Nervous tissue

Nervous tissue is found within the most highly specialized system of the body, the nervous system, which is composed of an intercommunicating network of specialized cells (neurons) and support cells (glia).

 The anatomical and functional unit of the nervous system is the neuron. All neurons have the same basic structure, though they vary greatly in size and shape within the nervous system A neuron consists of a large cell body, which contains a nucleus and cytoplasm known as perikaryon, as well as protoplasmic processes (one axon and one or more dendrites) Neurons are able to respond to stimuli (such as touch, sound, light, and so on), conduct impulses, and communicate with each other (and with other types of cells like muscle cells).

(structure)

Type according to function

Neuron cell body

Major biosynthetic center has usual organelles except for centrioles
Nissl bodies - RER Neurofibrils Pigment inclusions
Melanin (black) Iron-containing pigment (red) Lipofuscin (brown) - by-product of lysosomal activity

Nuclei - clusters of cell bodies in the CNS Ganglia - clusters of cell bodies in the PNS

Perikaryon (cell body

Dendrites
Short branching processes Have most organelles found in cell body Receive input Conduct graded impulses toward the cell body Dendritic spines structures on highly branched dendrites that form synapses with other neurons in CNS

dendrites

 A dendritic spine (or spine) is a small membranous protrusion from a neuron's dendrite that typically receives input from a single synapse of an axon. Dendritic spines serve as a storage site for synaptic strength and help transmit electrical signals to the neuron's cell body. Most spines have a bulbous head (the spine head), and a thin neck that connects the head of the spine to the shaft of the dendrite. The dendrites of a single neuron can contain hundreds to thousands of spines. In addition to spines providing an anatomical substrate for memory storage and synaptic transmission, they may also serve to increase the number of possible contacts between neurons

The Axon
Axon Hillock Axoplasm
Contains the same organelles as the cell body except Nissl bodies Membrane elements and proteins must be made in the cell body and transported down the axon

Membrane polarity

Synapsis

Glial cells

 Astrocytes: Form the blood-brain barrier (by holding together neurons and blood vessel with a separation into a two-layered structure). [ ii ] Oligodendrites: Form the myelin sheath around axons of the CNS. Help to hold nerve fibers together [iii.] Microglia: Phagocyte cells that migrate through the CNS removing foreign matter and degenerated brain tissue. [iv.] Ependymal cells Epithelial cells that line the brain and central canal of the spinal cord and form cerebrospinal fluid and aid in its circulation. b. Found in PNS [i.] Schwann cells Form myelin sheaths around peripheral axons and are composed of:

CNS

Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent)

SOMATIC NERVE

Sympathatic and parasympathtic

AUTONOMIC NERVE

Meninges