Nervous System

Major Divisions:
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
a. Somatic Nervous System Innervates Skeletal muscles, efferent
b. Autonomic Nervous System Innervates involuntary muscles, efferent
c. Enteric Nervous System both afferent (gathering stimulus) and efferent (effector organs
pathway, consists of plexuses in the GI tract, independent of the ANS and CNS.
Basic Functions:
-Detection of Stimuli

Histology of Nervous Tissue
Grey matter cell bodies, dendrites
White matter myelinated nerve fibers
Dendritic spikes Gemmules
Axis Cylinder wrapped by axolema, the central part of the axon
Axon hillock area where the axon arises
Axon collateral side branches of the axon
Axon terminal Telodendria, terminal end of the axon
Synaptic end bulb located at the tip or end of the Telodendria.
Neurophil the granulated background of a Neuron slide
Nodes of Ranvier gaps between the myelinated fibers.
Saltatory conduction Jumping of impulses from one node to another.
Types of cells by shape:
1.) Unipolar Flask-shape
2.) Bipolar Fusiform shape
3.) Multipolar
Types of neurons by function:
1.) Afferent - Sensory
2.) Efferent Motor
3.) Associational Interneurons or Connectors, most numerous neurons, does not leave the CNS,
97% of the neurons in the CNS is Associational.
Types of Covering:
1.) Myelin Sheath Lipodal covering
2.) Neurolemma External wrapping of the myelin sheath. Regeneration of fibers
Axons of the PNS myelin sheaths are produced by Schwann cells.
Schwann cells Neurolemocyte
CNS Neuroglial cells:
1.) Oligodendrocytes from the CNS, Manufactures the myelin sheaths of the CNS. Terminates at
the axons of Neurons. Does not have a Neurolemma,
2.) Astrocyte Most abundant glial cells, has foot processes attached and encloses the blood
vessels of the CNS. Forms the Blood Brain Barrier that restricts the passage of materials through
the brain tissue.
a. Fibrous -
b. Protoplasmic
3.) Ependymal formation and circulation of CSF. Low-cuboidal cells, has cilia to propel CSF.
4.) Microglia phagocytes of the CNS
PNS:
1.)
2.)
Physiology of the Nervous System
Action Potentials
Polarization states:
1.) Polarized state Resting membrane potential, -70mV.
a. Intramembranous charge Negative
b. Extramembranous charge - Positive

K+ is regulated by a leak channel, can freely pass through.
Spike trigger zone found in the initial segment, area where the neuron decides whether or not the action
potential is sent or not.
Types of Synapse:
1.) Axodendritic synapse - From axon of pre to dendrite of post.
2.) Axosomatic From axon of pre to soma of post
3.) Axoaxonic Axon to axon
4.) Dendrodendritic - Dendrite to dendrite

In Neuro-muscular junction the action of the neurotransmitter is always excitatory.
In synapses the actions are both inhibitory and excitatory.
Neurotransmitter:
1.) Acetylcholine Both inhibitory and excitatory
2.) Norepinephrine excitatory, influences dreaming, mood, arousal.
3.) Glutamate - excitatory
4.) Aspartate excitatory
5.) GABA inhibitor
6.) Dopamine both
7.) Serotonin inhibitory
8.) Nitric Oxide excitatory, learning and memory
Neurotransmitter destruction:
1.) Enzymatic destruction
a. Acetylcholinesperase