
- Function
- Length of axon
Based on number of processes

 Unipolar- Mesencephalic
nucleus
 Pseudounipolar – dorsal
root ganglia.
 Bipolar – Retina, Olfactory
cells, ganglionic cells of
auditory nerve.
 Multipolar – motor neurons
in cerebral cortex.
Based on length of axon

 Golgi Type I neurons – axons with 2 feet in length

 Golgi Type II neurons – short axons


Functional classification

• Sensory neurons :long dendrite & short axon, Carry


messages from sensory receptors to CNS.
• Motor neurons :long axon & short dendrites, Transmit
messages from CNS to muscles (or to glands).
• Interneurons :present only in CNS, where they connect
neuron to neuron.
SUPPORTING TISSUE – Neuroglial cells

They undergo mitotic division &


are Non – Excitable

• In CNS – Central Neuroglia

• In PNS – Peripheral neuroglia


Ex- Schwann Cells
(Neurolemmocytes), Satellite
Cells (Ganglionic Gliocytes)
CENTRAL NEUROGLIA
Two types are seen
1. Microglia developed from mesoderm

2. Macroglia developed from

neuroectoderm.
 Astrocytes
 Oligodendrocytes
 Ependymal cells
MICROGLIA

 Small cells with few tortuous


processes bearing tiny spines.
 Present in CNS along
perivascular coat of blood
vessels.
 Phagocytic in function
 Act as macrophage cells –
Scavenger cells
ASTROCYTES

 Stellate in appearance having


many cytoplasmic processes

 2 types
1. Fibrous: cells with fibrils,
situated in white matter
2. Protoplasmic: without
fibrils, confined mainly to
grey matter
FUNCTIONS OF ASTROCYTES
1.Processes are attached to outer
surface of capillaries of brain –
BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER

• It permits a selective passage of

blood contents to the nervous


tissue, thus toxic substances are
prevented from entering the
brain.
FORMATION OF BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER
 It is formed by
-capillary endothelium without fenestration
-basement membrane of endothelium
-end feet of astrocytes covering the capillary walls
OLIGODENDROCYTE

 Smaller than astrocytes

 Found in grey & white matter

 Less branched processes

 Help in formation & maintenance

of myelin sheath by wrapping


themselves around numerous
axons at once
EPENDYMAL CELLS

 Line the ventricles of the brain &

central canal of spinal cord

 Help in exchange of substances

between brain and cerebrospinal fluid.

 Sometimes the processes of

ependymal cells extends towards


neurons these are called as tanycytes

 Helps in BLOOD – CSF BARRIER


NERVE FIBRE
May be myelinated or unmyelinated.
MYELINATED NERVE FIBRE
 Found in PERIPHERAL NERVES

 In CNS - Myelinated fibres are found in white matter


forming tracts
NON – MYELINATED NERVE FIBRE
 CNS - Present in Grey matter

 PNS –Present in somatic fibres of less than 1 micron in


diameter.
 ANS – present in Postganglionic fibres
STRUCTURE OF MYELINATED NERVE FIBRE
In Peripheral Nerve:
 Formed by set of Schwann cells
 They undergo spiraling around axon & deposit
concentric layer of lipids & proteins
 The sheath interrupted by – Nodes of Ranvier. Here
adjacent schwann cells meet.
 The segment between 2 nodes is – internodal segment.
 Longer the segment faster is the rate of conduction of
nerve impulse
 In CNS oligodendrocyte
forms myelin sheath.
 The oligodendrocyte
depostis myelin around
several axons in CNS.

Functions
 Insulation
 Saltatory conduction
The individual nerve fibers and their
associated Schwann cells are held
together by connective tissue
organized into three distinctive
components

• The endoneurium includes loose


connective tissue surrounding each
individual nerve fiber

• The perineurium includes


specialized connective tissue
surrounding each nerve fascicle

• The epineurium includes dense


irregular connective tissue that
surrounds a peripheral nerve

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