Nervous Tissue Perikaryon (soma/cell body)

Made up of closely packed cells that are separated Consists of a nucleus surrounded by a basophilic
by very little amount of intercellular substances cytoplasm (neuroplasm) enclosed by a cell membrane
Forms a well-organized and integrated (neurolemma)
communications network
Arise from ectoderm Nucleus
typically large, spherical or ovoid and centrally
Cells of Nervous Tissue located. Under histologic condition the nucleus is pale
and the nucleolus is very prominent.
Neurons (nerve cells)
Supporting cells (neuroglial or glial cells) ORGANELLES OF THE PERIKARYON
Nissl Bodies (rER Of neurons)
Neurons (nerve cells) Deeply basophilic, granular masses that are very
Functional units of nervous tissue which are highly prominent in the neuroplasm
specialized cells that exhibit They are abundant in
irritability: ability to react to stimulus perikaryon and also
conductivity: ability to transmit stimulus found in the dendrites
They are more variable in size and shape than any but are ABSENT in the
other cell type axon and axon hillock
They come in all shapes: stellate (ventral gray (area of the perikaryon
matter of the spinal cord, motor nuclei of the brain where axon originates)
stem), spherical, pyramidal (cerebral cortex), flask- They are simply parts
shaped (purkinje cells), fusiform, ovoid, and so forth of a well-developed RER
Terminally differentiated cells incapable of cell Together with Golgi apparatus, they are involved in
division, hence cannot regenerate when the cell body the synthesis of neurotransmitters
is damaged Mitochondria
particularly abundant in axon terminals
Estimate number vary between 14 billion and 1 trillion smaller than those seen in other cell types
Sizes from 5 µm (granule cell in the cerebellum) to profuse in axon terminals (bulb-like swelling at the
150 µm (most neurons) in diameter axon ends)
Parts of a neuron Peroxisomes (oxidase and catalase)
Cell body/Soma/Perikaryon preventing the degeneration of the neuron
Processes role in detoxifying noxious substances
Axons Lysosomes (hydrolase)
Dendrites recycling proteins (senescent cellular structures)
They can regenerate if deals with abnormal and foreign structures
cell body is intact Centrosome
located in the peripheral area of the perikaryon
does not contain centrioles
Inclusion bodies
Fat droplets
Lipochrome
Lipofuscin granules (increases with age)
Melanin granules:
present in substantia nigra (midbrain), locus
coeruleus near the fourth ventricle and the spinal
and sympathetic ganglia
Iron granules: present in the neurons in globus
pallidus, increases with age
Cytoskeleton
collectively termed as neurofibrils
microfilaments (finest fibrillar elements in neurons)
ave. 5 nm in diameter
fibrillar type of actin (F-actin), made up of
polymerized G actin and filaments
intermediate filaments (neurofilaments)
10 nm in diameter, present in the cell body and
cell processes; abundant in axon
Internal support for the cell and fix the diameter
of the processes.
 microtubules (neurotubules) Nodes of Ranvier: point of discontinuity between
internal support for the neurons; strengthen successive schwann cells/oligodendrocytes
synapses; intracellular transport of organelles Schwann cells Oligodendrocytes
and secretory vesicles Enclosed by basal lamina NOT enclosed by basal
lamina
Envelop only ONE axon Envelop NUMEROUS axons
Supporting cell exclusive Supporting cell exclusive
to the PNS to the CNS

Processes (90 percent of the cytoplasm)

