Nervous System

Introduction
Nervous System (NS) used to control various complex functions of
body and coordinate them composed of brain , sensing devices and
high speed communication system.
NS is an electrochemical communication system that does the
following function.
Receives the sensory messages from external environment
Formats information and integrates the information with already
stored information.
This integrated info is used to give command messages to muscles,
glands and helps for various secretions and movements.
Provides basis for conscious and memory.
Anatomy of Nervous system
Neuron is the basic unit it is a single cell with cell body
called as SOMA one or more dendrites as input fibers
axon is long and used as transmitting fibre axon branches
near its tail.
Three types of neuron:
Sensory Neuron : Sends info from sensory organs through nerves
to central nervous system (CNS)
Motor Neuron : Carries message from CNS through nerves
operates muscles and glands.
Inter Neuron : Exchanges messages between two neurons brings
info from various sources into one single point location in CNS.
Structure of Neuron
Cell Body (Soma): Has a nucleus (contain genetic info) produces
neuro transmitter that is stored in synaptic vesicles.
Dendrites: Receives incoming signals from other neurons looks like
a plant root.
Axons: Single tube fiber like structure thicker and longer than
dendrites used by neurons to transmit electrical impulse to other
neurons meter in length.
Myelin Sheath: Fatty White substance grows around axon insulates
the axon -- speeds the neural impulse to flow and increases
conduction.
Axon terminal: End of the axon


Contd
Axon hillock : point adjacent to the cell body in neuron action
potentials are generated here.
Myelin sheaths are interrupted at regular intervals by Ranvier Nodes
helps to speed up the transmission along the nervous system.
Myelin sheaths are surrounded by thin layer of Neurilemma made of
thin cells called Schwann Cells.
Axons vs. Dendrites : the direction varies the way they carry
information to respective cells difficult to identify visually.
Nerve: axons and dendrites are called nerve fibers -- bundle of
individual nerve fibers is called nerve Afferent Nerve (sensory to
brain) Efferent Nerve (Brain to motor nerves)
Synapse
It is the connection between nerve cells (neurons). It joins axons in
one neuron to dendrites in another neuron.
It has
Presynaptic terminal at the end of axon. has tiny vesicles containing
neurotransmitters small molecules which carry nerve impulse to and fro for
communication.
Synaptic cleft : gap between two neurons across which neurotransmitters
migrate.
Postsynaptic Terminal : Present in dendrites of receiving neurons. Has
receiving sites fro the neurotransmitters.
Contd
Nerve Impulses are transmitted downwards to presynaptic terminal in
the axon of one neuron across synaptic cleft to the post synaptic
terminal in dendrite of another neuron.
Synapses joins axons to dendrites (axodendritic synapses) --axons to
axons (axoaxonic synapses) axons to soma -- (axosomatic synapses).
Neuron in CNS has 100,000 synapses.
Effect of release of neurotransmitters across synapse may be excitatory
or inhibitory.
Excitatory : Makes the triggering of action potential in receiving
neuron to be more likely like incoming pulse. Inhibitory less likely.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
PNS resides inside or extends outside CNS.
Function of PNS : to connect CNS to limbs and organs.
PNS is not protected by bone it is exposed to toxins and mechanical
injuries.
PNS is divided into
Sensory Nervous : carries info from skin sensor to brain.
Autonomic Nervous : for emotional response, controls smooth muscles like
heart muscles and secretion of gland.

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic System
Sympathetic Nervous System(SNS):
Stress developed increases heart rate and blood pressure, dilates arteries to
increase blood to musclesthis gives an alert to him--Hypothalamus
controls SNS.
Fight-or-flight response: Action taken by the SNS when sensory inputs
warns brain about dangerous situation.
The energy required for this response is stopped due to increase in heart rate
, respiration, RBC production.
Parasympathetic Nervous System(PNS):
Stress is released decreases heart rate and conserves energy does
opposite reaction to sympathetic system.
Causes dilation of arteries slow down of heart rate.

Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain is collection of cell bodies and fibers located in skull. Skull
helps to protect the brain Lower end of brain is connected to spinal
cord.
Brain + Spinal Cord = CNS
CNS has glial cells and types of neurons. Glial cells helps for function
of memory and prevents from foreign particles.
CNS is symmetrical w.r.t right and left side functioning is
asymmetrical left side movement controlled by right side of brain
and vice versa.
It functions to coordinate the activity of all parts of the bodies of
multicellular organisms.
Contd
Together with the peripheral nervous system it has a fundamental
role in the control of behavior.
The CNS is contained within the dorsal cavity -- the brain in the
cranial cavity and the spinal cord in the spinal cavity.
Brain --- white matter and gray matter. Gray matter has cell bodies
and small fibers in grey colour. White matter has larger fibers in white
colour.
Set of all neuronal cell bodies inside CNS Nuclei. Outside CNS is
Ganglia.

Organization of Brain
Brain stem connects spinal cord and brain extends up to the
center of brain.
Brain stem made of : Lowest section of brain medulla ; parts
above medulla is pons and upper part of brain stem is mid brain.
Thalamus and hypothalamus parts of mid brain; pituitary gland
is before hypothalamus responsible for hormonal secretion.
Cerebellum behind brain stem ; cerebral cortex outer surface of
cerebellum.
Corpus Callosum : Inner connections between left and right
hemispheres.

Functions of brain
Medulla: Breathing , heart rate and kidney functioning.
Pons: Interconnection area has ascending and descending fiber tracts
and nuclei part of these nuclei responsible for facial expression,
salivation.
Cerebellum: Butterfly shaped located below cerebrum helps to
maintain balance in men.
Cerebrum: interprets sensory impulses like writing and spoken words
from ear and eye converts thoughts into speech muscles movement
and eyes to read.
Thalamus: manipulates sensory information that passes to cerebrum
has relay point for visual and auditory system.
Hypothalamus : center for emotions in brain regulates endocrine
gland function through pituitary gland.