NERVOUS SYSTEM

KEVIN MICHAEL M. JASANI

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• coordinates all body functions,
enabling a person to adapt to
changes in internal and external
environment.
• composed mainly of the nerve
cells (neurons) and supporting
cells (neuroglia)
 THE NEURON

• basic conducting cell of the

nervous system
• highly specialized but cannot
reproduce itself
• main parts:
• cell body (soma)
• the fibers: axon and dendrites.
 THE NEURON

• AXON: long process with myelin

sheath; conducts impulses away
from the cell body.

• DENDRITES: short, thick, diffuse

branching processes that receive
impulses and conduct them
towards the cell body.
 THE NEUROGLIA

• supporting cells
• supply nutrients to the neurons and
help maintain the electrical
potential
• also form part of the blood-brain
barrier
 THE NEUROGLIA

• OLIGODENDROCYTES: produce
myelin sheath in the CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYTEM

• SCHWANN CELLS: produce myelin

sheath in the PERIPHERAL NERVOUS
SYSTEM.
 CNS

PNS
 NERVOUS SYSTEM

CENTRAL PERIPHERAL
NERVOUS NERVOUS
SYSTEM SYSTEM

SPINAL CRANIAL SPINAL

BRAIN NERVES
CORD NERVES

SOMATIC/ AUTONOMIC/
VOLUNTARY INVOLUNTARY
NERVOUS NERVOUS
SYSTEM SYSTEM
 THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

CEREBRUM CEREBELLUM DIENCEPHALON BRAINSTEM

THALAMUS PONS

HYPOTHALAMUS MEDULLA
OBLONGATA

PINEAL BODY MIDBRAIN

FIG. 8.23
 THE CEREBRUM

• This is the largest part of the brain

• 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 TEMPORAL PARIETAL OCCIPITAL

PERSONALITY HEARING PRINCIPAL CENTER MAINLY FOR
FOR THE VISION
JUDGEMENT LIMBIC SYSTEM RECEPTION AND
(HUNGER, ANGER, INTERPRETATION
ABSTRACT EMOTION, SEXUAL OF SENSATION
REASONING DRIVE)
TOUCH
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR STORAGE AND TEMPERATURE
RECALL OF PAIN
LANGUAGE MEMORIES
EXPRESSION SIZE
(BROCA’S AREA) LANGUAGE SHAPE
COMPREHENSION DISTANCE
MOTOR (WERNICKE’S TEXTURE
MOVEMENT AREA)
FIG. 8.28
 THE CEREBELLUM

• second largest brain region

• two hemispheres
• Function: maintain muscle tone,
coordinate muscle movement,
posture and control
balance/equilibrium
• If damaged, muscle tone decreases
and fine motor movements become
very clumsy
 THE BRAINSTEM

• inferior to the cerebrum

• continuous with the cerebrum and
the spinal cord
• composed of the midbrain, the pons
and the medulla oblongata
• Function: houses the center for
respiration and cardiovascular
system
 THE MEDULLA OBLONGATA

• most inferior portion of the

brainstem
• center for autonomic reflexes to
maintain homeostasis, regulating
respiratory vasomotor and cardiac
functions
• Serves as exit of cranial nerves
9,10,11 and 12
 THE DIENCEPHALON
• THALAMUS: the relay
station of all sensory
stimuli towards the
brain.
• HYPOTHALAMUS:
controls body
temperature,
appetite, water
balance, pituitary
secretions and sleep-
wake cycle.
THE BASAL GANGLIA
BRAIN CIRCULATION: THE CIRCLE OF
WILLIS
 THE SPINAL CORD
• A long cylindrical structure
extending from the foramen
magnum to the L1 in adult, L3/L4
in children.
 THE MENINGES
• 3 connective tissue layers surrounding the
brain and spinal cord.
• 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
 THE MENINGES
DURA MATER ARACHNOID PIA MATER
MATER
SUPERFICIAL, SECOND LAYER, DEEPEST LAYER.
THICKEST LAYER. THIN AND WISPY.
ADHERED TO THE
EPIDURAL SPACE: SUB-ARACHNOID BRAIN AND
AREA ABOVE THE SPACE: SPACE SPINAL CORD
DURA MATER. BETWEEN THE SUBSTANCE.
ARACHNOID
AND PIA MATER;
CONTAINS CSF.
 THE VENTRICLES
• CSF-filled cavities in the brain.
LATERAL THIRD FOURTH
VENTRICLE VENTRICLE VENTRICLE
FOUND IN THE IN THE CENTER OF LOCATED AT THE
CEREBRUM. THE THALAMUS BASE OF THE
AND CEREBELLUM.
HYPOTHALAMUS.
 CEREBROSPINAL FLUID
• fluid found inside the ventricles that
bathe the brain and spinal cord.
• FUNCTION: PROVIDES PROTECTIVE
CUSHION AROUND THE CNS.
• PRODUCED BY THE CHOROID PLEXUS
IN THE VENTRICLES.
• Absorbed by the arachnoid
granulations
 TRACING THE CSF PATHWAY