Cytoplasmic extension of the cell body CLASSIFICATION OF NEURONS
Two types of processes exist in neurons:
Axons: conduct impulses away from the cell body According to morphology (4):
Dendrites: carries impulses toward the cell body Unipolar
There is only one axon per neuron. Dendrites on the only one process,
other hand could be absent, solitary or numerous axon, is present
Dendrite exists in early
More than one dendrite is usually present in one embryonic life
neuron Pseudounipolar
Provides most of the receptive surface of the a single process,
neuron axon, leaves the cell
Branch more extensively but are shorter than body, but soon
axons bifurcates
Axon exemplified by
Arise from the conical elevation on the perikaryon sensory neurons in
called the axon hillock the craniospinal ganglia
Devoid of Nissl granules Bipolar
a single dendrite and axon arise at opposite
Axoplasm (contains sER and mitochondria) poles of the cell body
More slender than dendrite but are typically longer seen in the olfactory epithelium of the nose
Only one axon is present in a neuron but it gives off and in vestibular and cochlear ganglia
collateral branches Multipolar
Axon forms small, rounded swellings called boutons numerous dendrites are present. Most
(terminals) at the end or along the course. It is the neurons are of this type
specific part where axon synapses or communicates
with other neurons
Axons are capable of axonal transport
According to function (3):
anterograde: involves movement of substances Sensory neurons
from the perikaryon to the axon terminals (afferent neurons)
retrogade: involves transport of substances from receive stimuli
the axon terminals to the perikaryon and transmit
Coverings of Axon impulses toward
All axons are enveloped by a sheath of cells called the CNS
neurilemmal sheath Motor neurons
In the PNS, neurilemmal sheath is composed of (efferent neurons)
schwann cells and myelin spirally wrapped over the they transmit
axon many times over. impulse from the
In the CNS, neurilemmal sheath is composed of CNS to effector
oligodendrocytes and myelin cells
Axons may be classified according to presence of Interneurons (association neurons)
myelin sheath they convey impulse from one neuron to
Myelinated axons: with myelin sheath another
Unmyelinated axons: without myelin sheath make up the majority of neurons
Conduction of nerve impulses is faster in myelinated they do not simply relay information, they
than unmyelinated axons integrate, process, store, analyze information
Nerve Fiber: axon and its coverings; PNS: and decide appropriate responses to stimuli
endoneurium
 SYNAPSE Neuroglial cells
Point of contact between a presynaptic cell (a Cells whose function is
neuron) and a postsynaptic cell (another neuron, the metabolic support of
neurons
muscle cell, or cell of a There may be as many as
gland) where nerve 10 times more neuroglial
impulses are cells than neurons in the
transmitted nervous system
They permit neurons to Although they form gap
communicate with each junctions with other
other and with effector neuroglial cells, they do
cells (muscles and not react to or
glands), whether propagate nerve impulses
CNS
excitatory or inhibitory Astrocytes
Estimated total Oligodendrocytes
number of synapses: one hundred quadrillion Microglial cells
Impulse transmission at synapses can occur Ependymal cells
electrically or chemically PNS
Schwann cells
Electrical synapses Satellite cells
Present in the brain stem, retina and cerebral cortex
Usually represented Astrocytes
by gap junctions
that permit free (star-shaped)
movement of ions Largest and most
from one cell to numerous of the
another neuroglial cells
Impulse Provide structural and
transmission is metabolic support to neurons and
much faster than scavenge ions and
across chemical neurotransmitters released into
synapses the extracellular space
Exist as 2 distinct types:
Chemical synapses Protoplasmic astrocytes in the gray matter of
Most common mode of communication than the CNS
electrical synapses Fibrous astrocytes present in the white matter
Nerve impulse is transmitted from one neuron to of the CNS
another cell by means of neurotransmitters
The part of presynaptic neuron that participates in Oligodendrocytes
a synapse is usually the axon terminal (bouton) which Resemble
possess the synaptic vesicles containing astrocytes but
neurotransmittters are smaller and
Between the presynaptic membrane and contain fewer
processes with
postsynaptic membrane is a small gap (20-30nm) sparse branching
called the synaptic cleft Located in both
the gray and the
Impulse Transmission at the Synapse white matter of the CNS
When an impulse reaches the axon terminal of a Myelinates the axons of CNS
presynaptic neuron, the neurotransmitters in its
synaptic vesicles are released by exocytosis at the Microglial cells
presynaptic membrane into the synaptic cleft. Small, dark-staining cells
The neurotransmitters then diffuses across the
synaptic cleft and are taken up by receptors at the that faintly resemble
postsynaptic membrane oligodendrocytes,
scattered throughout the
CNS
Most common types of Members of the
synapses mononuclear phagocyte
Axodendritic synapse system; originate in bone
Axosomatic synapse marrow
Axoaxonic synapse Clears debris and damaged
Dendrodendritic structures in the CNS
synapse Originate in bone marrow
Ependymal cells Central nervous system
Low columnar to Brain and spinal cord is protected by skull and
cuboidal epithelial vertebrae column respectively
cells that The three layers of meninges that cover the brain
possess short and spinal cord
cilia and microvilli Dura mater/Pachymenix: outermost layer
Comprise the simple
cuboidal epithelium Arachnoid membrane: middle layer
that lines the Pia mater: innermost layer
ventricles of the Meninges of the Brain
brain and central Dura mater
canal of the spinal cord In brain: the outer
They also form the secretory lining of the choroid surface of the
dura mater
plexuses that secrete CSF. Their ciliary movement adheres to the
also helps circulate CSF. periosteum of the
TANYCYTES – specialized ependymal cells with long cranium and is
processes that extends into the hypothalamus called periosteal
dura
Schwann cells In spinal cord: the
Form the neurilemmal outer surface of
and myelin sheath of dura mater is not
the PNS connected to the
periosteum of the
vertebrae and is
occupied by space filled with fat and venous
plexuses called the epidural space.
Between the arachnoid and dura mater is the
subdural space which contains a minimal amount
of serous fluid.
Arachnoid membrane
Satellite cells thinner than the
Small, flattened dura mater
cells that surround the smooth on its
cell bodies of neurons that are in ganglia outer surface, but
They are the counterpart in the PNS of astrocytes projecting from its
inner surface are
Nervous system cobweb-like
Extraordinarily complex but highly integrated connective tissue
communication network that receives, stores, and strands
processes and sends out voluminous amount of the arachnoid membrane is separated from pia
information mater by subarachnoid space which contains the
Major functions: CSF
collecting stimuli from the environment by Pia mater
means of receptors thin but highly vascular tissue layer that adheres
transmitting these stimuli, nerve impulses, to to the brain surface
highly organized reception and correlation areas
for interpretation
issuing orders to effector organs for
appropriate responses to the stimuli

