Chapter 18

Nervous System Cells

Patton: Anatomy & Physiology, 11th edition

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Lesson 18.1: Nervous System Cells
(1 of 2)

1. Describe the generalized functions of the

nervous system.
2. Identify and describe the various
subdivisions of the nervous system.
3. Identify and describe the structure and
function of the five types of neuroglia,
including the type of glial cells found only
in the peripheral nervous system.
4. Classify neurons according to structural
and functional characteristics.
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Lesson 18.1: Nervous System Cells
(2 of 2)

5. Discuss the structural and functional

components of a three-neuron
ipsilateral reflex arc.
6. Differentiate between nerves and
tracts, and white and gray matter.
7. Describe the stages of the healing
process after injury to a peripheral
motor neuron.
8. Discuss disorders of nervous system
cells.
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 Introduction
 Communication
 Nervous system and endocrine system
 Communication provides the means of control and
integration of all different body system and
functions
 Nervous system
 Brain, spinal cord, and nerves

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 Nervous System

From Patton KT, Thibodeau G: Human Body in Health & Disease, ed. 6, St Louis, 2014, Mosby.

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 Organization of the Nervous
System
 Organized to detect change, evaluate it,
and initiate response
 Subdivided by
 Structure
 Direction of information flow
 Control of effectors

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 Central and Peripheral Nervous
Systems
 CNS
 Brain, spinal cord, and cells that begin or end
within them
 Structural and functional center of entire nervous
system
 PNS
 Nerves in “outer regions” of nervous system
 Cranial nerves
• Originate from brain or exit through skull
 Spinal nerves
• Originate from spinal cord and don’t exit skull

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Divisions of The Nervous System

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Afferent and Efferent Divisions

 Afferent division
 Incoming sensory pathways
 Efferent division
 Outgoing motor pathways

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 Somatic and Autonomic Nervous
Systems
 SNS
 Regulates somatic effectors
 Somatic motor division
 Somatic sensory division
 ANS
 Regulates autonomic or visceral effectors
 Sympathetic division
• Fight or flight
 Parasympathetic division
• Rest and repair
 Visceral sensory division

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 Enteric Nervous System

 Intestinal nervous system

 Some independent actions
 Still considered by most to be part of ANS

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 Glia (Neuroglia)
 Support neurons
 Five major types
 Astrocytes
 Microglia
 Ependymal cells
 Oligodendrocytes
 Schwann cells

 Which type(s) of glia is/are located in the

peripheral nervous system? (Schwann cells
are located in the PNS.)

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 Types of Glia
(1 of 3)

 Astrocytes (CNS)
 Star-shaped
 Largest and most numerous type of glia
 Connect to both neurons and capillaries
 Transfer nutrients from the blood to neurons
 Help form blood-brain barrier
 Microglia (in CNS)
 Small, usually stationary cells
 In inflamed brain tissue, they enlarge, move
about, and carry out phagocytosis

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 Types of Glia
(2 of 3)

 Ependymal cells (in CNS)

 Resemble epithelial cells and form thin sheets
that line fluid-filled cavities in CNS
 Oligodendrocytes (in CNS)
 Smaller than astrocytes with fewer processes
 Hold nerve fibers together and produce myelin
sheath, only in the CNS
 Schwann cells (in PNS)
 Support nerve fibers and form myelin sheaths
 Nucleus and cytoplasm form neurilemma
 The only glia cell outside of the CNS

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 Myelin Sheath

 Myelin sheath is formed by layers of

multiple adjacent Schwann cells around a
single nerve fiber, containing the fatty
substance; Myelin, leaving microscopic gaps
called Nodes of Ranvier
 Myelin sheath are necessary for rapid

conduction

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Types of Glia
(3 of 3)

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Myelin Sheath

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 Components of Neurons
(1 of 3)

 Cell body (perikaryon)

 Ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER),
Golgi apparatus
• Protein synthesis, packing protein into vesicles
 Mitochondria

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 Components of Neurons
(2 of 3)

 Dendrites
 At least one per neuron
 Conduct electrical signals toward cell body
and axon of neuron
 Axon
 Single process, usually from axon hillock
• Axon collaterals
• Telodendria
 Conduct impulses away from cell body of
neuron