Lateral ventricle

Interventricular foramen of Monro

Third ventricle

Cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius

Fourth ventricle

Exits trough the median foramen of Magendie or the lateral

foramen of Luscka

Subarachnoid spaces in the cisterna magna, spinal cord

subarachnoid space of the brain

superior sagittal sinus

 THE CRANIAL NERVES

• Are 12 pairs of nerves that exit the

brain
• Can be classified as
• Sensory
• Motor
• Mixed (sensory and motor)
THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

• part of the peripheral nervous

system that innervates cardiac
muscles, smooth muscles and
glands
Functionally divided into:
• Sympathetic Nervous System
• Parasympathetic Nervous System
THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM
• Origin:
• T1-L2/L3 segments of the spinal cord
(thoracolumbar)
• FLIGHT and FIGHT response
• Neurotransmitters:
• Epinephrine (ADRENAL GLAND)
• Norepinephrine (ADRENAL GLAND)
• ADRENERGIC system
 PARASYMPATHETIC SYSTEM

• Cranio-sacral location
• Cranial nerves- 3, 7, 9, 10 and S2-S4
• CHOLINERGIC system
• The vegetative system
• Feed and Breed/ Rest and Digest
responses
• Neurotransmitter is Acetylcholine
 SYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• FIGHT OR FLIGHT
• ADRENERGIC RESPONSE
• EPINEPHRINE
• INCREASE IN HEART
FUNCTION
• DECREASE IN GIT FUNCTION
• VASOCONSTRICTION
• BRONCHODILATION
• MYDRIASIS (DILATION)
• BLADDER RELAXATION
(DECREASE IN U/O)
• EJACULATION
• SWEATING
PARASYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYTEM
• REST AND DIGEST
• CHOLINERGIC RESPONSE
• ACETYLCHOLINE
• DECREASE IN HEART
FUNCTION
• INCREASE IN GIT FUNCTION
• VASODILATION
• BRONCHOSPASM
• MIOSIS (CONSTRICTION)
• BLADDER CONTRACTION
(INCREASE IN U/O)
• ERECTION
• DEFECATION (RELAXED
SPHINCTER)
 NERVE PHYSIOLOGY
• The nerve cells are excitable cells
• Any stimulus will change the
membrane potential and cause
an action potential to generate
impulse transmission.
• Myelin Sheath: responsible for the
SALTATORY conduction
increases the nerve transmission.
FIG. 8.11
FIG. 8.12
 THE SYNAPSE
• The region where communication
occurs between 2 neurons or between
a neuron and a target cell.

• A neurotransmitter is released from the

nerve cell towards the other cell with
receptor
FIG. 8.13
SPECIAL SENSES
 THE EYE AND
THE VISUAL PATHWAY
• Vision is made possible by the stimulation
of the photoreceptor cells in the retina
• Receptor cells are the RODS and CONES
• The eye is made up of three layers
• Fibrous layer- sclerae and cornea
• Uvea- choroid and iris and ciliary bodies
• Nervous coat- retina
FIG. 9.13
 THE OPTIC NERVE
• This is the collection of fibers
from the cells in the retina
• It passes through the brainstem
as the optic chiasm
• it will reach the occipital lobe
for visual interpretation
THE VESTIBULAR APPARATUS

• part of the ear that helps in

equilibrium/ balance
• Location: inner ear
• The saccule and utricle control
LINEAR motion
• The semicircular ducts control the
Angular movement/ acceleration
THE HEARING APPARATUS
 THE OLFACTORY APPARATUS

• Nose

• Olfactory nerve (CN I)

• Stimulation form the olfactory nerves will

reach the limbic system of the
brain(hunger).
 THE GUSTATORY APPARATUS

TASTE BUDS:
• THESE ARE THE RECEPTOR CELLS FOR TASTE.

Basic taste modalities:

• Sweet- tip of the tongue
• Salty- over the dorsum of the tongue
• Sour- sides of the tongue
• Bitter- back of the tongue