NERVOUS SYSTEM

Introduction to nervous system.

Structure & types of neuron cells.
Chemical transmitter of neurons.
Types of synapses.
Function of nervous system.
Central nervous system.
Structure & function of brain.
Structure & function of spinal cord.
Peripheral nervous system.
Functions of sympathetic &
parasympathetic nerve.
 A.INTRODUCTION TO NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Divided in to 2 main parts:-
a. Central nervous system (CNS)
i) Brain
ii) Spinal cord
b. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS )
i) Autonomic Nervous System
ii) Somatic Nervous System
Network of neuron in human body
Neuron
1.Basic unit cell of nervous system
2.Also known as nerve cell
3.Required continuous supply of glucose & oxygen
4. A single cell of neuron consists of
a. cell body – contain nucleus & cell body
b. Dendrite – connect receptor to neuron into
cell body
c. Axon – conduct nerve impulse to effectors
organ
d. Synapses – basis of neuron chemical
transmission
e. Schwann cell – provide & supply glucose &
oxygen to nerve cell.
B.STRUCTURE & TYPES OF
NEURON
There are three types of neuron
1. Unipolar
2. Multipolar
3. Bipolar
1.Unipolar
Sensory neuron
Also known as afferent neuron
Features i) cell body in the top of neuron
cell
ii) Long dendron
iii) Short axon
iv) connect receptors to CNS
Function – To carry electrical impulse
(sense) from receptors to CNS
2.Multipolar
Motor neuron
Also known as efferent neuron
Features – i) cell body in the beginning
of neuron cell
ii) short dendron
iii) long axon
iv) connect – CNS to
affectors organs
Function :To carry electrical impulse
(action) from CNS to effectors organs.
3.Bipolar
Inter neuron
Features – i) cell body in the middle of
the neuron cell
ii) dendron & axon equal
long
iii) connect – afferent
neuron & efferent neuron
C. CHEMICAL TRANSMITTERS OF NEURON
1.Terminal dendrite (axon) – synaptic knob
2. Synapses – sites of junction between
neurons
3. Synaptic knob – contain vesicle synapses
neuron chemical Transmitter
4. Vesicle synapses – contain neuron
chemical transmitter
5. Neuron chemical transmitter – chemicals
released by neuron to help in the
transmission of impulses at synapses.
6.There are 2 types of neuron chemical
transmitters i)Acethylcholine
ii) Noradrenaline
D. TYPES OF SYNAPSES
There are 4 types of synapses :
1.Axodendritic – between axon & dendrite
of another neuron
2.Axosomatic – between axon & cell body
ofanother neuron
3. Axoaxonal – between axon & axon of
another neuron
4.Dendrodendritic – between dendrite &
dendrit of another neuron
E. FUNCTIONS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
Functions of nervous system
a) To detect & response the changes
inside & out side of the body
b) Maintain homeostasis
c) Immediate response
F. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)
Divided in to 2 main parts consists of
- Brain
- Spinal cord
G.BRAIN
Part of CNS
Located within the cavity of skull
 Parts of brain are:
1.Cerebrum
2.Brainstem
3.Cerebellum
1.Cerebrum
Largest part of brain
Contains grey matter – superficial
Contains white matter – deep
Consists of 2 large hemispheres
a. right cerebral hemispheres
b.left cerebral hemispheres
 Hemisphere separated by
a. sickle shaped fold of dura
b.falx cerebri
Hemisphere connected by Corpus
Collosum made by white matter
Function of Corpus Collosum –
Coordinate activity of both cerebral left
& right hemisphere
Surface of hemisphere – Not smooth
because of gyrus & Sulcus
 Cerebral hemisphere has 4 lobes,they
are:-
a) Frontal lobe
b) Temporal lobe
c) Parietal lobe
d) Occipital lobe
The lobes of the cerebrum
a) Frontal lobe – intelligent, memory
b) Parietal – Sensory , speech
c) Temporal – Taste , auditory
d) Occipital - Visual
The cerebrum showing the
functional areas
BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE CEREBRUM
a. Vertebra system – Branch of
subclavian artery reach cranial
cavity.
b. Carotid system – Branch of internal
carotid artery enter arachnoid space.
c. Venous drainage – cross
subarachnoid space enter in to dural
venous sinuses.
Functions of Cerebrum
Receive all sensory stimuli and conveys
most of them to consciousness
Initiates all voluntary movements
Correlates and retain all impulse – this
ability forms the basis of memory
2.Brain stem
Brain stem consists of 3 sections, they are
a. Mid brain
b. Pons
c. Medulla Oblongata
a. Mid brain
Shortest segment
Located in between cerebrum
Consist group of cell bodies and nerve
fibre
Connect cerebrum and lower part of
brain and spinal cord
Function – relay station for ascending
and descending nerve
b. Pons
Act as a bridge
Located in between mid brain and
medulla oblongata
 The pons contains important neuronal
pathways arising from cerebrum (motor)
and spinal cord (sensory) as well as the
cerebellum
Functions – Relay station for these
messages.
Pons contains important center for
regulating breething
c. Medulla oblongata
Act as a bulb
About 3 cm in length
Located in between pons and spinalcord
 Has 2 swellings – caused pyramid tracts
– called pyramid
Pyramid contain – corticospinal fibres
Damage to vital centre lead to death
Function of medulla oblongata
a.Coordinate vital centre – respiratory,
cardiac centre, vasomotor centre, reflex
centre.
b. Coordination of skeletal muscle
c. Coordination of activity controlled by
ANS.
3.Cerebellum
Located below the occipital lobe of the
cerebrum.
Function – Coordination of voluntary muscle
movement , posture and balance.
H. MEMBRANE COVERING THE BRAIN
Lies between skull and cerebrum
Brain – covered by membranes called
Meninges.
There are 3 Meninges:
1. Dura mater
2. Arachnoid mater
3. Pia mater
1.DURAMATER
Lies between skull and arachnoid mater
The most outer and toughest layer
Features – strong
- Thick
- Fibrous membrane – contains
largely white collagen fibre
- Avascular membrane.
Dura mater has 2 layers
a. Outer endosteal layer
b. Inner meningeal layer
 Duramater folds – helps to support the
brain and maintain it inposition
2. ARACHNOID MATER
Lies between duramater and subarachnoid
space.
Features – Delicate
- Transparent
- Avascular membrane
Closely applied t duramater but separated
from piamater by subarachnoid space
 Subarachnoid space – large space
- filled with large
quantity of CSF
3. PIA MATER
The most inner meninges layer.
Lies between Subarachnoid space and
cerebrum
Features – Very delicate
- vascurar membrane
Along with capillaries from – Choroid
plexus
I. VENTRICLES OF THE BRAIN
Interior of brain – contain series of
cavities
Cavities filled with CSF
This cavities called Ventricles
There are 3 ventricles
a. lateral ventricles
b. third ventricles
c. fourth ventricles
1.LATERAL VENTRICLE
Lateral ventricle has 2 cavities
Situated within each cerebral
hemisphere
It looks in – C shape
Open to third ventricles
2.THIRD VENTRICLES
Third ventricles contain – median cavity
– located in cerebrum
Third ventricle and lateral ventricles –
communicates through Interventricular
foramen
 Third ventricle open to fourth ventricles
3. FOURTH VENTRICLES
Situated between Pons and Medulla
Oblongata
Third ventricles and fourth ventricles –
communicate through cerebral aqueduct
It looks in diamond shape.
J.SPINAL CORD
Part of CNS
Lies within central canal
Elongated – almost sylindrical
Begins – continuation of Medulla Oblongata
 Contain Cerebrospinal Fluid
1. Production of CSF.
Choroid plexus- responsible for secretion of CSF.
Choroid plexus – component of pia mater.
CSF filled in
a. subarachnoid space.
b. Ventricles of brain.
c. Central canal of spinal cord.
Flow of CSF
Formed in lateral ventricles

