BASIC REVIEW FOR

NERVOUS SYSTEM

Overview

The nervous system is organized into two parts:

1- the central nervous system, which consists of the
brain and the spinal cord,
2- the peripheral nervous system, which connects the
central nervous system to the rest of the body.

central nervous system

The brain

Two CThe brainntent Layout with SmartAr

The brain is located within the cranial
cavity. It contains four spaces called
brain ventricles and surrounded by three
membranes called meninges.
The brain is divided into three main
developmental segments :
1. Forebrain
2. Midbrain
3. Hindbrain

First bullet point here

Second bullet point here
Third bullet point here

THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERE

The cerebral hemisphere (also called

cerebrum) is the largest part of the brain. It is
arranged as :
superficially located gray matter
and centrally located white matter.
The gray matter is called cerebral cortex and
contains the highest centres of the nervous
system. The two cerebral hemispheres are
connected by corpus callosum and separated
by a deep fissure called longitudinal fissure.

LANDMARKS AND LOBES

Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe

Central sulcus( btw Frontal lobe

And Parietal lobe )
lateral sulcus ( btw both the
(parietal & frontal) lobes above and
temporal lobe below.

THE CEREBRAL CORTEX

The cerebral cortex is the gray matter on the surface of
the cerebral hemisphere. To increase the surface area,
the cerebral cortex is arranged in gyri and sulci.
Important Gyri of the Frontal Lobe :
The Precentral Gyrus: is located anterior and parallel to
the central sulcus. It generates motor orders to the
voluntary muscles and is called the motor area or
sometimes the primary motor area
The Premotor Area: is located anterior to the precentral
sulcus.

The Postcentral gurus of the Parietal Lobe :

is
located between the central sulcus and the postcentral sulcus ,it
receives the general sensations and called primary somatosensory
area

The Superior, Middle and Inferior Temporal Gyri:

The lateral surface of the temporal lobe is divided by two sulci
into three gyri. The two sulci are the superior and the middle
temporal sulci. The three gyri are the superior, the middle and
the inferior temporal gyri. Part of the superior temporal gyrus
passes transversely into the lateral fissure and called transverse
temporal gyrus. This gyrus receives hearing sensation and
called primary auditory area. The posterior part of the superior
temporal gyrus is called sensory speech area or Wernickes area.
The sensory speech area is important to understand speech.
The inferior temporal gyrus continues on the inferior surface.

Gyri of the Occipital Lobe

On the medial surface, the occipital lobe is divided by the calcarine
sulcus into the cuneate gyrus above and the lingual gyrus below. The
parts of these two gyri that are located just above and below the
calcarine sulcus form the primary visual area which receives vision.

THE WHITE MATTER OF THE CEREBRAL

HEMISPHERE

A-Projection Fibers
B-Association Fibers
C-Commissural Fibers

A-Projection Fibers
The projection fibers connect the cerebral cortex with
subcortical structures such as the thalamus, the
basal ganglia, the brainstem and the spinal cord. They
are either ascending fibers (ascend from
subcortical structures to the cortex) or decending fibers
(descend from the cortex to subcortical
structures).
The projection fibers converge (approximate each other)
lateral to the thalamus where they form a very
important bundle of fibers called
internal capsule
External capsule,
Extreme capsule
Corona radiata: optic radiation, auditory radiation

B-Association Fibers:
The association fibers are these fibers that connect
cortical areas of one cerebral hemisphere with other
cortical areas of the same hemisphere. Some
association fibers are short and connect adjacent
cortical areas while other association fibers are long and
connect cortical areas in different lobes.
Short Association Fibers :connecting the adjacent
gyri
Long Association Fibers : connecting cortical areas in
different lobes as arcuate fasiculus and cingulum.
Aricuate fasiculus is a long association bundle of fibers
that connect the speech areas , so connecting brocas
area (motor ) with wernickis (sensory)

C-Commissural Fibers

These fibers connect cortical areas of one cerebral hemisphere

with their corresponding cortical areas in the other cerebral
hemisphere. These fibers are arranged in bundles such as:
The corpus callosum,(formed of rostrum, genu, body and
splenium)
The anterior commissure
The posterior commissure .

