NERVOUS SYSTEM

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

- Nervous System is a group of tissues
composed of highly specialized cells
possessing the characteristics of
excitability and conductivity
MORPHOLOGICAL DIVISIONS:
A. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Brain
2. Spinal cord

B. PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

1. Cranial Nerves (12 pairs)
2. Spinal Nerves ( 31 pairs)
3. Autonomic Nervous System
 FUNCTIONAL DIVISIONS:

A. SOMATIC EFFERENT
- innervating somatic structures like skeletal
muscles and skin.

B. VISCERAL EFFERENT
- innervating visceral or involuntary structures like
smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and glands.
This is the autonomic nervous system
TYPES OF CELLS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

- 1. Neurons
- the active conducting elements
2. Neuroglia
- the supporting elements
- astrocyte
- oligodendrocyte
- microglia
- ependymal cells
NEURON

- basic unit of the nervous system which

conducts electrical impulses from one
part of the body to another

-
 TWO TYPES OF PROCESSES

▪ A. DENDRITES –
transmit impulses
toward the cell body

▪ B. AXONS –
conducting impulses
away from the cell
body.
SYNAPSE
- point of connection between neurons.
Main neurotransmitters:
1. epinephrine (adrenalin)
2. norepinephrine (nor adrenaline)
3. acetylcholine

NERVE IMPULSE
A. MYELIN SHEATH – insulating material covering axons in central and
peripheral nervous system
-.
- the electrical impulse jumps from node to node in myelin sheath instead
of traveling continuously along the nerve fiber. (SALTATORY
CONDUCTION OF IMPULSES)
 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
-Central nervous system includes the brain
and spinal cord.
- It is divided grossly into gray and white
matter:

A. Gray matter
- so called because of its appearance
and preponderance of nerve cell
bodies and true dendrites.

B. White matter
- composed chiefly of myelinated
nerve fibers
 BRAIN
- part of the central nervous system contained within
the skull.

- most complex and largest mass of nervous tissue

in the body and contains literally billions of nerve
cells.

- The average weight of the human brain in the adult

is approximately 1380gms in the male and 1250
grams in the females.
 EMBRYOLOGICAL DIVISIONS OF THE BRAIN
1. Forebrain (Prosencephalon)
a. Telencephalon (cerebrum)
b. Diencephalon ( thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus,
subthalamus)

2. Midbrain (Mesencephalon)
a. Corpora quadrigemina (tectum) - 2 superior colliculi
2 inferior colliculi
b. Cerebral peduncles
c. Cerebral Aqueduct of Sylvius (iter)

3. Hindbrain (Rhombencephalon)
a. metencephalon (cerebellum, pons)
b. myelencephalon (medulla oblongata)
A. CEREBRUM

- 7/8 of weight of brain

- discriminatory identification
- integration of sensory information
- memory
- reasoning
- for use of language
- for emotional behavior
- for initiation of movement
FISSURES OF CEREBRUM
1. Longitudinal Fissure
2. Lateral Sylvian fissure
3. Central Sulcus (Rolandic Fissure)
4. Transverse fissure
- between the
cerebellum and the
cerebrum

5. Parieto - occipital
fissure
- between the
occipital and parietal
lobes.
6. Calcarine fissure
- found in the occipital lobe ;
visual center ( calcarine
area) .
 LOBES OF THE CEREBRAL CORTEX

1. Frontal Lobe
- includes all the cortex
lying anterior to the
central sulcus of Rolando
and above the lateral
sulcus Sylvius
- center for motor
functions and personality
 2. Parietal Lobe

- lies posterior to
central sulcus of
Rolando and above
lateral Sylvian
fissure.
- center for sensory
functions
 3. Temporal Lobe

- lies beneath the

lateral sulcus of
Sylvian

- center for hearing

and olfaction
 4. Occipital Lobe

- occupies the
posterior extremity of
the cerebral
hemisphere behind
parieto-occipital
fissure

- visual center
 5. Insula ( Island of Reil)

- exposed when the

lips of lateral Sylvian
fissure are separated
 FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF THE
CEREBRUM
1. Primary Motor Area or
Pre-central gyrus

- lies in the frontal lobe

immediately anterior to the
central sulcus

- controls voluntary movements

in the opposite side of body.
- Brodmann's area 4
 2. Pre-motor Area

- in front of the motor

area
- exerts a controlling
influence over the
motor area, ensuring
an orderly series of
movements
 3. Pre-frontal Area
- concerned with
behavior, character
and emotional state of
the individual.

