NEURONAL PHYSIOLOGY TOPICS TO BE COVERED

FOR FSG 182

1. Organization of the Nervous System

2. The Neuron

3. Classification of Nerve Fibers

4. Properties of Nerve Fibers

5. Degeneration and Regeneration of Nerve Fibers

6. Neuroglia

7. Synapse

THE NEURON/NERVE CELL

• Is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system

• Contains nucleus, cytoplasm, cell organelles

• Does not have a centrosome
CANNOT UNDERGO CELL

DIVISION

• Contains branches
AXON AND DENDRITES

NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: CLASSIFICATION

THE NEURON/NERVE CELL ACCORDING TO POLES

CLASSIFICATION

1. According to number of poles

2. According to function

A diagram showing the different neurons

Cell
Body

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 NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: CLASSIFICATION NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: CLASSIFICATION
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

1. MOTOR NEURONS 2. SENSORY NEURONS

• Carry motor impulses from the CNS
peripheral effector • Carry sensory impulses from the periphery
CNS
organs
muscles, glands, blood vessels • Short axon and long dendrites
• Long axons and short dendrites

NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: STRUCTURE

NEURON CONSISTS OF:

1. NERVE CELL BODY

2. DENDRITE

3. AXON

4. MYELIN SHEATH

5. NEURILEMMA

A motor neuron

NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: STRUCTURE

NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: STRUCTURE

1. NERVE CELL BODY 2. DENDRITE

- Consists of cytoplasm
neuroplasm - Branched process of the neuron

- Cytoplasm consists of - Has Nissl granules
a. Nucleus
each neuron has one nucleus, has no - Conducts impulses
toward the cell body
centrosome - Usually the dendrite is shorter than the axon
b. Nissl Bodies
granular organelles containing ribosomes

helps in synthesis of proteins 3. AXON
c. Neurofibrils
consists of microfilaments and - Longer process
up to 1 meter
microtubules
important for electrical conduction
- Arises from the axon hillock of the cell body
d. Mitochondria
provide energy (ATP)
e. Golgi apparatus
processing and packaging proteins
into granules

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 NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: STRUCTURE NEURONS/NERVE CELLS: STRUCTURE

4. MYELIN SHEATH 5. NEURILEMMA

- Thick tubular sheath covering myelinated nerve fiber - Thin membrane surrounding myelin sheath
- Area between individual sheaths
node of Ranvier - Contains Schwann cells
- Region between 2 nodes
internode - Important in myelinated nerve fibers
myelinogenesis
- Formed by layers of protein and lipids
myelinogenesis
- Absent in Central Nervous System
Schwann cells
- Functions
a. faster conduction of impulse though nerve fiber
b. insulation
prevents stimulation of neighbouring nerve
fibers

CLASSIFICATION OF NERVE FIBERS CLASSIFICATION OF NERVER FIBERS

Classified depending upon: 1. Structure

• Structure a. Myelinated Nerve Fibers

b. Nonmyelinated Nerve Fibers
• Distribution
2. Distribution

• Origin
a. Somatic Nerver Fibers
skeletal muscles
b. Visceral/Autonomic Nerve Fibers
internal organs
• Function
3. Origin
• Secretion of neurotransmitter
a. Cranial Nerves
• Diameter and Conduction b. Spinal Nervs

CLASSIFICATION OF NERVER FIBERS PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS

4. Function
1. EXCITABILITY
a. Motor Nerve Fibers (Efferent)
b. Sensory Nerve Fibers (Afferent) - Definition: The psysiochemical change that occur in a
tissue when a stimulus is applied
5. Secretion of neurotransmitter
- When a nerve fiber is stimulated
2 responses occur
a. Adrenergic Nerve Fibers
b. Cholinergic Nerve Fibers
a. Action Potential generated
6. Diameter and Conduction
b. Electrotonic Potential generated
a. Type A Nerve Fibers (alpha, beta, gamma, delta)
b. Type B Nerve Fibers
c. Type C Nerve Fibers