THE BASAL GANGLIA

THE BASAL GANGLIA

aggregation of neuronal cell bodies called by mistake
ganglia , rather they should be called basal nuclei
-They include the following :
caudate nuclei : near the anterior horn of lateral
ventricle .
the lentiform nucleus :its formed of the putamen
laterally and the globus pallidus medially.
the claustrum : is a thin sheet of gray matter

THE BRAINSTEM
The brainstem extends between the
diencephalon and the spinal cord. It is
composed of :

The midbrain
The pons
The medulla,

The midbrain
The Superior Part of brain stem
It Connects forebrain to hindbrain
contains nuclei for cranial nerves III & IV

The pons
It is the middle part of the brainstem
It is anterior to cerebellum
function:
1. Contains bundles of axons that connect the 2 halves of cerebellum
2. Contains nuclei of cranial nerves :
o CN (V) the trigeminal nerve
o CN (VI) the abducent nerve
o CN (VII) the facial nerve
o The vestibular nucleus of the vestibulocochlear nerve CN(VIII)
3. Controls arousal (the center of arousal is located in pons)

The pons

Medulla oblongata

the lower part of the brain stem

It connects the pons superiorly with the spinal cord inferiorly
It is conical in shape : broad superiorly and tapered inferiorly
It terminates approximately at the level of foramen magnum.
The superior half of MO is part of the floor of the 4th ventricle
The inferior half contains the central canal
Contains nuclei of cranial nerves :

The cochlear nucleus of the vestibulocochlear nerve CN(VIII)

IX (glossopharyngeal),
X (vagus),
XI (accessory) cranial component of the accessory nerve ,
XII (hypoglossal)

THE CEREBELLUM

THE CEREBELLUM
The cerebellum is the main center for the
coordination between the voluntary muscles
and for the body equilibrium. It is located in
the posterior cranial fossa, below the occipital
lobe .It is formed of superficially located gray
matter called cerebellar cortex and centrally
located white matter. Within the white matter,
there are four nuclei on each side called deep
cerebellar nuclei.
The cerebellum has connections with the
spinal cord, the brainstem and the thalamus.

THE CEREBELLUM
The inputs and outputs of the cerebellum are
arranged into three fiber bundles called cerebellar
peduncles.
These peduncles are:
The Superior Cerebellar Peduncle: between the
cerebellum and the midbrain.
The Middle Cerebellar Peduncle: between the
cerebellum and the pons.
The Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle: between the
cerebellum and the medulla.

THE BRAIN VENTRICLES

THE BRAIN VENTRICLES

The brain contains four spaces called brain ventricles.
These brain ventricles are:

The Lateral Ventricles:

There are two lateral ventricles. Each lateral ventricle is located
within one cerebral hemisphere. It has C shape and formed of
anterior horn, body, posterior horn and inferior horn. The
anterior horn and the body of one lateral ventricle are
separated from the anterior horn and the body of the other
lateral ventricle by a midline membrane called septum
pellucidum. The roof of the anterior horn and the body is
formed of the corpus callosum. The posterior horn may or may
not reach the occipital lobe. The inferior horn lies in the
temporal lobe and called temporal horn.

THE BRAIN VENTRICLES

The Third Ventricle: is a midline small space

between the two diencephalons.
The Fourth Ventricle: is located between the
medulla and the pons ventrally, and the
cerebellum dorsally.

THE BRAIN VENTRICLES

The brain ventricles are interconnected with each

other. They are also connected with the central canal
of the spinal cord and with the subarachnoid space
around the CNS. There is foramen called
interventricular foramen or foramen of Monro
between the third ventricle and each of the two
lateral ventricles.

THE BRAIN VENTRICLES

The third ventricle is also connected with the fourth
ventricle by a narrow canal that passes
through the midbrain and called cerebral aqueduct

Finally, the fourth ventricle is connected with the

central canal of the spinal cord and with the
subarachnoid space around the CNS. All of these spaces
contain fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

THE MENINGES

THE MENINGES
The brain and the spinal cord are surrounded by three
membranes called meninges. From inside to
outside, these three membranes are :
the pia mater,
the arachnoid mater
the dura mater.

