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Nervous System Intro

The document provides an overview of the nervous system, outlining its general functions, main divisions (Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System), and the structure of the brain and neurons. It details the roles of various parts of the brain, types of neurons, and how impulses are transmitted within the nervous system. Additionally, it explains the functions of neuroglial cells and the importance of neurotransmitters in impulse transmission.

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13 views11 pages

Nervous System Intro

The document provides an overview of the nervous system, outlining its general functions, main divisions (Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System), and the structure of the brain and neurons. It details the roles of various parts of the brain, types of neurons, and how impulses are transmitted within the nervous system. Additionally, it explains the functions of neuroglial cells and the importance of neurotransmitters in impulse transmission.

Uploaded by

tianajoseph89
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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Introduction to the Nervous System

OBJECTIVES

❖ Outline the general functions of the nervous system.


❖ Understand the basic parts of the nervous system.
❖ Outline the parts of the brain.
❖ Outline the parts of a neuron and types.
The action of the nervous system is based on stimulus-response.
- stimulus: any change in an organism's environment.
- response: the action or reaction of an organism as a result of a change in its
environment.

Nervous system: specialized cells, tissues and organs that allow organisms to detect changes in
the environment and respond to those changes.

Functions of the Nervous System


1. Gathers information from both inside and outside the body - Sensory Function
2. Transmits information to the processing areas of the brain and spine
3. Processes the information in the brain and spine – Integration Function
4. Sends information to the muscles, glands, and organs so they can respond appropriately –
Motor Function

The Nervous System is divided into Two Main Divisions: Central Nervous System (CNS) and
the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

DIVISIONS of the Nervous System

1. Central Nervous System (CNS): consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
- controls all voluntary movement and some involuntary functions as well.
(controls movement of all skeletal muscles as well as maintaining a constant body
temperature.)

2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Consists of nerves that extend from the spinal cord to all
parts of the body.
- totally involuntary
- connects the receptors and affectors of the CNS with smaller neurons
called interneurons.

a. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls the internal organs.
- totally involuntary
- divided into two parts:

i. parasympathetic nervous system: controls body systems under normal


conditions. (Breathing, heart rate, etc.)
ii. sympathetic nervous system: controls body systems in times of stress or
increased activity. (Fear)

- The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems oppose each other. They are
never working at the same time.

b. Somatic Nervous System: transmits impulses to and from the skeletal muscles.
The Central Nervous System

Brain: main structure controlling all nervous systems.


- covered and protected by three layers of membranes called the meninges.
- Infection and inflammation of the meninges can cause a disease called meningitis.
- The meninges also cover and protect the spinal cord.

- Three Regions of the Brain

a. Cerebrum: largest part of the brain

▪ Controls conscious thought and sensation


▪ Controls movement of voluntary muscles
▪ Stores memories
▪ Contains speech and hearing centers as well as all the other senses.
▪ The outer layer is called the cerebral cortex. It controls the ability to
think and to reason and allows us to interpret the information brought in
by the senses.
▪ Contains the reticular system, which helps you fall asleep and remain
asleep and filters stimuli; only lets meaningful stimuli through.

Structure of the Cerebrum

▪ is composed of two types of neurons: gray matter: it is composed of unmyelinated


neurons and the white matter: neurons that have myelinated axons. Makes up the
inner part of the cerebrum.
▪ The cerebrum is divided into halves called hemispheres. The two hemispheres are
connected by a thick section of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum.

b. Cerebellum: coordinates muscular activities. Makes movements of skeletal


muscles smooth and fluid. Helps maintain posture, muscle tone and equilibrium

c. Brain stem:

▪ regulates heartbeat, respiration and blood pressure and digestion.


▪ helps control swallowing, coughing, sneezing and vomiting
▪ consists of two parts: the medulla oblongata and the pons.
▪ contains the thalamus which coordinates all sensory information coming
into the brain and relays it to the proper part of the brain.
▪ contains the hypothalamus which maintains homeostasis. Controls body
temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.
▪ the hypothalamus is connected to the limbic system, the emotional center
of the brain. It controls basic drives and emotions: pain, pleasure, anger,
hunger, thirst, and sex drive.
d. Spinal cord: bundle of nerve tissue protected by the vertebral column.

▪ contains both gray and white matter. 31 pairs of nerves originate from the
spinal cord. They are found between the bones of the vertebral column
and go to all parts of the body.

