PHYSIOLOGY & ANATOMY

NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nervous System- involves in some way in
nearly every body function.
Functions:
Receiving sensory input- sensation
from the stimuli.
Integrating information
Controlling muscle and glands
Maintaining Homeostasis
Establishing and maintaining mental
activity- central and mental activity.
2 MAJOR DIVISION OF NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Central Nervous System(CNS)brainstem and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)nervous tissue outside the
CNS( nerves and ganglia).
Carries information about
different tissue of the body to
the CNS and carries
commands from the CNS.
Sensory division afferent (toward) PNS
conducts action potentials from sensory
receptors to the CNS.
Sensory Neuron- neurons that transmit
action potential from the periphery to the
CNS.
Motor Division efferent (away)- PNS
conducts action potential from the CNS to
effector organs(muscle and gland).
Somatic Nervous System- action
potential from the CNS to skeletal
muscle.
Autonomic Nervous Systemtransmits action potential from the
CNS to cardiac muscle, smooth
muscle and glands.
Parasympathetic Division
Sympathetic Division
Enteric Nervous System- unique
subdivision of PNS. It has both
sensory and motor neurons contained
wholly within the digestive tract.
Can function without input from
the CNS.

Motor Neurons- neurons that transmit

action potentials from the CNS toward the
periphery.

CELLS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Neurons- receive stimulus, conduct action
potentials and transmit signals to other
neurons or effector organs. Not capable of
cell divison.

cell body- single nucleus . source of

information for gene expression.
Dendrites- receiver information from
the other neurons or from sensory
receptors and transmit the information
toward the neurons cell body. short,
high branching cytoplasmic
extensions.
Axon-single long cell process
extending from the neuron cell body.
Axon of sensory neurons
conduct action potentials
toward the CNS.
Axon of motor neurons conducts
action potential away from the
CNS.
axon hillock- where axon
leaves neuron cell body.
Collateral axons- form by the
axon that remain branched or
unbranched.
Surrounded by myelin sheath.

Types of Neurons

Multipolar Neurons- many

dendrites and a single axon. ( motor
neurons)
Bipolar Neurons - two process: one
dendrites and one axon. (retina of
the eye and nasal cavity)
Pseudo unipolar Neurons- single
process extending from the cell body.
It has two process:
One process extend to the
periphery
One process extend to the
CNS.

 Sensory neuron
Glial Cells (neuroglia)- primarily supportive
cells of the CNS and PNS. They do not
conduct action potential. They are capable
of cell division.

Astrocytes- major supporting cells

in the CNS. It can stimulate or inhibit
the signalling activity of nearby
neurons. Star shaped.
Blood- brain barrierpermeability barrier to isolate
the brain from the damages of
neural tissue.
Ependymal cells- produce
cerebrospinal fluid.
Microglia- acts as immune cells of
the CNS. Help protect the brain by
removing bacteria and cell debris.
Oligodendrocytes- provide
insulating material that surrounds the
axon in the CNS.
Schwann Cells- provide insulating
material that surrounds the axon in
the PNS.

Myelin Sheath- specialized layer that wrap

around the axon of some neurons. Formed
by cells process of oligodendrocytes in the
CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS. insulator
that prevents almost all ions movements
across the cell membrane

Myelinated axon- axon with myelin

sheath.
Unmyelinated axon- axon without
myelin sheath.
Multipolar neuron mostly consist
unmyelinated axon.
Nodes of Ranvier- gaps in the
myelin sheath..

Multiple sclerosis- disease of

myelin sheath that cause loss of
muscle function.

ORGANIZATION OF NERVOUS TISSUE

Gray matter- group of neuron cell bodies
and their dendrites(soma), where there is
very little myelin.

Cortex- surface of the brain.(CNS)

Nuclei- cluster of gray matter
located deeper within the brain. (CNS)
Ganglion- cluster of neuron cell
bodyies.(PNS)
Nissl substance

White matter- bundles of parallel axons

with their myelin sheath.

Nerve tracts- which propagate

action potential from one area of CNS
to another(conduction pathway of
CNS)
Nerves- bundles of axon and
assoiciated tissue.

Continuous conduction- unmyelinated

axon. Action potential is conducted along the
entire axon cell membrane.
Salutatory Conduction- myelinated axon.
Action potential jump from one node of
Ranvier to the next along the length of the
axon.
The SYNANPSE
Synapse- is a junction where the axon of
one neurons interacts with another neuron
or with cell of an effector organ, such as a
muscle or gland.