NERVOUS TISSUE

The most complex system in the body

histologically and physiologically
Network of billion neurons and many more
supporting glial cells
Process information and generate various
responses
 Origin
Derived from the ectoderm
In the embryo, it arises from
Neural tube: where brain and spinal cord
are derived
Neural crest: nervous tissue outside of
CNS like the ganglia, capsular cells,
Schwann cells
 Properties/Functions
Irritability
Capacity to react in a gradual manner to physical
or chemical stimuli
Conductivity
Transmit excitation rapidly from one place to
another
Integrates and coordinates functions of the
organs
Synthesize chemical compound
Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators
 Structural Classification
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain and Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Nerves and the Ganglions
 Brain
Cerebrum
Cerebellum

White matter
Gray matter
 Brain
Gray Matter
Surfaces of cerebrum and cerebellum
(forming cerebral cortex)
Contain neuronal bodies, dendrites and the
initial unmyelinated portions of axons and
glial cells
This is the region at which synapses occur
Nuclei are aggregates of neuronal bodies
forming islands of gray matter embedded in
the white matter
 Brain
White Matter
Central portion
Main component is myelinated axons
and the myelin-producing
oligodendrocytes
Does not contain neuronal cell bodies
 Spinal Cord
White matter is peripheral while gray matter
is central
Assuming the shape of an H
Where central canal (lined by ependymal cells) is
located
Anterior horn (motor)
Posterior horn (sensory)
 Spinal Cord
Gray matter
Contains abundant astrocytes and large neuronal
bodies

White matter
Surrounds gray matter
Contains oligodendrocytes and tracts of myelinated
axons
 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Cranial Nerves
Spinal nerves
 Cranial Nerves
I Olfactory VII Facial
II Optic VIII Auditory
III Oculomotor IX Glossopharyngeal
IV Trochlear X Vagus
V Trigeminal XI Spinal Accessory
VI Abducens XII Hypoglossal
 Spinal Nerves
31 pairs of spinal nerves
Ganglia
 Peripheral Nerve Pathways
Afferent pathways (ascending pathways)
Carry sensory impulses toward the CNS
Efferent pathways (descending pathways)
Innervate skeletal muscle or effector organs by
transmitting motor impulses away from the CNS
 Peripheral Nerve System
Function
Relay information from the CNS to
muscles and effector organs through
Cranial and spinal nerve tracts that are
arranged in fascicles
Multiple fascicles bound together to form
the peripheral nerve
 Functional Classification
Somatic Nervous System
Consists of pathways that regulate voluntary
motor control
Ex. Skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

Involuntary control of organ system (viscera)
Sympathetic Nervous System: mobilize energy in
times of need (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic Nervous System: conserve and
restore energy
Protective Structures of the CNS
Cranium
Meninges
CSF
Vertebral Column
 Cranium
Composed of 8 bones that fuse early in
childhood
Cranial vault encloses and protects the brain
and its associated structures
Floor of the cranial vault is irregular and
contains many foramina for cranial nerves,
blood vessels and the spinal cord to exit
 Meninges

Dura mater
Arachnoid membrane
Pia mater
 Dura Mater

Composed of 2 layers with venous

sinuses between them
Epidural space
Space between the cranium and dura
mater
 Arachnoid Membrane
Characterized by its spongy web-like
structure
Arachnoid villi protrudes into venous sinuses
Space between the dura and arachnoid is
the subdural space which contain many
veins
disruption of veins may cause subdural
hematoma
 Pia Mater
Follows the contour of the brain and spinal cord very
closely
Provides support for the blood vessels supplying the
brain tissue
Subarachnoid space lies between the arachnoid and
pia mater
Contains cerebrospinal fluid
Disruption of the intracranial vessels can lead to
subarachnoid hemorrhage
The choroid plexus arise from pial membrane
 Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Clear, colorless fluid which cushions the CNS

by protecting soft tissue from jolts and
blows
Produced by choroid plexuses made up of
ependymal cells
Approximately 600 ml is produced daily
Circulate within ventricles of brain,
subarachnoid space and spinal cord
 Choroid plexuses of the lateral, third, and
fourth ventricles produce the major portion of
the CSF
Normal CSF pressure is 120 180 mm of H2O
or approximately 9 14 mm Hg pressure
 CSF from lateral ventricles

Interventricular foramen (foramen

of Monro)

Third ventricle

Cerebral aqueduct
(aqueduct of Sylvius)

Fourth ventricle

Pass either foramen of Luschka or foramen

of Magendie

Subarachnoid space of the brain and

spinal cord
 Vertebral Column

33 vertebrae
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 fused sacral
5 fused coccygeal
Intervertebral disks
 Blood-Brain Barrier

