The Nervous System

Organizations

Central nervous system (CNS)

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Major Division of the

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain

Telencephalon

Diencephalon

Cerebellum

Brain stem

Midbrain

Pons

Medulla oblongata

Spinal cord

Major Division of the

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Cranial nerves (12 pairs)

Spinal nerves (31 pairs)

Visceral nerves

Visceral sensory nerve

Visceral motor nerve

Sympathetic part

Parasympathetic part

Cellular Organization

Neuron

Cell body

Axon

Dendrites

Neuroglia glial
cell

Classification of Neurons
Structural classification

Bipolar neuron

has an axon and a dendrite.

Pseudounipolar neuron

has a central branch and a

peripheral branch.
Multipolar neuron

has an axon and two or more

dendrites.

Classification of Neurons
Functional classification

Sensory (afferent) neuron

Motor (efferent) neuron

Association neuron

Reflex and Reflex Arc

Reflex: a reaction of the organism by

the nervous system in response to a
stimulus.
Reflex arc: has 5 basic components
Receptor

Sensory neurons

CNS

Motor neurons

Effector

Reflex and Reflex Arc

Basic Terminology in Nervous System

In the CNS

Gray matter : collection of

nerve cell bodies and their dendrites,
gray color during fresh condition.
Cortex : the outermost layer of
gray matter in cerebrum and
cerebellum.
White matter : collection of
nerve fibers, white color during fresh
condition.
Medulla : a central core of white
matter beneath cortex of cerebrum
and cerebellum.

Basic Terminology in Nervous System

In the CNS

Nucleus :
a collection
( group ) of cell bodies which
have the same shape and
function.

Fasciculus ( tract ) :
a bundle of nerve
fibers which have the same
origin, termination, pathway and
function.

Basic Terminology in Nervous System

In the PNS

Ganglion :
a collection of
neuronal cell bodies
outside the CNS.
Nerve :
a bundle of nerve
fibers held together by
connective tissue
sheath.

The Spinal Cord

Position of the Spinal Cord

Lies in vertebral canal.

Continuous above with medulla
oblongata at level of foramen
magnum.
Ends below at the lower border of
L1 in the adult; at birth the cord
ends at level of L3.

External Features of Spinal Cord

A long cylindrical structure and slightly

flattened anteroposteriorly.
Two enlargements

Cervical enlargement
corresponds to the C4 to the T1 segments
Lumbosacral enlargement
corresponds to the L2 to the S3 segments

Conus medullaris
Filum terminale

Cauda equina

External Features of Spinal Cord

Fissure and sulcus

Anterior median fissure

Posterior median sulcus

Anterolateral sulcus
anterior (motor) roots emerge
serially.
Posterolateral sulcus
posterior (sensory) roots enter
spinal cord, each bear a spinal
ganglion which constitutes the first
cell-station of the sensory nerves.

Segments of Spinal Cord

A portion of the cord that

gives rise to a pair of spinal
nerve constitutes a segment.
There are 31 segments
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal

Relationship of spinal Cord Segments

to Vertebral Numbers
Spinal segments
Upper cervical region (C1~C4)

Vertebral levels (spines)

= C1 ~ C4

Lower cervical and upper thoracic 1 = C4 ~ T3

region (C5~T4)
Middle thoracic region (T5~T8)

2 = T3 ~ T6

Lower thoracic region (T9~T12)

Lumber segments

3 = T6 ~ T9
= T10 ~ T12

Sacral and coccygeal segments

= L1

Structure of Spinal Cord

Gray matter
White matter
Central canal

Gray Matter of Spinal Cord

Anterior horn (column) --motor

Posterior horn (column) --sensory
Lateral horn (column)
is present in the thoracic

and upper lumber segments of the cord (T1-L3)

Intermediate zone
Anterior gray commissures

Posterior gray commissures

Gray Matter of Spinal Cord

Posterior horn (column):

Marginal layer

Substantia gelatinosa

Situated at the apex of posterior horn

throughout the length of spinal cord

Concerns the sensations of pain and

temperature
Nucleus proprius

Situated anterior to the substantia

gelationosa throughout the length of
spinal cord

Receives fibers that are associated

with the senses
Nucleus thoracicus

Situated at the base of posterior horn

and extending from segments C8~L3

Associated with proprioceptive

endings

Gray Matter of Spinal Cord

Intermediate zone

Intermediaolateral nucleus
(lateral horn)

Extents from segments T1~L3,

Containing sympathetic
preganglionic neurons.