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 PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS

EXCITABILITY a. ACTION POTENTIAL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

a. ACTION POTENTIAL RESTING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL: is the electrical potential

difference (voltage) across the cell membrane under
- When a nerve is stimulated
series of changes occur in resting conditions, normally negative inside the cell and
the membrane potential positive outside = -70mV

- Defined as a wave of electrical discharge that travels along DEPOLARIZATION: when an impulse reaches the nerve fiber
a membrane of a cell the resting membrane potential is abolished
inside
becomes positive and outside becomes negative (+35mV)

- 2 phases: Depolarization & Repolarization

REPOLARIZATION: the potential reverses back to resting
membrane potential and the polarized state (-70mV) is re-
established

PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS

EXCITABILITY 2. CONDUCTIVITY

b. ELECTROTONIC POTENTIAL - Describes how the action potential is transmitted through

the nerve fiber as a nerve impulse
- Nonpropogated local potential in the nerve fiber
- Depolarization occurs at site of stimulation
transmitted
- Does not produce action potential
stimulus weak
to neighboring areas
causes some changes in the resting membrane potential
- Conduction though myelinated nerve fiber
SALTATORY
- Slight depolarization (+7mV) CONDUCTION
jumping of impulse

- Does not obey the all or none law

PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS

3. REFRACTORY PERIOD 3. SUMMATION

- Period at which the nerve does not give any response to a - When 1 weak stimulus applied
no response
stimulus
- When 2 or more weak stimuli applied
within a short
- Two types: interval (0.5sec)
response produced

a. Absolute Refractory Period: period during which the - Weak stimuli are added together to produce strong stimuli
nerve does not show any response at all, whatever the
strength of the stimulus

b. Relative Refractory Period: period during which the

nerve fiber shows response if the strength of the stimulus
is increased to maximum

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 PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS

4. ADAPTATION/ACCOMODATION 5. INFATIGABILITY

- When stimulating a nerve fiber continuously
response
decreases slowly and finally no response
- Due to inactivation of sodium pump and increased moving
out of potassium ions
- Nerve fiber cannot be fatigued even if stimulated for a long
time because nerve fiber can only conduct one action
potential at a time

DEGENERATION & REGENERATION OF NERVE

PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS FIBERS

6. ALL OR NONE LAW • Causes of Injury: obstruction of blood flow, local injection
of toxic substances, crushing of nerve fiber, transection
- When a nerve is stimulated by a stimulus with low of fiber
strength (sub-threshold)
action potential does not • Injuries divided into:
develop
1. FIRST DEGREE LESS SEVERE
- If the strength of stimulus is strong (above threshold)

the amplitude of action potential remains the same 2. SECOND DEGREE

3. THIRD DEGREE MORE SEVERE

4. FOURTH DEGREE

5. FIFTH DEGREE

DEGENERATION & REGENERATION OF NERVE DEGENERATION & REGENERATION OF NERVE

FIBERS FIBERS
DEGENERATION DEGENERATION

- Peripheral nerve fiber injury
degeneration of
- a. nerve cell body & b. nerve fiber
- a. Nerve Cell Body
Nissl granules disintegrate

fragments
chromatolysis
- b. Nerve Fiber
both distal and proximal degeneration
- Distal degeneration
Wallerian/orthograde degeneration
- degenration of the nerve fiber distal to injury

- Golgi apparatus disintegrates - Proximal and Cell body
Retrograde degeneration

- Degeneration of nerve fiber proximal to injury
cell
- Accumulation of fluid in cell body


swells body

- Neurofibrils disappear

- If Nucleus expelled from cell
death of neuron

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 NEUROGLIA
REGENERATION OF NERVE FIBERS
• Definition: Neuroglia is the supporting cell of the nervous
system
• Starts from the 4th day after injury
80 days

