The Nervous System (review)
3 Functional Divisions:
• The nervous system coordinates all body functions,
enabling a person to adapt to changes in internal and
external environment
• It is composed mainly of the nerve cells (neurons) and
supporting cells (neuroglia)
The neuron
• This is the basic conducting cell of the nervous system
• Highly specialized but cannot reproduce itself
• Main parts are the cell body (soma), the fibers: axon
and dendrites.
• The axon is a long process with myelin sheath. This
conducts impulses away from the cell body
• The dendrites are short, thick, diffuse branching
processes that receive impulses and conduct them
towards the cell body
The neuroglia
• The supporting cells
• They supply nutrients to the neurons and help
maintain the electrical potential
• They also form part of the blood-brain barrier
The Organization of the Nervous System
The nervous system is divided functionally and
structurally into 2 parts:
1. Central Nervous System- the Brain and the spinal
cord
2. Peripheral Nervous System- the cranial nerves and
spinal nerves
The Peripheral Nervous System is further classified into
1. The Somatic Nervous System- controls the skeletal
muscles
2. The Autonomic Nervous System- controls the visceral
organs
3. The Enteric Nervous System- controls the functions of
the GIT
The Central Nervous System
Is composed of the brain;
• The brain consists of the gross structures: cerebrum,
cerebellum, brainstem and the diencephalon.
• Diencephalon- Thalamus. Hypothalamus and pineal
body
• Brainstem- Pons, medulla and Midbrain
The Cerebrum
• This is the largest part of the brain
• Consists of right and left hemisphere connected
by the corpus callosum
• Each cerebral hemisphere is composed of
different lobes- frontal, temporal, parietal and
occipital
 Embedded in the cerebrum is the BASAL ganglia
The Frontal Lobe of the cerebrum
• Influences the personality of the person
• Also responsible for judgment, abstract reasoning,
social behavior, language expression and motor
movement.

The Temporal lobe of the Cerebrum
• This part of the cerebrum controls the hearing,
language comprehension, storage and recall of
memories
• The LIMBIC system is deeply located in the temporal
lobe. This controls the basic drives such as hunger,
anger, emotion and sexual drive.
The Parietal Lobe
• This is the principal center for the reception and
interpretation of Sensation
• This part interprets and integrates the sensory inputs
like touch, temperature and pain
• It interprets size, shape, distance and texture
The Occipital Lobe
• This function mainly to interpret visual stimuli
• Houses the respiratory center and cardiovascular
center
• Exit points for cranial nerves V, VI and VII
The Medulla oblongata
• Most inferior portion of the brainstem
• Serves as the center for autonomic reflexes to maintain
homeostasis, regulate vasomotor and cardiac functions
respiratory,
• Serves as exit of cranial nerves VIII, IX, X, XI and XII
The Diencephalon
• The thalamus is the relay station stimuli towards the
brain of all sensory
• The hypothalamus controls body temperature,
appetite, water balance, pituitary secretions and sleep-
wake cycle

Speech areas in the cerebrum

1. Wernicke's area- responsible for the sensory
reception of speech.
2. Broca's Area- responsible for the motor speech

The spinal cord

• A long cylindrical structure extending from the
foramen magnum to the L1 in adult, L3/L4 in pedia
• In the cross section of the spinal cord, we find the
GRAY matter- contains neurons; and WHITE matter-
consists of nerve fibers
• There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves that exit the spinal
cord
 Each spinal nerve is formed by the dorsal root
The Cerebellum (sensory) and ventral root (motor)
• The second largest brain region  Cervical segments= 8 pairs
• Has also two hemispheres  Thoracic segments= 12 pairs
 Functions to maintain muscle tone, coordinate  Lumbar= 5 pairs
muscle movement posture and control  Sacral= 5 pairs
balance/equilibrium  Coccygeal= 1 pair
 If this is damaged, muscle tone decreases and fine
motor movements become very clumsy
The Brainstem
 Lies inferior to the cerebrum
 Continuous with the cerebrum and spinal cord
 It is composed of the midbrain, the pons and the
medulla oblongata
 Functions: houses the center for respiration and
cardiovascular system