Sacral parasympathetic nucleus

Extents from segments S2~S4,

Containing parasympathetic
preganglionic neurons.

Intermediomedial nucleus

Throughout the length of spinal cord

Associated with receiving viscera
afferent information.

Gray Matter of Spinal Cord

Anterior horn (column):

Two kinds of motor neurons

-motor neuron: large multipolar

neuron, innervates skeletal muscles,
producing contraction of muscles
-motor neuron: smaller multipolar
neuron, innervates intrafusal muscle
fibers of neuromuscular spindles,
regulating muscular tonus

Interneuron Renshaws cell:

negative feedback mechanism

Two groups of nuclei

Medial nuclear group: present in

most segments of spinal cord,
innervating axial trunk muscles.
Lateral nuclear group: present only
in cervical and lumbosacral
enlargements, innervating limb
muscles.

Rexeds lamina

Posterior horn is formed

by lamina to
Intermediate zone
corresponding to lamina

Anterior horn is
composed laminae
and
lamina is the gray
matter surrounding the
central canal.

Important Subdivision of Spinal Cord Gray Matter

Region

Lamina

Nucleus

Posterior horn

Marginal layer

Substantia gelatinosa

Nucleus proprius

Nucleus thoracicus (C8~L3)

Intermediolateral nucleus (T1~L3)

Sacral parasympathetic nucleus

(S2~S4)

Intermediomedial nucleus

Motor neuron

Intermediate
zone

Anterior horn

White Matter of Spinal Cord

White matter contains three kinds of fibers: ascending,
descending, and fasciculus proprius
Posterior funiculus

Lateral funiculus

Anterior funiculus

Anterior white commissure

Ascending Tracts
Fasciculus gracilis
Fasciculus cuneatus
Posterior spinocerebellar tract

Anterior spinocerebellar tract

Spinothalamic tract

Fasciculus cuneatus(T4 )

(T5 )Fasciculus gracilis

Spinothalamic tract

Ascending tracts
Tract

Site of origin

Funiculus Termination

Function

Fasciculus
gracilis

Spinal ganglia
below segment
T5 ( )

Posterior

Fasciculus
cuneatus

Spinal ganglia
above segment
T4 ( )

Conscious proprioceptive
(vibratory sense, and
muscle joint sense) and
fine touch sensation of
trunk and limbs.

Posterior
spinocerebellar

Homolateral
nucleus
thoracicus

Anterior
spinocerebellar

Contralateral
Laminae
~

Spinothalamic Laminae

, ~

Gracile
nucleus

Cuneate
nucleus

Lateral

Cerebellum

Unconscious
proprioception from lower
limb and lower portion of
trunk

Lateral
and
anterior

Dorsal
thalamus

Pain, temperature and

crude touch sensation of
trunk and limbs.

Descending Tracts
Fasciculus proprius

Lateral corticospinal tract

Rubrospinal tract

Medial longitudinal
fasciculus

Reticulospinal tract

Vestibulospinal tract

Tectospinal tract
Anterior corticospinal tract

Descending tracts
Tract

Site of origin

Funiculus

Lateral
corticospinal

Cerebral cortex

Lateral

Anterior
corticospinal

Cerebral cortex

Anterior

Rubrospinal

Red nucleus

Vestibulospinal

Termination

Function

Laminae
~
anterior horn

Voluntary movement
skeleton
m. of limbs
skeleton
m. of trunk

Lateral

Laminae
~

Facilitates activity of
flexor muscles

Homolateral
vestibular nuclei

Anterior

Laminae
~

Facilitates activity of
extensor muscles

Reticulospinal

Reticular
formation

Anterior and
lateral

Laminae
~

Voluntary movement

Medial
longitudinal
fasciculus

Vestibular nuclei

Anterior

Laminae
~

Coordinate neck with

eye movement

Tectospinal

Superior
colliculus

Anterior

Laminae
~

Fasciculus
proprius

Spinal cord

Anterior,
lateral and
posterior

Spinal cord

Intrinsic reflex
mechanism of spinal
cord

Main functions of spinal cord

Conduction of excitations
Reflex activity