Histology of Nervous

Tissue
 Feature of nerves tissue
Type of cell: neuron & neuroglia
General feature of neuron
Type of neuroglia: astrocyte, oligodendrocyte,
ependymal cell, microglia
Synapses
Myelin formation & function
General structure of peripheral nerves
Ganglia dorsal root ganglia
& autonomic ganglia
 Nervous system divided into:

Central nervous system (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Cranial and spinal nerves locate outside the CNS.
Morphology of typical neuron
Neuron functional cell of the nervous tissue.

Cell body or perikaryon - contains the nucleus regulates

the functioning of the neuron.
Numerous dendrites and a single axon.
Contains Nissl bodies in the cytoplasm
Axon hillock- no Nissl bodies

Axon cellular process (extension) carries impulses away

from the cell body.

Dendrites cellular process (extension) carries impulses

toward the cell body
2 types of cell

i) Neurons (nerve cells)

ii) Supporting cells

Functions of neurons

1) specialized to receive stimuli and to conduct electrical

impulses to other parts of the system.
2) Arranged as an integrated communications network, with
several neurons in a chain-like fashion involved in sending
impulses from one part of the system to another.
Neuron Classification

Structural:
Multipolar most common type in CNS.
Include all motor neurons and interneurons of brain and
spinal cord.

Bipolar- not as common purely sensory.

Retina of eye, inner ear, olfactory epithelium in the
upper region of nose.

Unipolar (formerly known as pseudounipolar)

Sensory neurons found in numerous craniosacral ganglia
of the spinal cord.
Comparison of Structural Classes
of Neurons
Comparison of Structural Classes of
Neurons
Comparison of Structural Classes of
Neurons
Unipolar neuron
Nucleus &
nucleolus

Cytoplasm

fibrocytes

Satellite
cells

Cytoplasm of
neuron

Myelinated axons
The supporting cells (neuroglia or
glia):

Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
CNS
Microglial cells
Ependymal cells
Schwann cells
Satellite cells PNS
Astrocytes

Largest, most numerous, versatile, and

highly branched glial cells
They cling to neurons and cover capillaries
Functionally, they:
Support and brace neurons
Anchor neurons to their nutrient supplies
Guide migration of young neurons
Control the chemical environment
Astrocytes
Microglia

Microglia smallest, ovoid cells with spiny processes

- phagocytic cells that migrate through the CNS and
remove foreign and degenerated material
Ependymal Cells
Ependymal cells squamous- to columnar-
shaped cells
They line the central cavities of the brain and
spinal column
Oligodendrocytes

Oligodendrocytes branched cells that wrap CNS

nerve fibers
- Produce myelin in CNS
Schwann Cells and Satellite Cells

Schwann cells (neurolemmocytes) form myelin

sheaths around peripheral axons

Satellite cells surround neuron cell bodies with

ganglia
Myelin formation & function
Whitish, fatty (protein-lipid), segmented
sheath around most long axons
Its function:
1. Protection of the axon
2. Electrically insulating fibers from one
another
3. Increasing the speed of nerve impulse
transmission
2 types of neuroglia produce
myelin
CNS= Oligodendrocyte
PNS= Schwann cells