The Nervous

System
Anatomy & Physiology
Functions of the Nervous System
 Sensory input – gathering information
-To monitor changes occurring inside and
outside the body
 Integration - To process and interpret
sensory input and decide if action is
needed
 Motor output
-A response to stimuli
-Activates muscles or glands
 Mental Activity
 Homeostasis
- It is the process by which organisms keep internal
conditions relatively constant despite changes in
external environment
Classification of the Nervous System

 Central nervous
system (CNS):
o Brain
o Spinal cord
 Peripheral nervous
system (PNS):
o Nerves outside the
brain and spinal cord
 The Peripheral Nervous System
 Sensory (afferent) division - Nerve
fibers that carry information to the central
nervous system
 Motor (efferent) division - Nerve fibers
that carry impulses away from the central
nervous system.
 Somatic system:
voluntary
 Autonomic system:
involuntary
Autonomic Nervous System
 The involuntary branch of the nervous
system
 Consists of only motor
nerves
 Divided into two divisions
 Sympathetic division –
“fight or flight” response
 Parasympathetic division – “housekeeping”
Nervous System
Histology
Cells of the Nervous System

Two types of Cell

Neuron
 Neuroglia
 Neurons
-an actual nerve cell
-conducting cell, that transmits
impulses and the basic
structural unit of the NS.
- highly specialized and amitotic
-Cells specialized to transmit
electrochemical messages
 Cell Body (Soma)

-Central processing of
the cell
-Contain :
 Nucleus

 Typical cytoplasmic
organelles
Dendrites
-thin branching
extensions of the cell
body
that conduct nerve
impulses toward the
body.
-function as an
"antennae" of the
neuron
 Axons -
process of a neuron by which
impulses travel away from
the cell body.

The function of the axon is

to transmit information to
different neurons, muscles
and glands.

Myelinated axons are known

as nerve fibers.
Myelin Sheath
-protective membrane
that is made up of protein and
fatty substance that wrapped
around an axons.
-allow electrical
impulses to transmit quickly
and efficiently along the
nerve cell..
Classification of Neurons
  Carry impulses from
the sensory
receptors to the
CNS.

 neurons that
provides
connection
between sensory
and motor

 Carry impulses from the central

nervous system towards the different
muscles
Neuroglia
- Cells that do not conduct nerve impulses

- Maintain homeostasis, provide support and

protection of the neurons

- more numerous than neurons and capable of

mitosis
CLASSIFICATION OF NEUROGLIA
CELLS
Astrocytes
 Ependymal cells
 Oligodendrocytes
 Microglia
 Schwann Cells
NEUROGLIAL CELLS

• Ependymal Cells
• Low columnar ciliated
epithelial cells  line the
ventricles of the brain &
central canal spinal cord
• Formation of choroid flexus
 produce CSF
• Facilitates the movement of
CSF
 ORGANIZATION OF NERVOUS
TISSUE

• CORTEX- formed by groups of neuron

cell and their dendrites
• NUCLEI- deeper portion of the brain
• GANGLION- group of neuronal cell
bodies in the PNS
Nervous Impulses
A synapse -it is a space between
neurons

Impulses are able to cross the

synapse to another neuron

Neurotransmitter – is a chemical
that crosses the synapse and it is
released from a neuron’s axon
terminal
The dendrite of the next neuron
has receptors that are stimulated by
the neurotransmitter
An action potential is started in the
dendrite
What is synaptic transmission?
 Synaptic transmission is the process
by which nerve cells communicate
among themselves and with muscles
and glands.
 The synapse is the anatomic site where
this communication occurs.
 Most synaptic transmission is carried
out by a chemical called a
neurotransmitter.
Electrochemical Nerve Impulses
 Resting neuron – sodium is kept from
entering the cell
 Neurons work on an all-or-non law – either
transmits an impulse or doesn’t.
 Depolarization – alteration in charge
 Depolarized m neuron –sodium can enter
cell.
 This exchange of ions initiates an (+) action
potential in the neuron
 If the action potential (nerve impulse) starts,
it is propagated to the end of the axon
 Potassium (K+) ions rush out of the neuron
after sodium ions rush in, which repolarizes
the membrane
 The sodium-potassium pump restores the
original configuration - which is resting
potential (-)
*** This action requires ATP ***
The Reflex Arc
 Reflex – rapid, predictable, and involuntary
responses to stimuli
 is the simplest form of response in the
nervous system
 the same stimulus produces the same
response every time
 Reflex arc – direct route from a sensory
neuron, to an interneuron, to an effector
Regions of the Brain