Reach to third ventricle

Reach to fourth ventricle

Through median cavity reach subarachnoid space.
2. Quantity of CSF
Total volume – about 140 ml
3. Composition of CSF
CSF is clear, odour less , and colour less.
Alkaline fluid.
CSF contains:
a. Water
b. Mineral salts – sodium, potassium.
c. Glucose.
d. Plasma protein.
e. Few leucocytes.
4. Functions of CSF
Act as a shock absorber (cushion) –
protect brain from injury.
Help to carry nutrition to the brain.
Remove waste products.
Keeps brain and spinal cord moist.
Maintain pressure level in brain and
spinal cord.
Spinal cord - consists of 2 features
1. External features.
2. Internal features.
1.EXTERNAL FEATURES
Divided in to 2 parts:
1. Cervical enlargement – innervates
muscle of upper limb.
2. Lumbosacral enlargement –
innervates muscle of lower limb.
Lowest part of spinal cord is conical –
known as Cons medullar
Cons medullar – continuous below with a
thin fibrous – Filum terminate.
2. INTERNAL FEATURES.
Grey mater is situated internally.
White mater is situated externally.
It forms H shape.
Spinal cord gives attachment – series of
spinal nerve.
Spinal nerve arises by 2 roots
1. Anterior/ventral – Motor root
2. Posterior/ Dorsal – Sensory.
Ventral and Dorsal root join – form spinal
nerve.
Dorsal root marked by swelling – dorsal
root ganglion.
Lumbar Puncture
a. Procedure of wiyhdraw CSF by using a
needle and insert in to Subarachnoid
space without any harm to apinal cord.
b. Perform when patient is lying .
c. Perform under aseptic condition .
d. Area of puncture – L3 and L4,or L4
and L5.
e. Apply spinal block – anaesthetic agent
inject directly into Subarachnoid space.
Spinal cord is made up of 31 segments:
a. Cervical - 7
b. Thoracic - 12
c. Lumbar - 5
d. Sacral - 5
e. Coccygeal – 1
NERVE PLEXUS
Plexus – network of nerves.
There are 4 main plexus 1. Cervical plexus
2. Brachial plexus.
3. Lumbar plexus.
4. Sacral plexus
A nerve plexus is a network of intersecting nerves.
They combine sets of spinal nerves that serve the
same area of the body into one large grouped nerve.
There are several in the body, including:
Cervical plexus - serves the head, neck and shoulders
Brachial plexus - serves the chest, shoulders, arms
and hands
Lumbar plexus - serves the back,
abdomen, groin, thighs, knees, and
calves
Sacral plexus - serves the pelvis,
buttocks, genitals, thighs, calves, and
feet
Solar plexus - serves internal organs
Coccygeal plexus - Same as Solar Plexus
Since the Lumbar and Sacral plexus are
interconnected, they are sometimes
referred to as the Lumbosacral plexus.
The nerves that serve the chest are the
only ones that do not originate from a
plexus.
 CRANIAL NERVES
Attach to the brain.
Bundles of processor neurons
Innervate muscle – carry impulse from
sensory neuron.
There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
CN 1 – Olfactory nerve - sense of smell.
CN 2 – Optic nerve – sense of vision
CN 3 – Occulo motor – coordinate motor

to muscle.
CN 4 – Trochlear nerve – supplies sense
to muscle.
CN 5 – Trigeminal nerve – supplies
sense of Ophthalmic , maxillary and
mandible.
CN 6 – Abducent nerve – supplies
sense of muscle.
CN 7 – Facial nerve – supplies sense
of facial expression
CN 8 – Vestibulocochlear nerve –
Coordinate vestibular and cochlear.
CN 9 – Glossopharyngeal nerve –
supplies sense of taste.
CN 10 – Vagus nerve – supplies large
number of structures(thorax & abdomen)
CN 11 – Accessory nerve – act as
assistant to vagus nerve.
CN 12 – Hypoglossal nerve – supplies
sense of tongue musle.
CRANIAL NERVES
H.PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Autonomic nervous system
2. Somatic nervous system
1. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Also known as involuntary NS.
Controls body functions.
Controls – visceral function of body.
Visceral function of body – blood
pressure, GIT , sweating , body
temperature and reflex response.
 ANS activated – mainly by spinal cord
centre.
ANS divided in to 2 nerve cells
1. Sympathetic nerve
2. Para sympathetic nerve
1. Sympathetic nerve
Origin from spinal cord between T1
and T2.
Path way is composed by 2 fibres
- pre ganglionic
- post ganglionic
 Neuron – cell bodies in the brain
- nerve fibre extend to spinal
cord.
Function – produce – “Fight and Flight”
response.
- Speed up response.
2. Parasympathetic nerve
Origin from sacral spinal cord
Include – cranial nerve 3,7,9,10.
Function – Produce “rest and digest”.
- Slowdown response.
I.SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
The somatic nervous system includes
both sensory and motor neurons.
Sensory neurons convey input from
receptors for the special senses ( Vision ,
hearing, taste , smell and equilibrium)
And from receptors for somatic senses
(pain, thermal, tactile and proprioceptive
sensations)
These sensations normally consciously
perceived.
In turn, somatic motor neurons
innervates skeletal muscle - the effector
tissue of the somatic nervous system –
and produce voluntary movements.
When a somatic motor neuron stimulates
the muscle, it contracts.
If somatic motor neurons cease to
stimulate a muscle , the result is a
paralysed limp muscle that has no muscle
tone.