NERVOUS SYSTEM

Lecture 1

OVERVIEW
and
NEUROHISTOLOGY
ANATOMICAL ORGANIZATION of the
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nervous
System

CNS PNS ANS

CRANIAL
BRAIN SYMPATHETIC
NERVES

SPINAL SPINAL PARA-

CORD NERVES SYMPATHETIC
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Definition:

Unpaired, bilaterally symmetrical structures

extending along the longitudinal axis of the
midsagittal plane of the body.
Structures arising directly from the neural tube.
Includes:

Brain
Spinal cord
 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Definition:

Made up of transmission pathways

carrying information between the CNS and
external/internal environments.
Afferent (sensory) pathways:
Carry information to the CNS.
Efferent (motor) pathways:
Carry information from the CNS.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Includes:
Cranial nerves (12 pairs).
Spinal nerves (31 pairs).
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
May
be considered a subdivision of the
PNS.

Entirely motor.

Innervates smooth muscle and glands

(viscera).
 ANS Subdivisions
Sympathetic system (fight or flight):
Also called thoracolumbar.

Parasympathetic system (feed or breed):

Also called craniosacral.
 Parts of a Neuron
Cell body:
Trophic unit
Perikaryon
Dendrites:
Receptive unit
Axon:
Conductive unit
 Cell Body Definition
Thatpart of a neuron that encloses the
nucleus and other organelles necessary to
maintain and repair the neuron.
 Cell Body Organelles
Nucleus
Golgi apparatus
RER
Ribosomes (=Nissl substance)
 Dendrites (Characteristics)
Branches off the cell body that carry information
to the cell body.
Usually several to many.
Relatively short.
Often branched.
Have receptors for neurotransmitters.
Conduct local potentials.
 Axon Characteristics
Carries information to another neuron or
muscle cell.
Often relatively long.
Single (one per neuron).
Conducts action potential
 Axon Characteristics
Ends in short branched processes called
telodendria.
May have collateral branches.
Cell membrane (= axolemma).
Cytoplasm = (axoplasm).
 Axon Characteristics
Covered by neurolemma:
Made up of Schwann cells.
Often myelinated:
Myelin is formed by Schwann cells.
Note:axon is the only part of a neuron that
is ever myelinated.
 Axon Organelles
Mitochondria

Neurofilaments

Neurotubules
 Axonal Transport
Anterograde:
Transports vesicles from cell body to end of
axon.
Kinesin
Retrograde:
Transports vesicles from end of axon toward
cell body.
Cytoplasmic dynein
 Axonal Transport
Slow transport:
1-5 mm/day

Fast transport:
200-400 mm/day
 General Terminology
Nerve:
Bundle of fibers in the PNS.
Tract:
Bundle of fibers in the CNS.
Commissure:
Tract in the CNS that crosses from one side
to the other.
 General Terminology
Nucleus:
Aggregation of dendrites and nerve cell
bodies in the CNS.
Ganglion:
Aggregation of dendrites and nerve cell
bodies in the PNS.
 General Terminology
White matter:
Areas of myelinated axons.
Gray matter:
Areas of unmyelinated axons, cell bodies,
and dendrites.
 Synapse
Definition:
Composite structure that allows two neurons
or a neuron and a muscle cell to talk to each
other.
 Synapse Components
Presynaptic membrane:
With synaptic vesicles filled with
neurotransmitters.
Synapticcleft:
Postsynaptic membrane:
With receptors for neurotransmitters.
Monosynaptic pathways.
Polysynaptic pathways.
 Reflex Arc
Afferent (sensory) pathways:
Somatic.
Visceral (splanchnic).
Efferent (motor) pathways:
Somatic.
Visceral (splanchnic).
Association neurons (interneurons).
 Neuroglial Cells
Schwann cells
Astrocytes
Microglial cells
Oligodendrocytes
Ependymal cells
 Schwann Cells
Derived from neural crest cells.

Myelinate axons in the PNS.

 Astrocytes
Derived from neural crest cells.
Function to physically support neurons.
Channel materials between capillaries and
neurons (= Blood-brain barrier).
Support and guide neurons during embryonic
building of cerebral cortex.
Act as sinks for ions (i.e., K+).
Remove neuroactive and potentially toxic
substances.
 Microglial Cells
Derived from embryonic mesenchyme.

May
transform into phagocytes within
CNS.
 Oligodendrocytes
Derived from neural crest cells.

Function to myelinate axons within CNS.

 Ependymal cells
Derived from neural crest cells.

Line ventricles of brain.