 Cerebral
hemispheres
(Cerebrum)
 Diencephalon
 Brain stem
 Cerebellum
 The Cerebrum
 This is the largest part of the brain
 The forebrain in humans is dominated by the
cerebral hemispheres
 Consists of right and left hemisphere connected
by the corpus callosum
 Each cerebral hemisphere is composed of
different lobes- frontal, temporal, parietal and
occipital
 Embedded in the cerebrum is the BASAL
ganglia
 Lobes of the Cerebrum
 Frontal Lobe
• Influences the
personality of the
person
• Also responsible for
judgment, abstract
reasoning, social
behavior, language
expression and motor
movement
  Temporal Lobe

This part of the cerebrum

controls the hearing, language
comprehension, storage and
recall of memories

The LIMBIC system is deeply

located in the temporal lobe.
This controls the basic drives
such as hunger, anger,
emotion and sexual drive.
  Parietal Lobe
 This is the principal center
for the reception and
interpretation of Sensation

 interprets and integrates

the sensory inputs like
touch, temperature and
pain

 It also interprets size,

shape, distance and texture
 Occipital Lobe
-This functions mainly
to interpret visual
stimuli
Diencephalon
 Sits on top of the brain stem
 Enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres
 Three parts:
 Thalamus
 Hypothalamus
 Epithalamus
 Thalamus

- 80 percent of the
diencephalon
- is the relay
station of all
sensory stimuli
towards the brain
 Hypothalamus

-small region below the

thalamus
-controls body temperature,
appetite, water balance,
pituitary secretions and sleep-
wake cycle
- Govern sexual reproduction
- involved in almost all
aspects of behavior
- affects both divisions of the
ANS
 Epithalamus

- The most dorsal

portion of the
diencephalons

- involved with the

onset of puberty
and rhythmic
cycles in the body.
Brain Stem
 Lies inferior to the
cerebrum
 center for respiration
and cardiovascular
system
 composed of the
midbrain, the pons
and the medulla
oblongata
Midbrain
-The most superior portion
that connects with the
cerebrum
-Contains numerous ascending
and descending tracts and
fibers
-involved ; motor functions,
eye movements and auditory
control
-Substantia nigra is involved in
voluntary movements
  The Pons
 This connects
with the
cerebrum
 Contains
numerous
ascending and
descending
tracts and fibers
 The Medulla oblongata
 The most inferior portion
of the brainstem
 Serves as the center for
autonomic reflexes to
maintain homeostasis,
regulating respiratory
vasomotor and cardiac
functions
 Serves as exit of cranial
nerves 9,10,11 and 12
Cerebellum
 Two hemispheres
with convoluted
surfaces
 Provides involuntary
coordination of body
movements
 “Arbor vitae” design
of white & grey
matter
Meninges
 A series of tough membrane that
protects the brain and spinal
cord from rubbing against the
bone of the skull and spine.
 These are 3 connective tissue
layers surrounding the brain and
spinal cord.
Layers of the Meninges
1. DURA MATER- the
superficial, thickest layer.
The area above the Dura
mater is called epidural
space
2. ARACHNOID- second
layer, thin and wispy.
3. PIA MATER- the deepest
layer, adhered to the brain
and spinal cord substance
Spaces in the CNS
Epidural Space- space between the skull and the dura
mater
 Subdural space- space between dura mater and the
arachnoid mater
 Subarachnoid space- space between arachnoid mater and
the pia mater that contains the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
In this space, blood vessels are also found