Highly selective interface between the

blood and the CNS
Depends on special properties of the
capillary endothelium(main structural
component)
Have tight junctions that are highly resistant
to passage of ions or small molecules
Processes of astrocytes
 Blood-Brain Barrier

Protects the CNS from abrupt changes

in the concentration of ions in the
extra-cellular fluid and from molecules
that may interfere with normal neural
function
Disadvantage
It excludes some drugs particularly
antibiotics
 Cells

Neurons or Nerve Cells

Structural and functional unit of the
nervous tissue

Non-neural or Supporting Cells

 Parts of a Neuron

Cell body
Covered by cell membrane
Vary in size and shape and the mode
of branching of its processes
In the CNS the cell body is typically
angular or polygonal with slightly
concave surfaces between the
processes
 Parts of a Neuron

Cell body (Soma)

Generally in the PNS, the body is rounded

Axon hillock is the conical extension in the

cell body where the axon arises
 Neurons
Nucleus
Large, spherical or ovoid with conspicuous
nucleolus, pale staining or vesicular
Perikaryon
Cytoplasm: Chromatophilic substance or Nissl
bodies (equivalent to RER), mitochondria, Golgi
complex, cytoskeleton
Cell processes
Dendrites
Axons
 Basis Axon Dendrites
Number of Processes 1 to a neuron Several or none

Length Generally longer Shorter, terminate in the

vicinity of neuron

Size and shape Small, cylindrical & Broad-based & taper off
uniform in diameter as it branches

Nissl bodies Absent Present

Contour or outline Smooth Rough due to presence

of fine spines which are
sites of synaptic contact
Presence of myelin Present Absent
sheath
Direction of impulses Away from neurons Toward neurons
Types of Neurons: (Based on the
size and shape of their processes)

Most neurons
Retina, olfactory
mucosa, cochlear and
vestibular ganglia
Spinal and cranial ganglia
 Synapse

Sites of functional contact between

neurons or between neurons and other
effector cells (muscle and gland cells)

Responsible for the unidirectional

transmission of nerve impulses
 Synapse

Converts an electrical signal (impulse) from

the pre-synaptic cell into a chemical signal
that acts on the post-synaptic cell

Transmits information by releasing

neurotransmitters during signaling process
 Supporting Cells
CNS
Neuroglial cells
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglial cells

Ependymal cells
 Astrocytes
Star-shaped; largest of the glial cells
Most numerous of glial cells
Have bundles of intermediate
filaments made of glial fibrillary acid
protein (GFAP)
 Astrocytes
2 types
Fibrous astrocytes
Located in the white matter
With few long processes
Protoplasmic astrocytes
Found in the gray matter
With many short-branched processes
 Astrocytes
Functions
Maintain homeostasis in the
extracellular fluid
Bind neurons to capillaries and to the
pia mater
Structural support
Repair processes
 Oligodendrocytes

Cell body is small and nucleus smaller

than astrocytes
Fewer cell processes and seldom
branch
Responsible for synthesis of myelin in
the CNS
 Microglial Cells

Small elongated cells with short

irregular processes
Phagocytic cells of the Mononuclear-
phagocytic system
 Ependymal Cells

A layer of cuboidal or low columnar

cells lining the ventricles of the brain
and the central canal of the spinal cord
 Peripheral Nervous System

Main components are

Nerves
Ganglia
Nerve endings
 Nerve Fibers
Consist of axons enveloped by a special myelin
sheath
Groups of nerve fibers constitute the tracts of
the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves
Myelin sheath form gaps along the path called
the nodes of Ranvier
Represent the spaces between adjacent
Schwann cells (neurolemmocytes) along the
length of the axon
 Nerves
Connective Tissue

Epineurium
Perineurium
Endoneurium
 Nerves
Contain both afferent and efferent fibers
Nerves possessing sensory fibers are called
sensory nerves; those with motor fibers are
motor nerves
Most nerves have mixed nerves
 Ganglia
Ovoid structures containing neuronal
cell bodies and glial cells supported by
connective tissues
Serve as relay stations to transmit
nerve impulses
Sensory ganglia receive afferent impulses
that go to the CNS
Autonomic ganglia are especially found in
the walls of the digestive tract
 Supporting Cells
PNS
Satellite cells
Flattened cells which form a continuous
capsule around nerve cell bodies in the
ganglion
 Supporting Cells
PNS
Schwann cells or Neurolemmocytes
Elongated cells arranged end to end along
the course of the nerve fibers in the PNS
Form a long thin tube which surround the
nerve fiber called the sheath of Schwann or
neurilemma
Responsible for the formation of myelin
sheath in the PNS
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