The most complex system in the body histologically

and physiologically
Network of billion neurons and many more supporting
glial cells
Process information and generate various responses

 Derived from the ectoderm

In the embryo, it arises from

Neural tube: where brain and spinal cord are

derived (glial cells, ependymal cells, and

epithelial cells of the choroid plexus)
Neural crest: nervous tissue outside of CNS like
the ganglia, capsular cells, Schwann cells

 Irritability
Capacity to react in a gradual manner to physical
or chemical stimuli
Conductivity
Transmit excitation rapidly from one place to
another
Integrates and coordinates functions of

the organs
Synthesize chemical compound
Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators

 Neurons or Nerve Cells

Structural and functional unit of the nervous

tissue
Non-neural or Supporting Cells

Parts of a Neuron

Cell body (perikaryon)

trophic or synthetic center

Covered by cell membrane

Vary in size and shape and the

mode of branching of its processes

Well developed RER and free
ribosomes Nissl bodies
Neurofilaments

 Cell body
Generally in the PNS, the body is rounded
In the CNS the cell body is typically

angular or polygonal with slightly

concave surfaces between the processes
Axon hillock is the conical extension in

the cell body where the axon arises

 Nucleus
Large, spherical or ovoid with conspicuous

nucleolus, pale staining or vesicular

Cell processes

Dendrites
Principal signal reception and processing sites

Dendritic spines: first locale for synaptic signals

neuronal plasticity

Axons
Long processes extending from axon hillock

Covered by axolemma
Initial segment :site for excitatory and inhibitory

stimuli summation
Collateral branches : axon branches

Axons
Anterograde transport : kinesin
Retrograde transport : dynein
Membrane potential
Potential difference (-65mV)
Action potential or impulse
-65mV +30mV

Basis

Axon

Dendrites

Number of Processes 1 to a neuron

Several or none

Length

Generally longer

Shorter, terminate in
the vicinity of neuron

Size and shape

Small, cylindrical &

uniform in diameter

Broad-based & taper

off as it branches

Nissl bodies

Absent

Present

Contour or outline

Smooth

Rough due to
presence of fine
spines which are
sites of synaptic
contact

Presence of myelin
sheath

Present

Absent

Direction of impulses

Away from neurons

Toward neurons

Types of Neurons: (Based on the

size and shape of their processes)

Most neurons

Retina, olfactory
mucosa, cochlear and
vestibular ganglia

Spinal and cranial

ganglia

 Motor (efferent) Neurons

Control effector organs
Sensory (afferent) Neurons
Reception of sensory stimuli

 Sites of

functional contact between

neurons or between neurons and other
effector cells (muscle and gland cells)

Responsible for the unidirectional

transmission of nerve impulses

 Converts an electrical signal (impulse)

from the pre-synaptic cell into a chemical

signal that acts on the post-synaptic cell
Transmits information by releasing

neurotransmitters during signaling

process

Types of Synapse

 Glial cells
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglial cells
Ependymal cells
Neuroloemmocyte
Neuropil: dense network of fibers from

processes of both neurons and glial cells that

fills the interneuronal space of the CNS

 Cell body is small and nucleus smaller than

astrocytes
Fewer cell processes and seldom branch
Responsible for synthesis of myelin in the
CNS
Predominant glial cell in the CNS white
matter

 Star-shaped; largest of the glial cells

Most numerous of glial cells
Have bundles of intermediate filaments made

of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)

 Fibrous astrocytes
Located in the white matter
With few long processes

Protoplasmic astrocytes
Found in the gray matter
With many short-branched processes

 Maintain homeostasis in the extracellular

fluid
Bind neurons to capillaries and to the pia
mater
Structural support
Repair processes

 Small elongated cells with short irregular

processes
Phagocytic cells of the Mononuclearphagocytic system

 A layer of cuboidal or low columnar cells lining

the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of

the spinal cord

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain

Spinal cord

 Cerebrum

Cerebellum
Spinal cord
White matter
Gray matter

 Six layers with most neurons arranged

vertically
Efferent pyramidal neurons most
abundant
Integration of sensory info and
initiation of voluntary motor
responses

 Coordinates muscular activity

3 layers:
Outer molecular layer
Central layer Purkinje cells
Inner granular layer
Formed by smallest neurons

 Surfaces of cerebrum and cerebellum

(forming cerebral cortex)

Contain neuronal bodies, dendrites and
the initial unmyelinated portions of axons
and glial cells
This is the region at which synapses occur

Nuclei are aggregates of neuronal bodies

forming islands of gray matter embedded

in the white matter

 Central portion
Main component is myelinated axons and the

myelin-producing oligodendrocytes
Does not contain neuronal cell bodies

 White matter is peripheral while gray

matter is central
Assuming the shape of an H
Where central canal (lined by ependymal

cells) is located
Anterior horn (motor)
Posterior horn (sensory)