Cerebrospinal fluid- This is the fluid found inside the ventricles

that bathe the brain and spinal cord
- provides protective cushion around the CNS
-Produced by the choroid plexus in the ventricles
-Absorbed by the arachnoid granulations
VENTRICLES
These are CSF filled cavities in the
brain
The lateral ventricle- found in the
cerebrum
The third ventricle- in the center of
the thalamus and hypothalamus
The fourth ventricle- located at the
base of the cerebellum
SPINAL CORD
Spinal Cord Anatomy
 Extends from the medulla
oblongata to the region of T12
 Below T12 is the cauda equina (a
collection of spinal nerves)
 Carries sensory and motor
information
 Each spinal nerve is formed by
the dorsal root (sensory) and
the ventral root (motor)
 8 pairs, Cervical segments
 12 pairs, Thoracic segments
 5 pairs, Lumbar
 5 pairs, Sacral
 1 pair, Coccygeal
Figure 7.18
 Myelin, a fatty substance on the outside of
some axons, gives them a white appearance. The
presence of this layer on masses of neurons make
up the “white matter” while ,absence of myelin
in masses of neuron make up “gray matter”
Somatic Nervous System
 Provide motor
impulses/ voluntary
branch of the
nervous system
 Consist of three
parts
 12 pairs of cranial
nerves from the brain
and
 31 pairs of spinal
nerves from the
spinal cord.
 interneurons
Cranial Nerves
 12 pairs of nerves
that mostly serve the
head and neck
 Numbered in order,
front to back
 Most are mixed
nerves, but three
are sensory only
Cranial Nerves
 I Olfactory nerve – sensory for smell
 II Optic nerve – sensory for vision
 III Oculomotor nerve – motor fibers to eye
muscles
 IV Trochlear – motor fiber to eye muscles
 V Trigeminal nerve – sensory for the face;
motor fibers to chewing muscles
 VI Abducens nerve – motor fibers to
eye muscles
Cranial Nerves
 VII Facial nerve – sensory for taste; motor
fibers to the face
 VIII Vestibulocochlear nerve –
sensory for balance and hearing
 IX Glossopharyngeal nerve – sensory for taste;
motor fibers to the pharynx
 X Vagus nerves – sensory and motor fibers for
pharynx, larynx, and viscera
 XI Accessory nerve – motor fibers to neck and
upper back
 XII Hypoglossal nerve – motor fibers to tongue
The Brachial Plexus (Arm)

Spinal Nerves to know:

 Ulnar Nerve – Motor &
Sensory, “the funny bone”
 Radial Nerve – Motor &
Sensory
 Median Nerve – Motor &
Sensory
The Lumbrosacral Plexus (Leg)

Spinal Nerves:
 Sciatic – M,S
 Femoral – M,S
 Obturator – M,S
 Tibial – M,S
 Common Fibular – M,S
“Of all the diseases of the
nervous system, the most
common difficulty that people
have is pain, and much of that is
nerve-related”
• Epilepsy in which abnormal electrical discharges from brain
cells cause seizures
• Parkinson's disease, which is a progressive nerve disease that
affects movement
• Multiple sclerosis (MS), in which the protective lining of the
nerves is attacked by the body’s immune system
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou
Gehrig's disease, is a motor neuron disease which weakens
the muscles and progressively hampers physical function
• Huntington's disease, which is an inherited condition that
cause the nerve cells in the brain to degenerate
• Alzheimer's disease which covers a wide range of disorders
that impacts mental functions, particularly memory.
• Stroke which occurs when there is bleeding on the brain or
the blow flow to the brain is obstructed;
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), which are mini-type strokes
that last a shorter period of time but mimic stroke symptoms
• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, which is specifically bleeding in
the space between your brain and the surrounding
membrane that can be the result of a trauma or rupturing
of a weak blood vessels
• Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, polio, and epidural
abscess can also affect the nervous system,
 Treatments vary from anti-
inflammatory medications and pain
medications such as
OPIATES , to implant nerve stimulators
and wearable devices
Many people also turn to herbal and
holistic methods to reduce pain, such
as ACUPUNCTURE
 What’s in your
mind becomes
what in your life
so think the
thoughts you
All problems
want to see
are illusions
of mind

Lose your dream

and you will lose
your mind