- concerned with
foresight, good
judgment, abstract
thinking.
 4. Primary sensory/Somesthetic Area or
Post-central gyrus
- lies behind the central sulcus
of Rolando in parietal lobe

- sensations of pain,
temperature, pressure and
touch, position and
movement sensation from
opposite side of body are
received and interpreted here.
- Brodmann's area 3,1,2
 5. Motor speech area

- lies in inferior frontal

gyrus of dominant
hemisphere
- Broca's area
(Brodmann's area 45,
44)
 6. Sensory speech area:

- lies in temporal lobes

posterior to auditory
area of dominant
hemisphere

- Wernicke's area
(Brodmann's area 22)
7. Auditory or Hearing Area
(transverse gyri of Heschl)

- lies below lateral

sulcus within the
temporal lobe

- center for hearing

- Brodmann's area 41 &
42
 8. Visual area:

- around the calcarine

fissure, including
greater part of the
occipital lobe

- Brodmann's area 17
 9. Olfactory or smell area

- within the temporal

lobe
 10. Taste Area

- above lateral sulcus

into the deep layers of
the sensory area
 BASAL GANGLIA
masses of gray matter embedded
in the white matter of the
cerebral hemispheres

- include the caudate nucleus

(medial portion) and the
putamen and globus pallidus
called lentiform nucleus.

- constitute the corpus striatum

- Basal ganglia play a role in the

control of motor function......
and .... injury manifest as
uncontrolled aimless
movements.
 B. DIENCEPHALON
1. Thalamus

- relay center for sensory

impulses (except olfactory)
from peripheral receptors
to cerebral cortex;
 2. Hypothalamus

- involved in the regulation

of body temperature,
feeding activities,
biorhythm, emotion.. etc.
 CEREBELLUM

- oval in shape with a

central constriction and
lateral expanded
portions.
- the constricted central
portion is called the
vermis (Latin of worm)
and the lateral expanded
portions the
hemispheres
- divided into lobes by deep and
distinct fissures, these lobes include
the:

a. ANTERIOR lobe.... regulation of

muscle tone

b. POSTERIOR lobe..... coordination of

voluntary motor activity

c. FLOCCULONODULAR lobe
- concerned with the function of
equilibrium, posture and balance
 2. Midbrain
- connects the
forebrain and
hindbrain

- concerned with
motor coordination

-
a. Cerebral Peduncles (found
anteriorly)
- pair of cylindrical bodies
made up of nerve fiber
tracts which connect the
forebrain with the
hindbrain.
b. Corpora Quadrigemina
( found posteriorly)

1. superior colliculi
- upper 2; for visual
reflexes
2. inferior colliculi
- lower 2; for
auditory reflexes
 PONS

- lies anterior to the

cerebellum and
between the midbrain
and medulla.

- bridge-like structure,
consisting almost
entirely of white matter
linking the various
parts of the brain
 MEDULLA OBLONGATA

- continuous with the spinal cord

inferiorly and with the pons
superiorly

- lies ventral to the cerebellum

- has a number of vital regulatory

and reflex centers, including
those controlling the circulatory
system, breathing, swallowing,
vomiting, coughing, sneezing.
 CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

- the cerebrospinal fluid circulating within

the ventricles, the central canal of the
spinal cord and also within the
subarachnoid space.
- colorless, with a composition similar to
that of lymph
 VENTRICLES OF THE BRAIN
1. LATERAL VENTRICLE
- found inside the cerebral
hemispheres
- interventricular foramen
(foramen of Monroe)

2. THIRD VENTRICLE
- between the 2 thalamic
nuclei, continuous with the
cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius

3. FOURTH VENTRICLE

- communicates with
subarachnoid space through
Foramen of Luschka and
Magendie
 MENINGES

-Three membranes collectively known as

the meninges provide protection to the
brain and spinal cord
- from outside in, these are the:
A. Dura mater
B. Arachnoid mater
C. Pia mater
 SPINAL CORD

-- is continuous with the

medulla oblongata above

— extends from the level of

foramen magnum to the
lower border of 1st lumbar
vertebra in adult and level
of L3 vertebra in children.

- average length: 45 cm
- 2 enlargements:
1. cervical enlargement (where nerve supply of arms
arises from)
- C4 to T2

2. lumbar enlargement (where nerve supply of legs arises

from)
- level of 10th thoracic vertebra; widest at the
12th thoracic vertebra

- it narrows down was a conus medullaris, where it

gives rise to the thread-like filum terminale

- the lumbar and sacral spinal nerves descend along

the filum terminale in a bundle known as the cauda
equina
 PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM:

I. CRANIAL NERVES:

Il. SPINAL NERVES

Ill. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

I. CRANIAL NERVES
 I. CRANIAL NERVES
- The cranial nerves are 12 pairs of symmetrically arranged nerves
attached to the
brain.
- The cranial nerve includes the following:
1. Olfactory (I)
2. Optic (II)
3. Oculomotor (III)
4. Trochlear (IV)
5. Trigeminal ( V)
6. Abducens (VI)
7. Facial ( VII)
8. Vestibulocochlear (acoustic) (VIII)
9. Glossopharyngeal (IX)
10. Vagus (X)
11. Accessory (XI)
12. Hypoglossal (XII)
CLASSIFICATION OF CRANIAL
NERVES

