The

Musculo-Skeletal System
Week 1 Notes:
Introduction to the Nervous System

2 Types of Cells:
• Neurons
o Basic functional unit
o Impulse conduction
§ Salutatory (myelinated)
§ Continuous (unmyelinated)
o Stimulate muscles & glands

o ‘Communication’ cells of the NS
§ Afferent – Incoming information (graded inputs)
• Dendrites
• Cell Body
§ Efferent – Outgoing information (action potentials)
• Axon

o Specialized Structures & Organelles:
§ Structures:
• Neurites: Axon + Dendrites
o Branched axons = ‘collaterals’
• Myelination:
o Produced by Schwann cells in PNS
o Produced by Oligodendrocytes in CNS
o Insulates axon
o Speeds up Action Potential Propagation
§ Organelles:
• Rough ER (nissl bodies): protein
synthesis
• Smooth ER: lipid synthesis
• Golgi: Storage & transport of
secretory products

o Types of Neurons:
§ Multipolar:
• 99% of all neurons
• Many dendrites
• 1 myelinated axon
§ Pseudounipolar:
• T-shaped
• Receptive endings (not dendrites)
• Long, myelinated axon
o Central end
o Peripheral end
§ Sensory receptors
§ Bipolar:
• In Retina + Olfactory mucosa.
• T-Shaped
• Long Dendrite
• Long Axon

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 • Neuroglia (Glia)
o Smaller support cells of NS
o Outnumber neurons 10:1
o Structural & mechanical support
o Roles in maintaining homeostasis
o Myelination
o Immune responses via phagocytosis.
o Types of neuroglia:
§ CNS:
• Astrocytes
o Nutrient bridge between neuron & capillaries
o Guide migrating young neurons
o Synapse formation
o Mop up excess K+ ions + neurotransmitters
• Oligodendrocytes
o Myelin formation in CNS
• Microglia
o Long thorny processes
o Monitors neuron health
o Senses damaged neurons
o Migrates to damaged neuron
o Phagocytoses microbes & debris (immune cells are denied access to CNS)
• Ependymal Cells
o Lines central cavities of brain + spinal chord
o Blood-brain barrier
o Beating cilia circulates cerebrospinal fluid
§ PNS:
• Schwann Cells
o Myelin Formation – wrap around axon
o Regeneration of damaged neurons
• Satellite cells
o Surround neuron bodies
o Structure, nutritional support & protection.

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Connective Tissue Sheaths on Peripheral Nerves:
• Endoneurium
o Delicate connective tissue layer
o Surrounds each axon
• Perineurium
o Coarser connective tissue layer
o Bundles groups of fibres into fascicles
• Epineurium
o Tight, fibrous sheath
o Bundles fascicles into a single nerve.
o Houses blood vessels















Grey Matter & White Matter:
• Grey Matter
o Neuron bodies (Soma)
o Imbedded in neuroglial cells
o Eg:
§ Cortex of Brain
§ Centre of Spinal Chord
§ Ganglia/nuclei

• White Matter
o Neuron fibres (axons & dendrites
o White due to myelin
o Eg:
§ Peripheral Nerves & Plexuses
§ Central fibre tracts


Ganglia
• Collections of neuron cell bodies in PNS
o Afferent Spinal Nerves:
§ Cell bodies of sensory
neurons
§ ‘Dorsal root ganglion’
o Efferent Spinal Nerves:
§ Cell bodies of autonomic
nerve fibres
§ ‘Sympathetic trunk ganglion’
o In Central Nervous System:
§ Called: Basal Nuclei / Nuclei

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Spinal Nerves:
• Innervation of the Skin:
o Dermatomes:
§ A portion of the mesoderm (skin, sensory receptors, sebaceous glands, blood vessels)
innervated by the cutaneous branches of a single spinal nerve.

• Innervation of the Skeletal Muscles
o Cervical Plexus
o Brachial Plexus
o Lumbar-Sacral Plexus

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Cranial Nerves:
I. Olfactory
• Smell
II. Optic
• Vision
III. Oculomotor (‘eye-mover’)
• Controls 4 of the 6 eye muscles.
IV. Trochlear (‘pulley’)
• Controls 1 of the extrinsic eye muscles – pulley shaped
V. Trigeminal
• 3-branched sensory fibres to the face and mastication muscles
VI. Abducens (‘abduct’)
• Controls the extrinsic eye muscle that abducts the eyeball (lateral rotation)
VII. Facial
• Facial expression
VIII. Vestibulocochlear
• Hearing and balance (formerly the auditory nerve)
IX. Glossopharyngeal (‘tongue & pharynx’)
• Tongue and pharynx
X. Vagus (‘the wanderer’)
• The only nerve to extend beyond the head and to the thorax & abdomen.
XI. Accessory
• An accessory part of the Vagus nerve
XII. Hypoglossal (‘under-tongue’)
• Runs beneath the tongue to control tongue movement.

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