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Nervous Tissue

One of basic tissue types in the body (others are Epithelial, Muscle, Connective Tissue) Made up of two parts : 1) Central Nervous System [in the form of Brain and Spinal Cord] 2) Peripheral Nervous System [in the form of Peripheral nerves]

FUNCTIONS OF NERVOUS TISSUE


Receives stimuli in the form of sensation from inside and outside of body Send information to centres (in CNS) to be analyzed. They are later interpreted. (example : Images seen by eye, sound we hear by ear are transformed into Action Potential, then analyzed in brain. Finally, reaction/responds occurs) Reacting or response: 1) Muscular response 2) Glandular secretion

PRINCIPLE CELL
Nerve Cells / Neurons
Found exclusively in Central Nervous System Outside of Central Nervous System : could be found as aggregates called GANGLIA Ganglia : Group of neurons which are present outside the Central Nervous System One of largest cell in the body
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Very active - attracts very prominent organelles; prominent nucleus, prominent nucleolus, prominent RER, prominent microfilaments etc. Has polar (like the epithelial tissue, which we know, consist of basal and apical layer) Dendrites
Projects from one side / one pole of cell (axon projects from the other side of cell body) Function : conduct impulse towards the cell body

Nissl bodies - refers to RER in cell body of neurons. (In muscle : sarcoplasmic reticulum)
Present all over body, extend to dendrites, but NOT present in AXON. Terminate in AXON HILLOCK : site of initiation of impulse.

Neurofilaments - concerned with the shape and support of neuron Microtubules - movement of material inside ( eg : neurotransmitters )
Synapses We have Axons, and the terminal boutons. We have synaptic vesicles for neurotransmitter.

TYPES OF NEURONS
There are 3 types based on the presence of dendrites : 1) Multipolar - several direct branches (major type of neuron in the body) eg: motor neurons
The doctor said that if they ask in the exam what type of neuron is motor neurons, the answer is multipolar.

2) Bipolar - single direct extension, one axon (presence in special senses) eg: vision, hearing, taste, olfactory 3) Unipolar - direct single extension, (pseudopolar) (- less sensations - cold, warm)
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SUPPORT CELLS
Neuroglia cells form almost half the volume of CNS Oligodendrocytes
They are myelin forming cells in CNS (myelin acts as insulator because we don't want axon to be exposed to outside - that may distrupt action potential) Oligodendrocytes sit on top of axon, and send extension from their membrane and then surround the axon by several layers Myelin is extension of outer membrane of oligodendrocytes in CNS / schwann cells in PNS One single oligodendrocyte can myelinate several nerves! ****Keep this in mind

Schwann cells (myelin forming cell in Peripheral Nervous System)


We need many Schwann cells to myelin single axon in the PNS, in contrast to oligondendrocytes in CNS.

Process of myelination: The Schwaan cells will send extensions of the membrane and a part of cytoplasm and surrounds the axons with several layers of the membranes. (gray: axon, brown: schwaan cells). After a while, whatever cytoplasm left will be squeezed out and all of the membrane will fuse together and form the layer we call Myelin Sheath.

Microglia

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(Picture of microglia) They are phagocytic cells : immune cells found in CNS function : phagocytosis for any foreign material in the body **Remember this! Derived from monocytes n macrophages. Ependymal cells Simple columnar epithelium with cilia Found in ventricles of brain (we have four ventricles in brain; we will take this in the future) that are lined by ependymal cells. Ependymal cells interact with blood vessel in that region, and filtrate the Cerebrospinal Fluid that circulates around spinal cord and brain. (They also function in producing the Cerebrospinal Fluid)

Astrocytes
Can be seen by Heavy metal staining Most numerous in gray matter, less in white matter# Star shaped, long branches processes that terminate at basal membrane of surrounding capillaries, and create what we perivascular feet.

Responsible for blood brain barrier determines what enters the cell ( Doctor
said they may ask question about this )

COVERING OF Central Nervous System


note : this star * indicates additional information taken from wikipedia

Protective membrane called Meninges


(remember their arrangement from outside to inside) Dura Matter Arachnoid Pia Matter

1) Dura Matter
*([Latin. Dura: Tough + mater: Mother]
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also rarely called meninx fibrosa, or pachymeninx. It is a thick, durable membrane, closest to the skull)

2) Arachnoid Matter
*(It provides a cushioning effect for the central nervous system. It exists as a thin, transparent membrane. It is composed of fibrous tissue)

3) Pia Matter
*([Lt. Pia: Soft + mater: Mother] is a very delicate membrane. It is the meningeal envelope which firmly adheres to the surface of the brain and spinal cord. As such it follows all the minor contours of the brain (gyri and sulci). Like the arachnoid matter, it is a very thin membrane composed of fibrous tissue covered on its outer surface by a sheet of flat cells thought to be impermeable to fluid)
*Quick Trivia :
The arachnoid and pia mater are sometimes together called the leptomeninges.

Spaces
Epidural : anaesthesia injected here (in surgery/pregnancy)
*It is the space lying outside the dura mater

Subdural : where we have the serous fluid


* In physiology, the term serous fluid is used for various bodily fluids that are typically pale yellow and transparent, and of a benign nature, that fill the inside of body cavities.

Subarachnoid : site where we have the Cerebrospinal fluid (fluid that circulates around brain and spinal cord). Act as shock absorbance. If this fluid is not presence, brain will be injured when collides with bony structures that protrude

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Doctor told us to memorize this: Dura matter Subdural space Arachnoid matter Subarachnoid space Pia Matter (like a visceral layer of brain)

Brain consists of 2 layers:


1. Outer cortex called Grey Matter contains neurons 2. Inner folia called White Matter contains support cells
But when we reach the spinal cord, the case is reversed, the white matter is outside and the grey matter is inside.

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This is to show you the granular layer, purkinje neurons, EM slide of the doctors work-that is published in a German Journal! (in cerebellum of human) . We found out that we have two types of purkinje neurons : light stain and dark stain Whats the significance of these? We still dont know. Maybe in the future.

The structure diagrammatically we have:

Polar type of cell, branching system (dendrites), cell body, nucleus, nucleolus, and surrounding that is the Glial cells support cells (the dots),

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Nervous Tissue

Basic Cell

Support Cells

Neurons

Neuroglia (Glial cells)

(Little box on top right) In this picture, you see cross section of nerve bundles, different from artery and vein, because nerves dont have lumen. We can see the pink dots, we call them pituicytes (a pituicyte is a glial cell of the posterior pituitary). We see nerve fibers surrounded by connective tissue covering called epineurium (from outside), just like in muscles (epimysium) and then covered by perineurium (inside).

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This is specific stain that gives myelin sheath black color, and in the centre is the axon. The doctor said we see this picture in lab

** The doctor noted a few things before he ended the lecture : ** Regarding exam : Go to right hall -Study Slides very carefully!! -Whatever notes you have taken, if you don't understand, go back to ur book!!! Done by: Farah A thousand apologies for any mistakes and missed out information.!! I wish everyone all the best in everything! May God bless.

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