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 Components of Neurons
(3 of 3)

 Cytoskeleton
 Neurofibrils, microtubules, microfilaments
 Axonal transport

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 Axons

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 Functional Zones of the Neurons
 Input zone (receiving & initiating nerve impulses)
 Dendrites and cell body
 Summation zone
adding all impulses coming from the cells body


together and determining the amplitude

 Axon hillock
 Conduction zone (away from the cell body)
 Axon
 Output zone
 Telodendria and synaptic knobs

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Plasma Membrane of the Neuron

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 Structural Classification of
Neurons
(1 of 2)

 Classified by number of extensions from cell

body
 Multipolar
 Bipolar
 Unipolar (pseudounipolar)

Q1: Which structural classification of cell is the most

numerous in the brain and spinal cord? (Most of the
neurons in the brain and spinal cord are multipolar.)

Q2: Where are bipolar neurons found? (Bipolar

neurons are found in the retina of the eye, in the
inner ear, and in the olfactory pathway.)
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Structural Classification of
Neurons
(2 of 2)

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 Functional Classification of
Neurons
 Classified by direction in which they
conduct impulses
 Afferent (sensory) neurons
 Efferent (motor) neurons
 Interneurons

 Fill in the blank: Interneurons lie entirely

within the central nervous system.

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Classification of Neurons

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 Three-Neuron Reflex Arc

 Signal conduction route to and from the

CNS
 Consists of afferent neurons,

interneurons, and efferent neurons

 Afferent neurons: Conduct impulses to CNS
from receptor
 Efferent neurons: Conduct impulses from
CNS to effectors (muscle or glandular
tissue)

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 Reflex Arcs

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 Nerves
(1 of 2)
 Nerves are bundles of peripheral nerve fibers
held together by multiple layers of
connective tissue
 Structure (deep to superficial)
 Endoneurium
 Perineurium
• Blood-nerve barrier
 Epineurium
 Types
 Most are mixed
• Sensory and motor

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 Nerves
(2 of 2)

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 Tracts and White and Gray
Matter
 Tracts
 Bundles of nerve fibers, without connective tissue
coverings, in CNS
 Rather than being called a nerve, in the CNS they
are called tracts
 White matter
 PNS: Myelinated nerves
 CNS: Myelinated tracts
 Gray matter
 PNS: Referred to as ganglia
 CNS: Referred to as nuclei

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 Repair of Nerve Fibers

 Neurons
 Can be replaced
 Limited capacity for self-repair
 PNS vs CNS
 PNS has more neuron repair capability
• If cell body and Schwann cells intact without scarring
 CNS most likely permanent damage

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 Stages of Repair:
Peripheral Motor Neuron
 Distal portion of axon and myelin sheath
degenerate
 Macrophages remove debris
 Remaining neurilemma and endoneurium
form tunnel from point of injury to effector
 New Schwann cells grow in tunnel, maintaining
path for regrowth of axon
 Cell body reorganizes to make proteins to
extend axon
 Risk of atrophy

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 Cycle of Life: Nervous System
Cells
 Nerve tissue arises from ectoderm
 Before birth through toddlerhood
 Most rapid and obvious development
 Coordinated actions of several agents
required for proper “wiring” of nervous
system
 Nerve growth factors
 Sensory stimulation
 Adulthood
 Stored memories and learned problem-solving
 Old age
 Degeneration of neurons, glia, and blood vessels
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The Big Picture: Nervous System
Cells and the Whole Body
 “Wiring” that connects structures
needed to maintain homeostasis
 Convey information via sensory neurons
 Decide on response in CNS
 Convey response to effectors via motor
neurons
 Circuits of interneurons
 Remembering
 Learning
 Generating thought
 Etc.

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 Mechanisms of Disease:
Disorders of Nervous System
Cells
 Mostly in glia
 Neuroma
 General term for nervous system tumor
 Tumors in the CNS
 Astrocytoma
 Glioblastoma multiforme
 Ependymoma
 Tumors in the PNS
 Acoustic neuroma and neurofibromatosis

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 Neurofibromatosis

From Feldman M, Friedman L, Brandt L: Sleisenger & Fordtran’s gastrointestinal and liver disease, ed 8, Philadelphia, 2006,
Saunders.

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 Questions?

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