The Midbrain
• This connects with the cerebrum
• Contains numerous ascending and descending tracts
and fibers
• Exit points for cranial nerves 11, 111, 1V

The Pons
• Connects the cerebellum with the cerebrum
The Meninges The cranial nerves
 These are 3 connective tissue surrounding the brain • Are 12 pairs of nerves that exit the brain
and spinal cord layers • Can be classified as
-Sensory
• DURA MATER- the superficial, thickest layer. The -Motor
area above the dura mater is called epidural -Mixed (sensory and motor)
space
• ARACHNOID- second layer, thin and wispy Cranial Nerves
• PIA MATER- the deepest layer, adhered to the | Olfactory
brain and spinal cord substance II Optic
• The space between the arachnoid and pia mater III Oculomotor
is called the arachnoid space IV Trochlear
• This arachnoid space contains the cerebrospinal V Trigeminal
fluid (CSF) VI Abducens
• IN THIS SPACE, BLOOD VESSELS ARE ALSO FOUND VII Facial
VIII Vestibulocochlear
The Ventricles IX Glossopharyngeal
• These CSF filled cavities in the brain X Vagus
• The lateral ventricle- found in the cerebrum XI Accessory
• The third ventricle- in the center of the thalamus and XII Hypoglossal
hypothalamus
• The fourth ventricle- located at the base of the
cerebellum

The CSF
• This is the fluid found inside the ventricles that bathe
the brain and spinal cord
• Function: provides protective cushion around the CNS
• Produced by the choroid plexus of the lateral 3rd and
4th ventricles

Tracing the CSF pathway

Lateral ventricle

Interventricular foramen of Monro The Autonomic Nervous System

• The part of the peripheral nervous system that
Third ventricle innervates cardiac muscles, smooth muscles and glands

Cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius Functionally divided into

• Sympathetic Nervous System
Fourth ventricle • Parasympathetic Nervous System

Exits trough the median foramen of Magendie or the The SYMPATHETIC system
lateral foramen of Luscka • Originates from the T1-L2/L3 segments of the spinal
cord (thoracolumbar)
Subarachnoid spaces in the cisterna magna, spinal cord • Utilized by the body for FLIGHT and FIGHT response
• Neurotransmitter agents are Epinephrine and
subarachnoid space of the brain Norepinephrine (coming from the adrenal gland)
• ADRENERGIC system
superior sagittal sinus
Sympathetic responses
• Increased:
- HR
- RR
-BP
- Visual Acuity (Pupillary Dilation)
- Smooth Muscle tone sphincters are contracted
- Vasoconstriction
- Metabolism ↑ glucose, ↑ fatty acids
Sympathetic responses
 • Decreased
-Peristalsis
-Salivary secretions

• Ejaculation

Parasympathetic system
• CHOLINERGIC system
• The vegetative system
• Feed and Breed responses
• Cranio-sacral location
• Cranial nerves-3, 7, 9, 10 and S2-S4
• Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine

Parasympathetic responses
• Increased
- Gastric secretions
- Salivary secretions
- peristalsis

• Pupillary constriction
• Decreased
• Smooth muscle tone sphincters are relaxed
• erection

Nerve Physiology
• The nerve cells are excitable cells
• Any stimulus will change the membrane potential
and cause an action potential to generate impulse
transmission
• The myelin sheath of the nerve cell is responsible for
the SALTATORY conduction increases the nerve
transmission

The SYNAPSE
• This is the region where communication occurs
between 2 neurons or between a neuron and a target
cell
• A neurotransmitter is released from the nerve cell
towards the other cell with receptor

The Major Neurotransmitters

• Acetylcholine
• Serotonin
• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine
• Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
• Enkephalin, endorphin

• Assignment: READ about them