NERVOUS SYSTEM  SOMATIC N.

S
-allows us to consciously or
NEUROLOGY voluntarily control our muscles
-branch of medicine that specializes in
diagnosing and treating nervous system  VOLUNTARY N.S
disorders -not all skeletal muscle activity
NERVE IMPULSE controlled by the motor division is
-action potential or electrical signal voluntary
- means of communication of the nervous
system  AUTONOMIC N.S
-regulates events that are
FUNCTIONS autonomic or involuntary
 SENSORY FUNCTION -smooth muscles, cardiac muscle,
-sensory receptor and glands
-monitors stimuli in the body’s
internal and external environment  INVOLUNTARY N.S
 INTEGRATION -can either be sympathetic or
-analysis and interpretation of parasympathetic; bring out opposite
sensory input effects:; other stimulates and the
-may produce the ff: other inhibits
 Immediate response
 Information stored as SUPPORTING CELLS
memory -lumped together as neuroglia
 Ignoring the input -nerve glue

BRAIN & SPINAL CORD NEUROGLIA

-major organs for processing sensory -types of cells that support, insulate and
input and initiating responses protect delicate neurons

CONTROL CENTERS  ASTROCYTES

-specific areas in the brain and spinal -holds neurons in place
cord which processes particular -regulates exchange of substances
input  MICROGLIA
-spiderlike cells
ANATOMICAL/STRUCTURAL DIVISION -phagocytes of CNS
 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM -least abundant
-brain and spinal cord -clear away debris of dead cells
 PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM  EPENDYMAL
-sensory receptors and all nerves -ependyma
outside the CNS -ciliated cells
SENSORY DIVISIONS -produces CSF and assists in circulation
-keeps the CNS informed of events going on  OLIGODENDROCYTES
both in and out of the body -wraps flat extensions tightly around nerve
 SOMATIC SENSORY DIVISION fibers, producing fatty insulating coverings
-soma(body) called myelin sheaths
-delivers impulses from the skin,
skeletal muscles and joints
 VISCERAL SENSORY DIVISION
-transmits impulses from the visceral
organs
MOTOR DIVISION
-carries impulses from the CNS to effector
organs
 2 types of Cells NODE OF RANVIER
 Neurons -gaps in the myelin sheath that appear as intervals
 Neuroglia along the axon

