Introduction to Nervous System

Organization of the Nervous System

Central nervous system - CNS Brain and Spinal Cord (in dorsal body cavity) Integration and command center interprets sensory input and responds to input Peripheral nervous system - PNS Paired Spinal and Cranial nerves

Carries messages to and from the spinal cord and brain links parts of the body to the CNS

Brain (CNS)
Weight : 1.5 Kg. All the structures located within a hard bony skull

Divided into three parts

Telencephalon Diencephalon

1. Fore brain (Proencephalon) 2. Mid brain (Mesencephalon) 3. Hind brain (Rhombencephalon)

Contains four interconnected cavities, the cerebral ventricles, that contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

PNS - Two Functional Divisions

Sensory (afferent) Division Somatic afferent nerves impulses from skin, skeletal muscles, and joints to the CNS Visceral afferent nerves impulses from visceral organs to the CNS Motor (efferent) Division

Transmits impulses from the CNS to effector organs,(bring about) a motor response

Motor Division: two subdivisions

Somatic Nervous System (voluntary) Somatic motor nerve fibers (axons) that conduct impulses from CNS to Skeletal muscles allows conscious control of skeletal muscles Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) (involuntary) Visceral motor nerve fibers that regulate smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands Two functional divisions sympathetic and parasympathetic

Structure of Neuron
Functional and anatomical unit of the nervous system.
Size : 5 to 20 micrometer - 100 million neurons

Basic function is conduction of impulses

During ones life time, the number of neurons does not vary and remains constant - size increases as the organism grows

Cannot regenerate as they lack centrioles. Due to any cause if there is death of a neuron it is not replaced by a new neuron but by neuroglial cells
Growth of a neuron is stimulated by neurotrphins.

Neuron
Long life, mostly amitotic, high metabolic rate (cannot survive for long time without O2)

Nerve Cell Body

Contains the nucleus and a nucleolus The major biosynthetic center

Has no centrioles
Has well-developed Nissl bodies (rough ER) Axon hillock cone-shaped area where axons arise

Neurofibrils present

Processes
Extensions from the nerve cell body. The CNS contains both neuron cell bodies and their processes. The PNS consists mainly of neuron processes. Two types: Axons and Dendrites Bundles of neuron processes are called Tracts in the CNS and Nerves in the PNS

Dendrites
Short, tapering, diffusely branched processes The main receptive, or input regions of the neuron (provide a large surface area for receiving signals from other neurons)

These electrical signals are not nerve impulses (not action potentials), but are short distance signals called graded potentials

Axons
1. Uniform diameter arising from the axon hillock, only one axon per neuron 2. At &beyond the axon hillock is the initial segment Consists of more Na channels -AP 3.A long axon is called a nerve fiber, Terminal branches called the axon terminus (synaptic knob)

Axons: Function
Generate and transmit action potentials (nerve impulses), typically away from the cell body (neurotransmitters are released) Movement of substances along axons: Anterograde - toward axonal terminal (mitochondria, cytoskeletal, or membrane components) Retrograde - away from axonal terminal (organelles for recycling)
Anterograde Retrograde

Myelin Sheath
Whitish, fatty (protein-lipoid), segmented sheath around most long axons dendrites are unmyelinated Protects the axon Electrically insulates fibers from one another Increases the speed of nerve impulse transmission

Myelin Sheath
Formed by Schwann cells in the PNS
A Schwann cell envelopes the axon.

The concentric layers are wrapped around the axon - myelin sheath
Neurilemma cytoplasm and exposed membrane of a Schwann cell

Nodes of Ranvier
Gaps in the myelin sheath between adjacent Schwann cells

Important for saltatory conduction (fast )

Axons of the CNS

Both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers are present

Myelin sheaths are formed by oligodendrocytes

Nodes of Ranvier are more widely spaced

There is no neurilemma (cell extensions are coiled around axons)

White matter dense collections of myelinated fibers Grey matter mostly soma and unmyelinated fibers

Supporting Cells: Neuroglia

Each has a specific function, but generally they: 1. Provide supportive for neurons

2. Segregate and insulate neurons

3. Produce chemicals that guide young neurons the proper connections to

Neuroglia in the CNS Astrocytes Microglia Ependymal Cells Oligodendrocytes Neuroglia in the PNS Satellite Cells Schwann Cells

Astrocytes
Most abundant, versatile, highly branched glial cells Cling to neurons, synaptic endings, and cover nearby capillaries (Blood brain Barrier)

Support neurons
Anchor neurons to nutrient supplies Control the chemical environment (recapture K+ ions and neurotransmitters)

Microglia
Microglia small, ovoid cells with long spiny processes

microorganisms or dead neurons are engulfed,

Ependymal Cells
Ependymal cells Line the central cavities of the brain and spinal column

Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes branched cells that line the thicker CNS nerve fibers and wrap around them, producing an insulating covering the Myelin sheath

Schwann Cells
Schwann cells - surround fibers of the PNS and form insulating myelin sheaths

Saltatory Conduction

Myelinated regions of axon are electrically insulated. Electrical charge moves along the axon rather than across the membrane. Action potentials occur only at unmyelinated regions: nodes of Ranvier.

Myelin sheath

Node of Ranvier