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OrganizatiOn Of nervOus tissue

Organization Nervous Tissue

Laszlo Vass, Ed.D. Version 42-0017-01-01

of

L ab RepoRt assistant
This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiments questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor. Purpo se What is the purpose of this exercise?

Are there any safety concerns associated with this exercise? If so, list what they are and what precautions should be taken.

Exercise 1: Multipolar Neurons

obseRvations
Sketch your observations through the microscope of the neuron, the ox spinal cord smear, and the teased myelinated nerve. Please describe what you observed on each slide.

Questions
A. What is the function of a neuron?
To carry and transmit electrical impulses generated by both internal and external stimuli.

B. What is the difference between a neuron and a nerve?

the body from Nerves are organizes bundles of nervous system cells. These bundles are assigned specific areas of which they receive and transmit information. Neurons are specialized cells in the nervous system. They are designed to carry and transmit electrical impulses generated by both internal and external stimuli.

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OrganizatiOn Of nervOus tissue C. What gives a multipolar neuron its name?

Their many branches, processes and extensions that come off of their cell bodies.

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D. What are the functions of the dendrites and axons?

Dendrites receive incoming signals for the nerve cell. Axons are the branches from the cell body that carry the outgoing signals of the cells to other cells in the body, including other neurons.

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OrganizatiOn Of nervOus tissue

Exercise 2: Structures of Selected Neurons

Questions
A. Which slide contained bipolar neurons?
Purkinje

B. Which slide contained unipolar neurons?

Dorsal Root Ganglion

C. What was unique about the dorsal root ganglion compared to the other two slides?
You can see the nissle substance, nucleus, satellite cells and capsules.

Exercise 3: The Neuroglia and Supporting Cells

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Data Table 1: The Neuroglia and Supporting Cells

Cell
Astrocytes Microglia Ependymal Oligodendocytes Satellite Schwann

Function Support and brace neurons to nutrient blood capillaries Provide protection and sense neuron injuries. Can be phagocytic.

Location (CNS/PNS) CNS

CNS

Ciliated cells found in the cavities of the CNS brain. Help to circulate cerebrospinal fluid. Makes the myelin sheath in the central CNS nervous system. Surround neuron cell bodies with ganglia. Function is mostly unknown. Produces the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
PNS PNS

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Exercise 4: Structure of a Nerve

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A. Fill in the functions for the labeled structures.

Data Table 2: Structure of a Nerve

Item Description Outermost layer of connective tissues surrounding a peripheral nerve 1 Connects the brain and spinal cord with various parts of the body 2 Assist in transportation of blood within the body 3 Structures that conduct electrical impulses away from the cell body 4 Insulating layer around a nerve fiber 5 Envelop nerve fibers of the PNS 6 7 Layer of delicate connective tissues that encloses the myelin sheath of a nerve fiber within fascicullus Small bundle of nerve fibers, enclosed by perineurium 8 Composed of connective tissue protective sheath that surrounds 9
bundled fascicles

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Questions

OrganizatiOn Of nervOus tissue

A. Describe the functions of the following parts of a nerve: 1.

fascicullus

Endoneurium

layer of delicate connective tissue that encloses the myelin sheath of a nerve fiber within

2.

Epineurium

outermost layer of connective tissue surrounding a peripheral nerve

3.

Perineurium

composed of connective tissue protective sheath that surrounds bundled fascicles

4.

Fascicle

small bundle of nerve fibers, enclosed by perineurium

B. What is a nerve?

Cable-like bundle of peripheral axons carrying sensory to CNS and motor from CNS

C. Differentiate the central nervous system from the peripheral nervous system.
CNS is the brain and spinal cord. PNS contains all the nerves and ganglia for the nerves they can be considered as motor, sensory, or autonomic.

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OrganizatiOn Of nervOus tissue

Exercise 5: Dissection and Identification of Nerves in the Cat

Questions
Describe what each of the following nerves do in the body: 1. Radial nerve:
Supplies the upper limb

2.

Median Nerve:
Upper limb

3.

Sciatic Nerve:

Begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb

4.

Fibular Nerve:

innervates the peroneus longus, peroneus brevis and the short head of the biceps femoris

5.
the adjacent

Ulnar Nerve:

largest unprotected nerve in the human body directly connected to the pinky finger and

half of the ring finger

A. Compare the brachial plexus nerves in cats and humans.

The nerves

The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that lead from the chest to the arms or forelimbs in the cat.

of the brachial plexus innervate the muscles of the chest, arm and shoulder.

B. What would be the consequences of an injury to the sacral plexus?

Symptoms may include pain, loss of motor control, and sensory deficits.

Conclusions
Describe the structure of nervous tissue and relate it to its function. Nervous tissue is responsible for sensing stimuli and transmitting signals to and from different parts of an organism. Neurons are the basic unit of nervous tissue. A neuron consists of two major parts: cell body, and nerve processes (axons & dendrites).
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