Anatomic Divisions of the Nervous system

Central Nervous System (CNS)
Includes brain and spinal cord
Integrate the stimuli relayed by PNS and
formulate appropriate responses that are
relayed to the effector cells, tissue organs by
the PNS
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
All nervous tissues other than brain and spinal
cord
Relays all nerve impulses originating from
stimuli from both within or external to the body
to the CNS
Cerebrospinal fluid
A clear, slightly viscous fluid that circulates through
the ventricles of the brain and subarachnoid space
Protects the CNS by acting as a water cushion and
also plays a role in the metabolism of nervous tissue
CSF is constantly being renewed which a turnover
rate of 3-4 times a day. To maintain a constant
intracranial pressure, CSF drain to the venous side of
the circulation via the arachnoid villi
 CHOROID PLEXUS
Lining of simple cuboidal ependymal cells which are Peripheral Nerves
chief sources of CSF found on the roof of third, Counterpart of tracts
fourth and lateral ventricles of the brain of CNS
Connective tissue
sheaths of peripheral
nerves:
Epineurium: dense
irregular connective tissue
that enclose a peripheral
nerve
Perineurium: connective tissue sheath that
enveloped a nerve fascicle
Endoneurium: loose connective tissue that wraps
individual nerve fibers
ARRANGEMENT OF NEURONS IN THE CSF
Mass of CNS is delineated into two areas: Peripheral Nerve Endings
Grey matter: contains the cell bodies whose The termination of nerves in epithelial, connective
nuclei account for the gray color of the gray and muscle tissues
matter, dendrites and proximal portions of Nerve endings can be sensory, motor and secretory
the axons in function
White matter: does NOT contain nerve cell Sensory Nerve Endings
bodies. Instead, it contains the axons of Collect stimuli and are dispersed all over the body
neurons whose cell body are in a gray matter Categorized into three groups:
of in a ganglion. The myelin sheath accounts Simple (Free)
for the color of the white matter. most sensitive to touch, pain and
Grey matter occupies the peripheral area of the temperature
brain, while white matter occupy the central area of Expanded-tip
the brain. The reverse is true in the spinal cord (gray exemplified by Merkel discs that are found in
matter-central, white matter-peripheral) the skin and mucosal surfaces
sensitive to touch and pressure
Encapsulated
includes Ruffini's corpuscle, end bulb of
Krause, Vater-Pacinian corpuscle, Meissner's
corpuscle, neuromuscular spindles and Golgi
tendon organs
Motor Nerve Endings
Responsible for transmitting the stimulus that
commands the muscle fibers to contract and
NUCLEUS AND TRACT glandular cells to secrete
Nucleus
cluster of cell bodies of neurons with common
functions FUNCTIONAL DIVISION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
Tract CNS
bundle of nerve fibers with common origin, PNS
termination and function Somatic: responsible for the voluntary
movements of the body. Only ONE visceral
efferent neuron is involved in the transmission
of impulses.
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS Autonomic: concerned in the regulation of
SYSTEM visceral organs (smooth muscle, glands). TWO
Includes all visceral efferent neurons (preganglionic and
nervous tissue outside postganglionic neuron) are involved in the
the CNS transmission of impulses.
Organized to Sympathetic
form 12 pairs of cranial Parasympathetic
nerves, 31 pairs of Enteric
spinal nerves and their
associate ganglia
Ganglion - a
collection of cell bodies
of neurons that have a
common function in the
PNS. In the ganglion,
each neuron is supported by satellite cells
Sympathetic(terminals)
Generally prepares the body for action by increasing
respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow
to the skeletal muscles, dilating pupils of the eye,
and generally slowing down visceral function
Parasympathetic
Tends to be functionally antagonistic to the
sympathetic system, in that it decreases
respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate, reduces
blood flow to skeletal muscles, constricts the pupils
and generally increases the actions and functions of
the visceral system
Thus, the parasympathetic nervous system brings
about homeostasis; prepares the body to “rest or
digest”, whereas the sympathetic nervous system
prepares the body for “fight or flight”