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Histology 7 – Nervous tissue Dr. Fadhil Husam Ahmed

Nervous tissue
 It is one of the four basic types of tissues in
the human body
 Nerve cells respond to the changes in
internal or external environment and
generate nerve impulse which is conducted
by nerve fibres.
 The nervous tissue consists of two types of
cells:
1- neurons, which transmit impulses
2- glial cells, which are supporting cells.

NEURONS
Neuron is the structural and functional unit of
the nervous system. Can differ in size and
shape.

PARTS OF NEURON
Each neuron consists of a large cell body (with its processes called dendrites) and a
single axon.
Cell Body
 The cell body is also called
perikaryon.
 It contains a large, round, centrally
placed nucleus.
 The cytoplasm contains the
following:
a) Clumps of rough endoplasmic
reticulum called Nissl bodies:
They stain with basic dyes. They
are more in number in motor
cells than in sensory cells and
help in the synthesis of new
proteins.
b) Well-developed Golgi complexes.
c) Large number of mitochondria and lysosomes:
d) Lipofuscin granules: These are residual bodies formed by lysosomal activity.
 An extension of the cell body which connects the cell body with the axon is called
axon hillock. In this region, Nissl bodies are absent.
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Histology 7 – Nervous tissue Dr. Fadhil Husam Ahmed

Axon
 Axons are also called nerve fibres.
 Each neuron has a single axon. Some axons may further give collateral branches.
 The axon conducts nerve impulse away from the cell body to the axonal terminal.
 It begins from the axon hillock and ends at the terminal portion. The part of the
axon between the axon hillock and the point at which myelin sheath begins is called
initial segment. At the terminal end, the axon divides into numerous branches
called telodendria, which show swellings called terminal boutons at their ends.

Dendrite
 Most neurons have multiple dendrites.
 Dendrites are cytoplasmic extensions of the cell body. These structures are highly
branched, and this branching helps to increase the surface area.
 These structures are specialised or receiving signals from sensory receptors or from
neighbouring nerve cells through synapses.
 These are unmyelinated; their cytoplasm is devoid of Golgi complex.

TYPES OF NEURONS
Neurons can be classified
1- On the basis of the arrangement of cell body
processes
a) Multipolar neuron (Motor neurons)
b) Bipolar neuron (e.g. vestibulocochlear nerve,
retina and olfactory cells)
c) Unipolar neurons (Neurons in dorsal root
ganglia)
2- On the basis of the functions
a) Sensory neuron (Unipolar neurons)
b) Motor neuron (Multipolar neuron)

GLIAL CELLS (NEUROGLIAL CELL)

These are all non-neural, supporting cells of the CNS. they are not involved in
conduction of nerve impulse.
There are four types of neuroglial cells:
a) Oligodendrocytes: cells are responsible for
myelination of axons in the CNS
b) Astrocytes: provide structural support to
nervous tissue and participate in blood–
brain barrier
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Histology 7 – Nervous tissue Dr. Fadhil Husam Ahmed
c) Microglia: cells perform phagocytic
function at the site of injury

d) ependymal cells: These are columnar

cells; they are arranged as simple
epithelium that lines the ventricles of
brain and central canal of the spinal
cord.

TYPES OF NERVE FIBRES

1- MYELINATED NERVE FIBRES
 In peripheral nervous system
(PNS), Schwann cells provide
structural support to all nerve
fibres. Schwann cells form a
sheath around the axon
known as sheath of Schwann
or neurolemma
 In myelinated fibres, one Schwann cell covers only a short segment of the axon.
The small part of the axon presents in between two adjacent Schwann cells (the
part that is devoid of myelin sheath) is called node of Ranvier.
 Myelin is a mixture of lipoproteins and acts as an insulator. Since myelin acts as
an insulator, impulses are generated only at the nodes of Ranvier and this helps
in faster conduction of the impulses. This is called saltatory conduction.
 In CNS, myelin sheath is formed by oligodendrocytes.
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Histology 7 – Nervous tissue Dr. Fadhil Husam Ahmed
2- UNMYELINATED NERVE FIBRES
 Unmyelinated axons, in fact the axons are myelinated, but a single Schwann cell
envelope several axons, and does not form tightly wrapped layers around the
axon.

SYNAPSE
Synapses are contact points between neighbouring neurons for transmission of
signals from one neuron to another.

TYPES OF SYNAPSE
1. On the basis of the part of neurons taking part in synapse, synapses can be of
the following types:
 Between axon and dendrite (axodendritic)
 Between axon and cell body (axosomatic)
 Between two axons (axoaxonic)
 Between two dendrites (dendrodendritic)
2. On the basis of the method of nerve impulse transmission across the synapse,
synapses can be either:
 Chemical synapse (neurotransmitter)
 Electrical synapse

Clinical Correlations:
1- Schwannoma: benign nerve sheath tumor composed of Schwann cells. The tumor cells
always stay on the outside of the nerve, but the tumor itself may either push the nerve
aside and/or up against a bony structure (thereby possibly causing damage)
2- Astrocytoma: are a type of cancer of the brain. Originate in a particular kind of glial
cells, star-shaped brain cells in the cerebrum called astrocytes.