NEURON SYNAPSE
 CELL BODY -the functional junction between two neurons
 PROCESSES
 DENDRITES PRESYNAPTIC NEURON
-neuron before the synapse
POSTSYNAPTIC NEURON
-neuron after the synapse
NEUROGLIA IN PNS
 SCHWANN CELLS SYNAPTIC CLEFT
-surrounds the axon -tiny gap which separates an axon terminal from
-makes myelin sheaths of PNS neurons the next neuron or effector
 SATELLITE CELLS SYNAPTIC VESICLE
-provides support and protection -tiny sacs contained in the axon terminal that
Regulate exchange of substance to and stores neurotransmitters
from PNS neurons
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
PROPERTIES OF NEURONS -molecules released from synaptic vesicles that
1. AMITOTIC AND HAVE LIMITED ABILITY serves as means of communication of a synapse
TO REPAIR THEMSELVES
2. HIGH METABOLIC RATE FUNCTIONS OF NEURONS
3. IRRITABILITY OR EXCITABILITY  SENSORY NEURONS
4. CONDUCTIVITY -carries impulses from sensory receptors to
the CNS
PARTS OF NEURONS  MOTOR NEURONS
a) CELL BODY -carries impulses from the CNS to effector
-SOMA organs
-metabolic center of the neuron  INTERNEURON NEURONS
b) PROCESSES -only found in CNS; connect motor and
-branches or fibers of nerve fibers sensory neurons and integrates impulses
-collective term for axons and dendrites
c) DENDRITES COLLECTION OF NERVOUS TISSUES
-shorter, numerous branches
 NUCLEI
-receiving or input parts of the neuron
-cluster of cell bodies of neurons within the
CNS
AXON
 GANGLIA
-longer branch of the neuron
-ganglion; cluster of cell bodies in the PNS
-conducts nerve impulses to other neurons
 TRACTS
-bundle of nerve fibers in the CNS
AXON HILLOCK
 NERVES
-site where impulses begins
-bundle of nerve fibers in the PNS
-cone like
 WHITE MATTER
-dense collection of myelinated fibers in the
AXON TERMINAL
CNS
-ending of an axon where it meets another cell
 GRAY MATTER
-dense collection of unmyelinated fibers
MYELIN SHEATH
and nuclei in the CNS
-covering/insulation
-increases speed of nerve impulse conduction
CONNECTIVE TISSUE COMPONENTS 4) DOPAMINE
a) EPINEURIUM -both; active during emotional
-encloses the entire nerve responses and help in the regulation
b) PERINEURIUM of skeletal muscle tone and
-covers the bundle of axons called movement
fascicles 5) SEROTONIN
c) ENDONEURIUM -involved control of mood and onset
-covers each axon in one nerve fascicles of sleep
6) SUBSTANCE P
-involved in pain perception
EVENTS IN THE ACTION POTENTIAL
7) ENDORPHINS
Reduce pain by inhibiting
1. RESTING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL
substance P
2. STIMULUS INITIATES DEPOLARIZATION
8) NITRIC OXIDE
3. PROPAGATION OF AN ACTION POTENTIAL
-promotes vasodilation
4. REPOLARIZATION
5. INITIAL IONIC CONDITIONS RESTORED
SPINAL CORD
TYPES OF CONDUCTION
-a mass of nerve tissue located at the
 Continuous Conduction
vertebral cavity
-occurs in unmyelinated cells
-integrating center for spinal reflexes
 Saltatory Conduction
-A faster type of conduction that occurs in
PROTECTIVE COVERINGS
myelinated cells
1) VERTEBRAL COLUMN
-bony structure protecting the spinal
FACTORS AFFECTING
cord
a) DIAMETER OF THE AXON
2) MENINGES
-large diameters conducts impulses faster
-layers of connective tissue covering
b) PRESENCE OF THE MYELIN SHEATHS
that extends around the spinal cord
-myelinated axons conduct impulse faster
and brain
c) TEMPERATURE
a) DURA MATER
-Conducts impulses when warm and lower
-outermost
speed when cooled
-made of fibrous irregular
d) PRESSURE
connective tissue
-continuous pressure affects blood flow,
EPIDURAL SPACE
delivery of 02 and nutrient
-space between the dura mater and
vertebral column
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
 EXCITATORY
b) ARACHNOID MATER
 INHIBITORY
-middle layer
1) ACETYLCHOLINE
-composed of collagen and
-skeletal muscle contraction
elastic fibers
2) GAMMA AMINOBUTYRIC ACID
SUBDURAL SPACE
(GABA)
-space between arachnoid mater and dura
-generally inhibitory
mater
3) NOREPINEPHRINE
c) PIA MATER
-may be excitatory or inhibitory at
-innermost meninx
ANS synapses
-where CSF circulates
EXTERNAL STRUCTURES OF THE SPINAL STRUCTURES RELATED TO SPINAL NERVES
CORD 1. ROOTS
-2 bundles of axons that connect each spinal
nerve to a segment of a cord
Claudia equina
a) Anterior root
-horse’s tail
-motor nerve fibers that conduct impulses
-array of roots of spinal nerves at the from the CNS to muscle and gland
inferior end of the spinal cord

ENLARGEMENTS
a) CERVICAL ENLARGEMENT
-contains nerves that supply the upper
limbs
b) LUMBAR ENLARGEMENT
-contains nerves that supply the lower
limbs
INTERNAL STRUCTURE
1. CENTRAL CANAL
-a small space that extends the length og
the cord and contains CSF
2. WHITE MATTER
-bundles of myelinated nerve fibers
3. GRAY MATTER
-receives and integrates coming and
outgoing messages
4. HORNS
-H-shaped or butterfly shaped are of gray
matter in the spinal cord
a) Anterior
-contains somatic motor neurons
b) Lateral
-contains cell bodies of autonomic
motor neurons
c) Posterior
-contains cell bodies of somatic and
autonomic

5. COLUMN
-group of white matter tracts in the spinal
cord

6. ASCENDING TRACTS
-consists of myelinated axons that conduct
nerve impulses toward the brain

7. DESCENDING TRACT
-myelinated axons that carry impulses from
the brain down the spinal cord

SPINAL NERVES
-31 pairs of nerves