Lobes of the Cerebrum


• Frontal – motor area involved in movement and in planning & coordinating behavior
• Parietal – sensory processing, attention, and language
• Temporal – auditory perception, speech, and complex visual perceptions
• Occipital – visual center – plays a role in processing visual information
Parts of a
Neuron

Dendrites: receive messages from the surroundings and/or from other neurons.
- dendrites are found in the cell body of the neuron.
- dendrites receive the impulse and conduct it through the cell body.
Cell body: the "head" of the neuron
- contains the nucleus and the cytoplasm

Axon: transmits the impulse from the cell body to the dendrites of the next neuron. The axon is
insulated by the myelin sheath. Myelin acts much like insulation on an electrical wire. It prevents
an impulse from "leaking" out of the axon and erroneously stimulating other neurons. Myelin
also speeds up the transmission of the impulse along the axon.
• There are spots along the axon called nodes of Ranvier. The impulse "jumps" from one
node to another, shortening its trip down the axon. At the end of the axon are dendrite-
like extensions called axon ends or axon terminal
• Axon ends help conduct the impulse to the dendrites of the next neuron by
releasing neurotransmitters. These are chemicals that help the impulse jump the gap
between one neuron and the next neuron. (Neurons are like electrical wires. They
can never touch, or the impulse can move from one neuron to another and cause a
"short".)
• The gap between neurons is called a synapse.

Cells of the Nervous System


Neuroglia are cells that support neurons; neurons require their presence for their existence.
Functions of neuroglial cells: fill spaces, structurally support neurons, produce myelin, help
nourish neurons, and carry on phagocytosis. They have the ability to divide, while neurons
usually cannot.

• Oligodendrocytes provide support to axons of neurons in the central nervous system,


particularly those that travel long distances within the brain. They produce a fatty
substance called myelin, which is wrapped around axons as a layer of insulation.
• Schwann cells: Similar to oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system, Schwann cells
myelinate neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
• Satellite cells: Satellite cells surround neurons in the sensory, sympathetic and
parasympathetic ganglia and help regulate the chemical environment. Makes up the blood
brain barrier.
• Microglia: small cells that phagocytize bacterial cells and cellular debris, and produce
scar tissue in sites of injury
• Ependymal cells: Ependymal cells line the spinal cord and ventricles of the brain. They
are involved in creating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
• Astrocytes are star-shaped cells that maintain a neuron’s working environment. They do
this by controlling the levels of neurotransmitter around synapses, controlling the
concentrations of important ions like potassium, and providing metabolic support.

TYPE OF NEURONS
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION

o Sensory neurons – bring messages to CNS


o Motor neurons - carry messages from CNS
o Interneurons – between sensory & motor neurons in the CNS

STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION

Multipolar neurons have many dendrites and one axon arising from their cell bodies; most
neurons with cell bodies in CNS (interneurons and motor neurons) are multipolar

Bipolar neurons have 2 processes extending from the cell body, a dendrite and an axon; found in
some of the special senses, such as the eyes, nose, and ears

Unipolar neurons have only 1 process extending from the cell body
How are Impulses Carried in the Nervous System?
1. Since impulses can only move in one direction, there must be 2 nerve pathways; one that
carries the stimulus to the brain, and one that carries the brain's response.
- Receptors: gather impulses from the environment and carry the impulses from the
body to the spinal cord and brain.
- Affectors: carries the impulse from the brain and spinal cord to the body.
The impulse that causes a response is carried by an affector.

2. Remember that neurons can never touch. Because of this, synapses exist between the anon
ends of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron. Neurotransmitters must be released so
that the impulse can cross the synapse. If there is a malfunction, and the neurotransmitters
transmitters are not released, the impulse will travel no further. This can cause a number of
problems, one of which is depression.

3. If an impulse is not strong enough to stimulate a neuron, nothing happens. This is called
an all or nothing response. Impulses are created when there is a difference in the amount of
positive and negative ions in an area. If there are more negative ions, electrons will move,
creating an electric current. The threshold is the minimum current needed to create an impulse
and stimulate the neuron.
- there will be no conduction of the impulse if there is no action potential. These are
changes in the cell membrane of a neuron caused by the dendrites picking up an impulse. If
these changes in the electric charge of the cell membrane do not occur, the impulse cannot pass
along the neuron.

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