 Gray matter
Contains abundant astrocytes and large
neuronal bodies
White matter
Surrounds gray matter
Contains oligodendrocytes and tracts of myelinated

axons

 Main components are

Nerves
Ganglia
Nerve endings

 Consist of axons enveloped by a special

myelin sheath
Groups of nerve fibers constitute the tracts of
the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves
Myelin sheath form gaps along the path called
the nodes of Ranvier
Represent the spaces between adjacent

Schwann cells (neurolemmocytes) along

the length of the axon

 Cranial Nerves
Spinal nerves

I
II
III
IV
V
VI

Olfactory
Optic
Oculomotor
Trochlear
Trigeminal
Abducens

VII
Facial
VIII Auditory
IX Glossopharyngeal
X
Vagus
XI
Spinal Accessory
XII
Hypoglossal

31 pairs of spinal nerves

Ganglia
Sensory ganglia

Autonomic ganglia

 Afferent pathways (ascending pathways)

Carry sensory impulses toward the CNS

Efferent pathways (descending pathways)

Innervate skeletal muscle or effector organs by

transmitting motor impulses away from the

CNS

 Relay information from the CNS to muscles

and effector organs through

Cranial and spinal nerve tracts that are

arranged in fascicles
Multiple fascicles bound together to form the
peripheral nerve

 Somatic Nervous System

Consists of pathways that regulate voluntary

motor control
Ex. Skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

Involuntary control of organ system (viscera)
Sympathetic Nervous System: mobilize energy in
times of need (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic Nervous System: conserve and
restore energy

 Cranium
Meninges
CSF

Vertebral Column

 Composed of 8 bones that fuse early in

childhood
Cranial vault encloses and protects the brain
and its associated structures
Floor of the cranial vault is irregular and
contains many foramina for cranial nerves,
blood vessels and the spinal cord to exit

 Dura mater
Arachnoid membrane
Pia mater

 Thick external dense, fibroelatic CT

continous w/ the periosteum

Composed of 2 layers with venous sinuses
between them
Epidural space
Space between the cranium and dura mater

 Characterized by its spongy web-like

structure
Arachnoid villi protrudes into venous
sinuses
Space between the dura and arachnoid is
the subdural space which contain many
veins
disruption of veins may cause subdural

hematoma

 Follows the contour of the brain and spinal

cord very closely

Provides support for the blood vessels
supplying the brain tissue
Subarachnoid space lies between the
arachnoid and pia mater

Contains cerebrospinal fluid

Disruption of the intracranial vessels can lead

to subarachnoid hemorrhage

The choroid plexus arise from pial membrane

 Clear, colorless fluid which cushions the

CNS by protecting soft tissue from jolts

and blows
Produced by choroid plexuses made up of
ependymal cells
Approximately 600 ml is produced daily
Circulate within ventricles of brain,
subarachnoid space and spinal cord

 Choroid plexuses of the lateral, third, and

fourth ventricles produce the major portion

of the CSF
Normal CSF pressure is 120 180 mm of
H 2O or approximately 9 14 mm Hg
pressure

CSF from lateral ventricles

Interventricular foramen
(foramen of Monro)

Third ventricle
Cerebral aqueduct
(aqueduct of Sylvius)
Fourth ventricle
Pass either foramen of Luschka or
foramen of Magendie

Subarachnoid space of
the brain and spinal cord

 33 vertebrae
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar

5 fused sacral
4-5 fused coccygeal

Intervertebral disks

 Highly selective interface between the blood

and the CNS

Depends on special properties of the capillary
endothelium(main structural component)
Have tight junctions that are highly resistant to

passage of ions or small molecules

Perivascular feet of astrocytes

 Protects the CNS from abrupt changes in the

concentration of ions in the extra-cellular

fluid and from molecules that may interfere
with normal neural function
Disadvantage
It excludes some drugs particularly antibiotics

 Epineurium
Dense ,irregular fibrous coat

Perineurium
Sleeves of specialized CT formed by layers of

flattened epithelial-like cells

Surrounds each fascicle
Endoneurium
Sparse layer of loose CT that merges w/ type IV

collagen, laminin and proteins produced by the

Schwann cells

 Contain both afferent and efferent fibers

Nerves possessing sensory fibers are called sensory

nerves; those with motor fibers are motor nerves

Most nerves have mixed nerves

 Ovoid structures containing neuronal cell

bodies and glial cells supported by connective

tissues
Serve as relay stations to transmit nerve
impulses
Sensory ganglia receive afferent impulses that

go to the CNS
Autonomic ganglia are especially found in the
walls of the digestive tract

 Satellite cells
Flattened cells which form a continuous

capsule around nerve cell bodies in the

ganglion

 Schwann cells or Neurolemmocytes

Elongated cells arranged end to end along

the course of the nerve fibers in the PNS

Form a long thin tube which surround the
nerve fiber called the sheath of Schwann
or neurilemma
Responsible for the formation of myelin
sheath in the PNS

Myelination of PNS axons

Neuronal Plasticity and Regeneration

Neuronal stem cells are present in adult CNS
the potential of neural stem cells to allow
regeneration of CNS components is a subject
of intense investigation
peripheral nerves have a good capacity for
regeneration and return of function

Thank you!