Chapter 5

The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Nervous System Organization

Central nervous system (CNS)
Consists of brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Afferent division
Carries information to the CNS
Two branches
Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Nervous System Organization

Efferent division
Carries information away from CNS to effector organs
(muscles and glands)
Divided into
Somatic nervous system
Consists of fibers of motor neurons that supply
skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Consists of fibers that innervate smooth muscle,
cardiac muscle, and glands
Two divisions:
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Nervous System Organization

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Functional Classes of Neurons

Afferent neurons
Inform CNS about conditions in both the external
and internal environment

Efferent neurons
Carry instructions from CNS to effector organs
muscles and glands

Interneurons
Found entirely within CNS
Responsible for
Integrating afferent information and formulating an
efferent response
Higher mental functions associated with the mind
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Functional Classes of Neurons

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Neuroglia
Also called glial cells
Physically, metabolically, and functionally
support interneurons
Four major types of cells

Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglia
Ependymal cells

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Neuroglia
Astrocytes

Main glue of CNS holds neurons together

Guide neurons during fetal brain development
Aid in establishment of blood-brain barrier
Important in repair of brain injuries and in neural
scar formation
Play role in neurotransmitter activity
Take up excess K+ from brain ECF
Along with other glial cells enhance synapse
formation and modify synaptic transmission

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Neuroglia
Oligodendrogytes
Form myelin sheaths around axons in CNS

Microglia
Immune defense cells of the CNS
In resting state release low levels of growth
factors that help neurons and other glial cells
survive and thrive

Ependymal cells
Line internal, fluid-filled cavities of the CNS
In ventricles of brain, help form and circulate
cerebrospinal fluid
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Neuroglia

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Protection of CNS
Enclosed by hard, bony structures
Wrapped by three protective and nourishing
membranes meninges
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

Floats in cushioning fluid cerebrospinal fluid

(CSF)
Blood-brain barrier limits access of blood-borne
materials into brain tissue
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Surrounds and cushions brain and spinal cord
Formed primarily by choroid plexuses

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

Protects brain from chemical fluctuations in
blood
Minimizes possibility that harmful blood-borne
substances might reach central nervous tissue
Prevents certain circulating hormones that could
also act as neurotransmitters from reaching
brain
Limits use of drugs for treatment of brain and
spinal cord disorders
Many drugs cannot penetrate BBB

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Central Nervous System

Enables you to:
Subconsciously regulate your internal
environment by neural means
Experience emotions
Voluntarily control your movements
Be consciously aware of your own body and your
surroundings
Engage in other higher cognitive processes such
as thought and memory

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Brain Anatomy
Brain components
Brain stem
Cerebellum
Forebrain
Diencephalon
Hypothalamus
Thalamus

Cerebrum
Basal nuclei
Cerebral cortex

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Brain component
Cerebral cortex

Cerebral cortex
Basal nuclei
(lateral to thalamus)

Basal nuclei
Thalamus
(medial)

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus
Cerebellum

Cerebellum

Midbrain
Brain stem

Brain stem
(midbrain, pons,
and medulla)

Pons
Medulla
Spinal cord
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Table 5-2 (1), p. 140

Major Functions
1. Sensory perception
2. Voluntary control of movement
3. Language
4. Personality traits
5. Sophisticated mental events, such as thinking memory,
decision making, creativity, and self-consciousness
1. Inhibition of muscle tone
2. Coordination of slow, sustained movements
3. Suppression of useless patterns of movements
1. Relay station for all synaptic input
2. Crude awareness of sensation
3. Some degree of consciousness
4. Role in motor control
1. Regulation of many homeostatic functions, such as temperature
control, thirst, urine output, and food intake
2. Important link between nervous and endocrine systems
3. Extensive involvement with emotion and basic behavioral patterns
1. Maintenance of balance
2. Enhancement of muscle tone
3. Coordination and planning of skilled voluntary muscle activity
1. Origin of majority of peripheral cranial nerves
2. Cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive control centers
3. Regulation of muscle reflexes involved with equilibrium and posture
4. Reception and integration of all synaptic input from spinal cord;
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
arousal and activation of Human
cerebral
cortex
Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning
5. Role in sleep-wake cycle

Brain component
Cerebral cortex

Basal nuclei

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Cerebellum
Brain stem
(midbrain, pons,
and medulla)

Table 5-2, p. 141

Brain Stem
Oldest region of the brain
Continuous with spinal cord
Controls many life-sustaining processes, such
as respiration, circulation, and digestion
Consists of
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebellum
Attached at top rear portion of brain stem
Maintains proper position of the body in space
Subconscious coordination of motor activity
(movement)
Plays key role in learning skilled motor tasks

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Diencephalon
Houses two brain components
Hypothalamus
Controls many homeostatic functions important in
maintaining stability of internal environment

Thalamus
Performs some primitive sensory processing

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebrum
Highly developed
Makes up about 80% of total brain weight
(largest portion of brain)
Inner core houses basal nuclei
Outer surface is highly convoluted cerebral
cortex
Highest, most complex integrating area of the
brain
Plays key role in most sophisticated neural
functions

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral Cortex
Organized into six well-defined layers
Layers are organized into functional vertical
columns
Each half of cortex divided into four major lobes

Occipital
Temporal
Parietal
Frontal

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral cortex
Occipital lobe
Carries out initial processing of visual input