• Non excitable, do not transmit nerve impulses

• Regeneration only possible if:
• Classification
1. Gap between cut ends < 3mm
1. CENTRAL NEUROGLIAL CELLS
2. Neurilemma present a. Astrocytes
b. Microglia
3. Nucleus intact c. Oligodendrocytes

4. Both ends aligned 2. PERIPHERAL NEUROGLIAL CELLS

a. Schwann cells
b. Satellite cells

CENTRAL NEUROGLIAL CELLS CENTRAL NEUROLGLIAL CELLS

a. ASTROCYTES b. MICROGLIA

- Star shaped cells - Smaller in size

- Classified into fibrous and protoplasmic - Derived from monocytes
phagocytic

- Functions - Functions

1. Form a supporting network in brain and spinal cord
2. Form the blood-brain barrier
3. Maintain composition of ECF around CNS Neurons
4. Regulate neurotransmitter level in synapses
5. Regulate recycling of neurotransmitters
1. Engulf and destroy microorganisms and cellular debris

phagocytosis
2. Help in fighting infection in the CNS

CENTRAL NEUROGLIAL CELLS PERIPHERAL NEUROGLIAL CELLS

c. OLIGODENDROCYTES a. SCHWANN CELLS

- Form the myelin sheath around nerve fibers in the CNS - Major glial cells in the PNS

- Have few, short processes - Functions

- Functions: 1. Provide myelination around nerve fibers in the PNs

1. Provide myelination where Schawann cells are absent 2. Play NB role in nerve regeneration
2. Provide support to CNS neurons 3. Remove cellular debris during regenration

phagocytosis

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 PERIPHERAL NEUROGLIAL CELLS SYNAPSE

a. SATELLITE CELLS • Definition: the junction between two neurons

physiologic continuity
- Present on the exterior surface of PNS neurons

- Functions

1. Provide physical support to PNS neurons

2. Help regulate chemical environment of ECF around PNS
neurons

SYNAPSE

CLASSIFICATION OF SYNAPSE

1. ANATOMICAL CLASSFICATION

a. Axosomatic synapse: axon of one neuron
cell body

of another
b. Axodendritic synapse: axon of one neuron
dendrite
of another
c. Axoaxonic synapse: axon of none neuron
axon of
another

SYNAPSE SYNAPSE

CLASSIFICATION OF SYNAPSE CLASSIFICATION OF SYNAPSE

2. FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION 2. FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION

a. Electric synapse: b. Chemical synapse:

- gap junction
provides physiologic continuity between
the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
- there is direct exchange of ions
- impulse can be transmitted in either direction
- junction between a nerve fiber and a muscle fiber or
between two nerve fibers through which signals are
transmitted by the release of a chemical transmitter
- no continuity between presynaptic and postsynaptic
neurons
presence of synaptic cleft

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 SYNAPSE: BASIC STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS OF A SYNAPSE

• To transmit impulses from one neuron to another

• 1. Excitatory synapse

• 2. Inhibitory synpase

PROPERTIES OF CHEMICAL SYNAPSE PROPERTIES OF CHEMICAL SYNAPSE

1. ONE WAY CONDUCTION (BELL-MAGENDIE LAW) 3. FATIGUE

- Impulses are transmitted in one direction
2. SYNAPTIC DELAY
- During transmission there is a short delay due to time
taken for release, movement and action of the
neurotransmiter
- During continuous muscular activity the synapse can get
fatigued due to depletion of neurotransmitter substance
4. SUMMATION
- When presynaptic excitatory terminals are stimulated at the
same time (Spatial summation) or repeatedly (Temporal
summation) there is fusion of effects in the postsynaptic
neuron

CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE

CONVERGENCE

- When many presynaptic neurons terminate on a single

postsynaptic neuron

DIVERGENCE

- When one presynaptic neuron terminates on many

postsynaptic neurons