A. SENSORY NERVES
- carry impulses towards brain. Also
called afferent fibers
- cranial nerves I (olfactory)
- II (optic)
- VIII (vestibulocochlear)
 B. MOTOR NERVES
- carry impulses away from the brain.
Also called efferent fibers
- cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV
(trochlear) and VI (abducens), which
supply the eye muscles
- XI (Spinal accessory)
- XII (hypoglossal) - innervates the tongue
 C. MIXED NERVES

- carry both sensory and motor nerve fibers

- cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X are mixed

nerves
Il. SPINAL NERVES :
 Il. SPINAL NERVES :

- a bundle of nerve
fibers attached to spinal cord
- 31 pairs of nerves
called spinal nerves arise
from the spinal cord along
almost its entire length and
emerge from the vertebral
canal through the
intervertebral foramina
- There are eight pairs
of cervical spinal
nerves, 12 thoracic,
5 lumbar, 5 sacral,
1 coccygeal
 PLEXUSES
- group of nerve fibers from ventral rami of cervical , lumbar and sacral
spinal nerves. Posterior rami never form plexuses.

1. Cervical Plexus
- formed by the first 4 cervical nerves (C1C2C3C4)
- this supplies the back and sides of the head and the front of the
neck
- gives off the phrenic nerve to the diaphragm

2. Brachial Plexus
- lower 4 cervical (C5C6C7C8) nerves and 1st thoracic (T1)
supplies the skin and muscles of the upper limb
- gives off large nerves: circumflex, radial. median ulnar and
musculocutaneous nerves.
 3. Lumbar Plexus

- from L1 -L4 spinal nerves

a. Obturator Nerve
- arising from anterior division of L2L3L4 spinal nerves
- supplies the muscles and skin on medial aspect of thigh

b. Femoral nerve
- arising from the posterior divisions of L2L3L4 spinal nerves
- supplies muscles and skin on anterior aspect of the thigh
 4. Sacral Plexus
- from L4L5S1S2S3 spinal nerves

- the largest branch of which is the sciatic

nerve (the largest nerve in the body)

Sciatic Nerve divides into:

a. tibial nerve

b. common peroneal nerve

The thoracic spinal nerves do not form plexuses.

T1 - T11 spinal nerves - INTERCOSTAL NERVES

T 12 spinal nerves - SUBCOSTAL NERVE

1. dorsal root
- containing fibers of
sensory neurons
2. ventral root
- containing fibers of
motor neurons
- these 2 roots join
together to form
spinal nerve
AUTONOMIC SYSTEM
 AUTONOMIC SYSTEM

1. Sympathetic or Thoracolumbar Divisions of the autonomic

nervous system arises from all the thoracic and the first
three lumbar segments of the spinal cord.

2.Parasympathetic or Craniosacral Divisions of the autonomic

nervous system arises from the third, seventh, ninth, and
tenth cranial nerves and from the second, third, and fourth
sacral segments of the spinal cord.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE ANS
ORGAN SYMPATHETIC PARASYMPATHETIC

Eye
Iris Dilates pupil Constricts pupil
Ciliary muscle Flattens lens Bulges lens
Peripheral blood vasoconstriction Vasodilatation
vessels
Salivary glands Stimulates viscous Stimulates serous
( mucous) secretion
Lacrimal glands None Stimulates secretion

Sweat glands Copious sweating None

 FUNCTIONS OF THE ANS
ORGAN SYMPATHETIC PARASYMPATHETIC

HEART
SA NODE Increased rate Decreased rate
MUSCLE Increased force of
contraction
LUNGS
Bronchi Dilation Constriction
Stomach Dec. motility and Increased motility
Wall tone;
Stimulates secretion of
Glands alkaline juice with low
Stimulates secretion of
enzyme activity acid with high enzyme
activity
 FUNCTIONS OF THE ANS
ORGAN SYMPATHETIC PARASYMPATHETIC

SUPRARENAL GLAND
Medulla
Secretion of None
epinephrine
URINARY
BLADDER
Wall Inhibition Excitation
Sphincter Excitation Inhibition
PENIS EJACULATION ERECTION
 FUNCTIONS OF THE ANS
ORGAN SYMPATHETIC PARASYMPATHETIC

ARRECTOR PILI
MUSCLES OF HAIR
FOLLICLES CONTRACTION None

ARTERIOLES
Splanchnic region CONSTRICTION DILATATION
and skin
Thank you