Temporal lobe
Initial reception of sound sensation

Parietal lobe
Somatosensory processing

Frontal lobe
Responsible for
Voluntary motor activity
Speaking ability
Elaboration of thought
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral Cortex
Primary motor cortex
Located in frontal lobe
Confers voluntary control over movement
produced by skeletal muscles
Primarily controls muscles on the opposite side of
the body
Motor homunculus
Depicts location and relative amount of motor cortex
devoted to output to muscles of each body part

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral Cortex
Supplementary motor area
Plays preparatory role I n programming complex
sequences of movement

Premotor cortex
Important in orienting the body and arms toward a
specific target

Posterior parietal cortex

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral Cortex
Primary areas of cortical specialization for
language
Brocas area
Governs speaking ability

Wernickes area
Concerned with language comprehension
Responsible for formulating coherent patterns of
speech

Language disorders
Aphasias
Speech impediments
Dyslexia
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral Hemispheres
Left cerebral hemisphere
Excels in logical, analytic, sequential, and verbal
tasks
Math, language forms, philosophy

Right cerebral hemisphere

Excels in nonlanguage skills
Spatial perception and artistic and musical talents

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebral Cortex

Schematic Linking
of Various Regions
of the Cortex

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Record of postsynaptic activity in cortical
neurons
Brain waves
Three major uses
Clinical tool in diagnosis of cerebral dysfunction
Used in legal determination of brain death
Used to distinguish various stages of sleep

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Basal Nuclei
Act by modifying ongoing activity in motor
pathways
Primary functions
Inhibiting muscle tone throughout the body
Selecting and maintaining purposeful motor
activity while suppressing useless or unwanted
patterns of movement
Helping monitor and coordinate slow, sustained
contractions, especially those related to posture
and support

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Thalamus
Part of diencephalon
Serves as relay station and synaptic integrating
center for processing sensory input on its way to
cerebral cortex
Along with brain stem and cortical association
areas, important in ability to direct attention to
stimuli of interest
Capable of crude awareness of various types of
sensation but cannot distinguish their location or
intensity

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Hypothalamus
Brain area most involved in directly regulating internal
environment
Functions

Controls body temperature

Controls thirst and urine output
Controls food intake
Controls anterior pituitary hormone secretion
Produces posterior pituitary hormones
Controls uterine contractions and milk ejection
Serves as a major ANS coordinating center
Plays role in emotional and behavioral patterns
Participates in sleep-wake cycle
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Limbic System
Includes portions of the hypothalamus and other
forebrain structures that encircle brain stem
Responsible for
Emotion
Basic, inborn behavioral patterns related to
survival and perpetuation of the species
Plays important role in motivation and learning

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Memory
Storage of acquired knowledge for later recall
Memory trace
Neural change responsible for retention or storage of
knowledge

Short-term memory
Lasts for seconds to hours

Long-term memory
Retained for days to years

Consolidation
Process of transferring and fixing short-term memory
traces into long-term memory stores

Working memory
Temporarily holds and interrelates various pieces of
information relevant to a current mental task
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Comparison of Long-Term and Short-Term Memory

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cerebellum
Important in balance and in planning and
executing voluntary movement
Three different parts
Vestibulocerebellum
Important in maintaining balance and controls eye
movements

Spinocerebellum
Enhances muscle tone and coordinates skilled,
voluntary movements

Cerebrocerebellum
Plays role in planning and initiating voluntary activity by
providing input to cortical motor areas
Stores procedural memories
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Brain Stem
Critical connecting link between rest of brain and
spinal cord
Consists of
Medulla
Pons
Midbrain

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Brain Stem
Functions
Most of cranial nerves arise from brain stem
Neuronal clusters within brain stem control heart
and blood vessel function, respiration, and many
digestive functions
Plays role in regulating muscle reflexes involved
in equilibrium and posture
Reticular formation within brain stem receives
and integrates all incoming sensory synaptic input
Centers that govern sleep are in brain stem
(evidence suggests center promoting slow-wave
sleep lies in hypothalamus)
Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Cranial
Nerves

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Sleep
Function of sleep is unclear
Sleep-wake cycle
Normal cyclic variation in awareness of
surroundings

Active process consisting of two types of sleep

characterized by different EEG patterns and
different behaviors
Slow-wave sleep
Paradoxical, or REM sleep

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Comparison of Slow-Wave and Paradoxical Sleep

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

EEG
Patterns
During
Different
Types of
Sleep

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Spinal Cord
Extends from brain stem through vertebral canal
31 pairs of spinal nerves emerge from spinal
cord through spaces formed between arches of
adjacent vertebrae
Named for region of vertebral column from which
they emerge

8 pairs cervical (neck) nerves

12 pairs thoracic (chest) nerves
5 pairs lumbar (abdominal) nerves
5 pairs sacral (pelvic) nerves
1 pair coccygeal (tailbone) nerves

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Spinal Nerves

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Spinal Cord
Two vital functions
Neuronal link between brain and PNS
Integrating center for spinal reflexes

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Reflex
Reflex
Any response that occurs automatically without
conscious effort

Two types of reflexes

Simple, or basic, reflexes
Built-in, unlearned responses

Acquired, or conditioned, reflexes

Result of practice and learning

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Reflex Arc
Neural pathway involved in accomplishing reflex
activity
Five basic components

Receptor
Afferent pathway
Integrating center
Efferent pathway
effector

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Crossed Extensor Reflex Coupled with the

Withdrawal Reflex

Chapter 5 The Central Nervous System

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning