Nervous System

Functions

1. Sensory input:
Sensory receptors respond to stimuli
2. Integration:
Brain and spinal cord process stimuli
3. Control of muscles and glands Myelin Sheath
4. Mental activity:
Brain  What is it?
5. Homeostasis - fatty, protective wrapping around
axons
Main divisions of Nervous System - excellent insulator

1. Central Nervous System (CNS):  Nodes of Ranvier:

Brain and spinal cord Gaps in myelin sheath where action
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): potentials develop
All neurons outside CNS
 Saltatory conduction:
Jumping of action potentials
Neuron Characteristics

 Nerve cells Neurons Structures

 Require oxygen and glucose
 Receive input, process input, produce a  Dendrite:
response Receives stimulus from other neurons
or sensory receptors
 Cell body:
- processes stimulus
- contains a nucleus
 Axon:
- Transmits stimulus to a gland,
muscle, organ, or other neuron
Types of Neurons - most abundant
- form blood-brain barrier (BBB)
 Multipolar:  Ependymal Cells:
- many dendrites and a single axon Produce and circulate cerebrospinal
- ex. CNS and most motor neurons fluid (CSF)
 Bipolar:  Microglia:
- one dendrite and one axon Help remove bacteria and cell debris
- ex. Eye and nasal cavity from (CNS)
 Pseudo-unipolar:  Oligodendrocytes:
- one axon and no dendrites Produce myelin sheath in CNS
- ex. Sensory neurons  Schwann cells:
Produce myelin sheath in PNS

Neuroglia (Glial Cells) Characteristics

 Supporting cells for neurons

 More numerous than neurons
 Can divide to produce more cells
 5 types

Types of Neuroglia

 Astrocytes:
- star-shaped

Organization of Nervous Tissue

 Gray matter: - response
Collection of dendrites and cell bodies
 White matter:
Collection of axons and their myelin Central Nervous System
sheath

Reflexes

 What are they?

Involuntary response to a stimulus
 Reflex arc:
Path reflex travels Spinal Cord

 Extends from foramen magnum to

2nd lumbar vertebra
 Protected by vertebral column
 Spinal nerves allow movement
 If damaged paralysis can occur

Gray and White Matter in Spinal Cord

 Gray Matter:
- center of spinal cord
Components of Reflex Arc - looks like letter H or butterfly
 White Matter:
1. Sensory receptors: - outside of spinal cord
- pick up stimulus - contains myelinated fibers
- in skin
2. Sensory (afferent) neurons:
Send stimulus to interneurons in spinal
cord
3. Interneurons (association) neuron:
- located in CNS and connect to motor
neurons
- process stimulus
4. Efferent (motor) neurons:
Send response to effector
5. Effector:
- Muscle, gland, organ
  Innervates muscles attached to hyoid
bone and neck
 Contains phrenic nerve which
innervates diaphragm

Gray - horn Brachial Plexus

White - column
 Originates from spinal nerves C5-T1
White Matter in Spinal Cord  Supply nerves to upper limb, shoulder,
hand
 Contains 3 columns dorsal, ventral,
lateral columns Lumbosacral Plexus
 Ascending tracts:
Axons that conduct action potentials  Originates from spinal nerves L1 to S4
toward brain  Supply nerves lower limbs
 Descending tracts:
Axons that conduct action potentials Cerebrospinal Fluid
away from brain
 Fluid that battles the brain and spinal
Gray Matter in Spinal Cord cord
 Provides a protective cushion around
 Posterior Horns: sensory the CNS
Contains axons which synapse with  Produced in choroid plexus of brain
interneurons Ependymal cells
 Anterior Horns:
Contains somatic neurons (voluntary Brainstem
muscle)
 Lateral Horns:
Contain autonomic neurons
(involuntary muscle)
 Central Canal:
Fluid filled space in center of cord

Spinal Nerves

 Arise along spinal cord from union of

dorsal roots and ventral roots
 Contain axons sensory and somatic Components:
neurons - medulla oblongata
 Located between vertebra - pons
 Categorized by region of vertebral - midbrain
column from which it emerges (C for
cervical) Brainstem Components
 31 pairs
 Organized in 3 plexuses  Medulla Oblongata
- Location: continuous with spinal cord
Cervical Plexus - Functions: regulates heart rate, blood
vessel diameter, breathing,
 Spinal nerves C1-4 swallowing, vomiting, hiccupping,
coughing, sneezing, balance
 - Other:  Hypothalamus:
Pyamids: involved in conscious - Location: below thalamus
control of skeletal muscle - Characteristics: controls pituitary
gland and is connected to it by
 Pons infundibulum
- Location: above medulla, bridge - Function: Controls homeostasis, body
between cerebrum and cerebellum temp., thirst, hunger, fear, rage,
- Function: breathing, chewing, sexual emotions
salivation, swallowing
Cerebrum Characteristics
 Midbrain
- Location: above pons
- Function: coordinated eye movement,
pupil diameter, turning head toward
noise

 Reticular Formation:
- Location: scattered throughout
brainstem
- Function: regulates cyclical motor
function, respiration, walking,
chewing, arousing and maintaining
consciousness, regulates sleep-wake
cycle

Diencephalon Components

 Thalamus relay station

- Characteristics: largest portion of
diencephalon
- Function: influences moods and
detects pain

 Epithalamus:
- Location: above thalamus
- Function: emotional and visceral
response to odors
  Sulci: shallow indentations
 Fissure: deep indentations

 Left Hemisphere:
- controls right side of body
- responsible for math, analytic
 Right Hemisphere:
- controls left side of the body
- responsible for music, art, abstract
ideas

 Corpus Callosum:
Connection between 2 hemisphere

Lobes of the Brain

 Frontal Lobe:
- Location: front
- Function: controls voluntary motor
functions, aggression, moods, smell

 Parietal Lobe:
- Location: top
 Largest portion of brain
- Function: evaluates sensory input
 Divisions:
such as touch, pain, pressure, temp.,
- right hemisphere
taste
- left hemisphere separated by
longitudinal fissure
 Occipital Lobe:
 Lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital,
- Location: back
temporal
- Function: vision
Cerebrum Components
 Temporal Lobe:
- Location: sides
 Cerebral Cortex surface
- Function: hearing, smell, memory
- Location: surface of cerebrum,
composed of gray matter
- Function: controls thinking,
Cerebellum
communicating, remembering,
 Location: below cerebrum
understanding, and initiates
 Characteristics:
involuntary movements
- means little brain
- cortex is composed of gyri, sulci,
Diencephalon
gray matter
 Functions: controls balance, muscle
 Located between the brainstem and
tone, coordination of fine motor
cerebrum
movement
 Components:
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
Sensory Functions
 Gyri: folds on cerebral cortex that
 CNS constantly receives sensory input
increase surface area
 We are unaware of most sensory input
 Sensory input is vital of our survival Descending Tracts
and normal functions
 Project from upper motor neurons in
Ascending Tracts cerebral cortex to lower motor neurons
in spinal cord and brainstem
 What are they?  Control different types of movements
- pathways in brain and spinal cord
- transmit info. via action potentials
from periphery to brain Speech
- each tract has limited type of sensory
input (temp, touch, pain, etc.)  Mainly in left hemisphere
- tracts are named that indicated origin
and termination  Sensory Speech (Wernicke’s area):
- made of 2-3 neurons in sequence - parietal lobe
- where words are heard and
comprehended
 Motor Speech (Broca’s area):
- frontal lobe
- where words are formulated

Sensory Areas of Cerebral Cortex

 Primary sensory areas:

- where ascending tracts project
- where sensations are perceived
 Primary somatic sensory cortex:
- general sensory area
- in parietal lobe
- sensory input such as pain, pressure, Meninges
temp
 What are they?
Protective wrapping around brain and
Motor Areas of Cerebral Cortex spinal cord

 Primary motor cortex:  Meningitis:

- frontal lobe Infection of meninges (bacterial or
- control voluntary motor movement viral)
 Premotor area:
- frontal lobe Types of Meninges
- where motor functions are organized
before initiation  Dura Mater:
 Prefrontal area: - superficial
Motivation and foresight to plan and - thickest layer
initiate movement  Arachnoid Mater:
 - 2nd layer
 Pia Mater: Peripheral Nervous System
- 3rd layer
- surface of brain
 Subarachnoid space:
- where cerebrospinal fluid sits

 Epidural space:
- in vertebral column between dura and
vertebra
- injection site for epidural anesthesia

 Spinal block and spinal top:

- in subarachnoid space where
cerebrospinal fluid can be removed
or anesthetic inject  Consists of all neurons outside brain
- numbs spinal nerves and spinal cord
 Collects input from different sources,
Ventricles relays input to CNS, and performs
action
 What are they?
Cavities in CNS that contain fluid
Divisions of Peripheral Nervous System
 Fourth ventricle:
- base of cerebellum 1. Afferent (Sensory):
- continuous with central canal of spinal Collects input from periphery and sends
cord to CNS
Cranial Nerves 2. Efferent (Motor)
Carries processed input from CNS to
 12 pair of cranial nerves effector
 Named by roman numerals
 2 categories of functions: sensory and Divisions of Efferent (Motor)
motor
1. Automatic:
- response is automatic (involuntary)
- controls smooth and cardiac muscles
and glands

2. Somatic:
- response is voluntary
- controls skeletal muscles

Divisions of Automatic
1. Sympathetic:
- activated during times of stress
- part of fight or flight response
- prepares you for physical activity by:
- ↑ HR heart rate
- ↑ BP blood pressure
- ↑ BR respiratory rate
- sending more blood to skeletal
muscles
- inhibiting digestive tract

2. Parasympathetic:
- “housekeeper” rest + digest
- activated under normal conditions
- involved in digestion, urine production,
and dilation/constriction of pupils, etc.