HISTOLOGY OF NERVOUS TISSUE

BY DR. MUDASSAR ALI ROOMI (MBBS, M. PHIL)

SPINAL CORD
It is cylindrical part of CNS which runs in vertebral canal. It is Covered by 3 layers of C.T. meninges (dura matter, arachnoid matter, pia matter). Inner grey matter (Hshaped or butterfly shaped arrangement) Outer white matter Two nerve roots- one sensory, one motor.

SPINAL CORD
In t.s. oval in shape. More flattened ventrally than dorsally. Central canal lined by ependymal cells.

SPINAL CORD
Dorsal median septum Dorsal median sulcus Ventral median fissure Anterior (ventral) horn Lateral horn Posterior (dorsal) horn Dorsal grey commissre Ventral grey commissure Dorsal white column Lateral white column Ventral white column Dorsal root of spinal nerve Ventral root of spinal nerve Dorsal root ganglion

Anterior horn of spinal cord

Anterior horn of spinal cord has got multipolar neurons. Important cells in ant. Horn- @ motor neurons Functionally these are motor neurons.

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Identification points of spinal cord

1. Central canal is present lined by ependymal cells 2. Inner butterfly shaped arrangement of grey matter 3. Large Multipolar neurons in the anterior horn 4. Outer white matter 5. Pia matter on the surface.

CEREBELLUM
Two cerebellar hemispheres Surface shows fissures which divide the cerebellum into lobules Grey matter on the surface Inner white matter Deep nuclei of grey matter also present in the white matter

CEREBELLUM
3 layers of cerebellar cortex: 1. Molecular layer 2. Purkinje cells layer 3. Granular layer

1. Molecular layer
Cell population is low Mainly composed of cell processes Stellate cells and basket cells are present here.

1. Molecular layer (cont.)

Stellate cells: Have small star shaped cell bodies Each cell has many short thin dendrites a fine unmyelinated axon is present which make synapses with the dendrites of the purkinje cells Basket cells: Also have a small cell body Numerous branching dendrites Unmyelinated axon gives off descending branches which form basket-like arborizations around the bodies of the Purkinje cells

2. Purkinje cells layer

Single row of Purkinje cells are present here

2. Purkinje cells layer (cont.)

Purkinje cells: these are large, multipolar neurons. Vesicular nucleus with a prominent nucleolus Large number of Nissl granules in the cytoplasm

cerebellum

2. Purkinje cells layer

Fan shaped, repeatedly branching dendritic arborization which enters the molecular layer Axon arises from the base, passes through the granular layer to enter the underlying white matter Most of the axons of the Purkinje cells terminate in the deep cerebellar nuclei.

3. Granular layer
This layer contains dense population of small neurons called granule cells Granule cells appear as closely pecked nuclei which stain deeply basophilic Golgi type II cells are also present in the granular layer. Glomeruli: these are irregularly scattered lighter staining areas within the granular layer.

3. Granular layer (cont.)

Each granule cell gives 4-5 short dendrites The unmyelinated axon of the granule cells ascends to the molecular layer where it bifurcates into two branches which run parallel to the surface of the cortex and are called as parallel fibers. Golgi type II cells have short axon which make synapse with the terminal branhches of the Mossy fibers.

Afferent fibers of the cerebellum

Climbing fibers: these fibers originate in the inferior olivary nucleus of medulla oblongata. These fibers synapse with the dendrites of the Purkinje fibers in the molecular layer. Mossy fibers: these fibers originate in the spinal cord and in brain stem. They make contact with the dendrites of the granules cells and axons of the Golgi type II neurons.

CLIMBING FIBERS

cerebellum

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Cerebellum- Identification points

Outer grey matter having 3 layers (molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, granular layer) Inner white matter