There is space between the pia mater and the arachnoid

mater. This space is called subarachnoid space and
contains CSF. The arteries that supply the brain are also
present in the subarachnoid space.

BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE BRAIN

BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE BRAIN

The mass of the adult brain is almost 15oo gm ( < 3% of the body mass ), these consume
almost 15% - 20% of the cardiac output. Each 100 gm of the brain mass need 50 ml of
blood / min. This rich blood supply is needed because the nervous tissue is highly active
metabolically .
This blood is supplied by 2 systems :
Internal carotid system ( Right and left internal carotid arteries ) : represents the
anterior circulation of the brain.
The vertebrobasilar system : represents the posterior circulation.

Almost 80% of the cerebral blood flow is supplied by the internal carotid system , only
20% is contributed by the vertebrobasilar system.

Ophthalmic artery

Posterior
Communicating Artery

Internal carotid A

common carotid
A

Anterior Choroidal
Artery

Anterior Cerebral
Artery
Middle Cerebral
artery

ACA
supply the medial surface of the brain

MCA
supply most of the lateral surface of
the brain

The vertebral
artery

Posterior spinal
arteries

Anterior spinal
artery

Posterior inferior
cerebellar
arteries (PICA)

vertebral artery unites with the other vertebral artery to

make a trunk called the basilar artery , this union occurs
in the boundary between medulla and pons.

basilar artery

Pontine arteries
Labyrinthine
artery
Superior
cerebellar artery

Anterior inferior
cerebellar artery
Posterior cerebral
artery

Circle of Willis
Circle of willis is made by union
ofcerebral arteries. It is located in
the ventral Surface of the
midbrain, in the interpeduncular
fossa which is located inthe
anterior surface of midbrain .
We have 2 anterior cerebral
arteries and they are connected by
an anterior communicating artery
. the internal carotid artery gives
the posterior communicating
artery which connects the internal
carotid system with the posterior
cerebral artery which arises from
Basilar Artery .

Venous drainage of the brain

We have special structure in the brain called dural
venous sinuses , venous blood has to pass through
them before entering the venous system (represented
by the internal jungular vein ).

superficial veins

Superior
anastomotic
vein

Inferior
anastomotic
vein

Superficial
middle cerebral
vein

Deep Cerebral Veins

THE SPINAL CORD

THE SPINAL CORD

The spinal cord is located within the vertebral (spinal)
canal of the vertebral column. It begins at the level of
the foramen magnum.
It is shorter than the vertebral column, At birth, the
conus medullaris (the lower end of the spinal cord)
lies at the level between the third lumbar (L3) and
the fourth lumbar (L4)vertebrae. In adults and
because of the difference between the growth rates
of the spinal cord and thevertebral column, the mean
level of termination of the spinal cord is the lower
part of the first lumbar (L1) vertebra { btw L1 and L2}

THE SPINAL CORD

33 Vertebrae (segments):

7 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
4 Coccygeal

THE SPINAL CORD

INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE SPINAL CORD

The spinal cord is related to all motor and sensory
pathways of the limbs and the trunk. It is formed of a
centrally located, H-shaped gray matter and a
peripherally located white matter

The gray matter

The gray matter of the spinal cord contains
sensory projection neurons, motor projection
neurons and
interneurons. The sensory neurons send their
axons upward to the brain. The motor neurons
send their
axons peripherally with the spinal nerves to
supply the body.
On each side, the gray matter is divided into
dorsal (sensory) horn,
lateral (autonomic) horn and
ventral (motor) horn

THE WHITE MATTER

The white matter of each side is
divided into :
dorsal column,
lateral column
ventral column
Within these columns, the fibers
with common origin, function and
termination site are arranged into
bundles called spinal tracts. Each
spinal tract occupies a specific part
of the white matter

The Corticospinal
(Pyramidal) Tract:
The corticospinal tract or
pyramidal tract forms part of the
motor pathway from the motor
cortex to the voluntary muscles
of the limbs and the trunk.

DONE
THANK YOU =)

This is just a basic review, for more details u can read from
any book.
This slides are done based on:
neuro book dr.saleh
our slides and lectures on third year
Forgive me for any mistake .

Good luck

:
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