Nervous system
- Communicating and control center system of the body.
- Works with Endocrine system in regulating /maintain body homeostasis
Normal role of nervous system:
Sensory input – monitor changes occurring both inside and outside of the body.
*Stimulus/stimuli – factor of the changes inside or outside of the body
Integration – Processes and interprets the sensory input and decides what should be done
Motor output – response by activating the muscles or glands
Organization of the Nervous system
Structural Classification
Central nervous System (CNS) - consist of BRAIN and SPINAL CORD
- Act as the integrating and command center of the nervous system
- Interpret incoming sensory information and issue instructions based
On past experience and current conditions
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) – part of the nervous system that
Is outside the CNS.
- Consist mainly of the nerves that extend from the brain and spinal cord.
*Spinal nerves – carry impulses to and from the spinal cord.
*Cranial nerves- carry impulses to and from the brain
- The nerves serves as communication lines
Functional Classification
Sensory division – composed of nerve fibers that convey impulses to
the CNS from the sensory receptors.
*Somatic sensory fibers – fibers delivering impulses from the skin,
Skeletal muscles, and joints
*Visceral sensory fibers – fibers transmitting impulses from visceral
Organ ( internal organs )
Motor division – carries impulses from the CNS to effector organ,
Muscles and glands
Motor division subdivisions:
1. Somatic Nervous system – Allows to consciously or voluntarily, control
the skeletal muscles.
-AKA “ Voluntary nervous system”
2. Autonomic Nervous system – Regulates events that are automatic, or
Involuntary : activity of smooth and cardiac muscles and glands
-AKA “ Involuntary nervous system”
Divided into :
1.Sympathetic NS – Responsible for adjusting the body to stressful
Condition. Ex. HR & CO increase , Bronchocilation increase oxygen supply
2.Parasympathetic NS – Dominant at rest.
-Not active during stressful condition
Ex. Increase salivation, Constriction of pupils, decreased HR.
Nervous Tissue : Structure and Function
-Nervous tissue is made up of 2 principal types of cells ; Supporting cells & Neurons
Neuroglia / glia / glial cells – supporting cell that are lumped together
Different types :
Astrocytes – abundant star-shaped cell
- Help protect the neurons from harmful substances that might be in the blood.
Microglia – spiderlike phagocytes that monitor the health of nearby neurons.
- Dispose of debris ( dead brain cells and bacteria )
Ependymal cells – glial cells that line the central cavities of the brain and spinal cord
- Forms a protective cushion around the CNS.
Oligodendrocytes – produces fatty insulating covering called myelin sheaths
Supporting cells in PNS :
Schwann cells – form myelin sheaths around nerve fibers in PNS
Satellite cells – act as protective and cushioning cells
Neurons
-also called “ Nerve cells “
-transmit messages (nerve impulses) from one part of the body to another
Structures:
Cell body – transparent nucleus contains a conspicuous nucleolus
Processes – Armlike or fiibers
*Dendrites – convey incoming messages (electrical signals) toward the cell body
*Axons- Generate nerve impulses away from the body
*Axon terminals – end of the neuron
- contains NEURTOTRANSMITTERS (chemical messenger)
*Synaptic cleft – tiny gap that separates axon terminal to the next neuron
*Synapse – Functional junction
-permits a neuron to pass an electrical signal to another neuron
Neurotransmitters - molecules used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons, or from
neurons to muscles
Example : Acetylcholine , Glutamate , Dopamine , Noradrenaline , Serotonin, Histamine
Myelin Sheaths- covered with a
Whitish , Fatty material.
- Protects and insulates the fibers and
Increase the transmission rate of nerve impulses
Associated Disease: Multiple Sclerosis
-Autoimmune disease that the myelin sheaths around
The fibers are destroyed or attacked by the immune
System
SSE : Visual ( blurry vision, prolonged double vision)
and speech( slurred speech) disturbance,
Tremor , unsteady gait , numbness or weakness
in one or more limbs
TX: Interferon ( symptomatic treatment)
Nerve Impulses
-Neurons have 2 major functional properties :
Irritability – the ability to respond to a stimulus and convert in into a nerve impulse
Conductivity – the ability to transmit the impulse to other neurons , muscles , or glands
Polarized – a state of rest or inactive plasma membrane of a neuron
- Fewer positive ions on the inner face plasma membrane than there are on its outher face
- The major ions inside the cell are Potassium
- The major ions outside the cell are Sodium
*always remember PISO (potassium in , Sodium out)
*As long as the inside remains more negative than the outside, the neuron will stay inactive
Depolarized/Depolarization – A state where in the sodium ion rush inward to the plasma membrane of the neuron.
*Sodium ions cannot diffuse through the plasma membrane of the neuron, but when the neuron is adequately
stimulated the sodium channels in the membrane open
Note : Sedative and anesthetics block nerve
Impulses by altering membrane permeability to ions
(Sodium). No sodium entry= no action potential
Central Nervous System
Brain
Parts of the Brain :
Cerebral Hemesphere – collectively called “ Cerebrum”
- The most superior part of the brain
Gyri – elevated ridges of the cerebrum
Sulci – shallow groves that separetes gyrus
Fissures – deeper grooves that separates large region if the brain
- Cerebral hemisphere are separated by a single deep fissure ( Longitudinal fissure)
Cerenral cortex – responsible for speech , memory, logical, emotional response, consciousness , interpretation
of sensation and voluntary movement.
Parietal lobe – primary somatic sensory area ( allows you to recognize pain )
- Located at the posterior to the central sulcus
Occipital lobe – Visual area ( located in the posterior part )
Temporal lobe – Auditoru area (
Frontal lobe – primary motor area ( allows to consciously move the skeletal muscle)
Diencephalon /interbrain – enclosed by the cerebral hemisphere
Major structures:
Thalamus –relay station for sensory impulses passing upward to the sensory cortex
*the sensory cortex actually localize and interprets the sensation
Hypothalamus – makes up the floor of diecephalon
- Regulates : temperature, water balance , metabolism
- Important part of “ Limbic system ( emotional visceral brain)”
Example: thirst , appetite, sex, pain , pleasure
Regulates the pituitary gland
Epithalamus – forms the roof of the 3rd ventricle
Parts: pineal gland , choroid plexus
Brain Stem
Structures:
Midbrain – small part of the brain stem
Cerebral aqueduct – connects diencephalon to the 4th ventricle below
Pons – bridge
Medulla oblongata – the most inferior part of the brain stem
Merge with the spinal cord
Contain centers that control : HR , BP, Breathing, Swallowing, Vomitting
Cerebellum – a large cauliflower like structure of the brain
Provides the precise timing for skeletal muscles activity and controls balance
Responsible for body movements coordination
Associated Disease/s : Ataxia
Movement becomes clumsy and disorganized
Protection of the CNS
1. Meninges – connective tissue covering and protecting the CNS
Layers :
Dura mater – outermost layer
Doubled layered membrane where it surrounds the brain
Divided into :
Periosteum ( periosteal layer ) – attached to the layer of the skull
Meningeal layer – outermost covering of the brain and continues as the dura mater of the spinal cord
Arachnoid mater – middle layer
- Subarachnoid space is a threadlike extensions that attach to the inner most membrane
Pia mater – clings tightly to the surface of the and spinal cord
2. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) – similar to blood plasma but less protein and more Vitamin C
- form from blood by the choroid plexus
Functions:
- Protects brain and spinal cord from trauma
- Supply nutrients to nervous system tissue
- Remove waste products from cerebral metabolism
3. Blood brain barrier
