The nervous system has two major anatomical subdivisions… the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral

nervous
system (PNS)

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)

 CNS: consists of the brain and the spinal cord

 Integrates and coordinates the processing of sensory data
 Transmission of motor commands
 Seat of higher functions such as intelligence, memory, emotion.

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS)

 Includes all neural tissue outside the CNS

 Communication between the CNS and the rest of the body

Sensory information detected outside the nervous system by structures called receptors is transmitted by the afferent
division of the PNS to sites in the CNS where the information is processed. The CNS then sends motor commands by
means of the efferent division o the PNS to the muscles, glands, and adipose tissue, which are called effectors.

Efferent division are further divided into the somatic nervous system (SNS) (provides control over skeletal muscles
contractions) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (visceral motor system which provides automatic involuntary
regulation of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glandular secretion, and adipose tissue).

ANS includes sympathetic division and a parasympathetic division which commonly have opposite effects.

NEURONS

Neurons are the basic units of the nervous system. All neural functions involve the communication of neurons with one
another and with other cells.

 Can have a variety of shapes

 Typical CNS neurons cannot divide so they cannot be replaced if lost to injury or disease.
 Usually inactive except in the nose and the hippocampus (memory region of brain)
 Cell body contains Nissl bodies which contain rough ER and free ribosomes. (give a gray color to areas containing
neuron cell bodies)
 Structural classifications of neurons
o Multipolar: 2 or more dendrites and a single axon. Most common in the CNS. Control skeletal muscles.

o Unipolar: dendrites and axon are continuous and cell body lies off to a side. Action potential begins at
the base of the dendrite and the rest of the process is considered an axon. Most sensory neurons in the
PNS are this.
 o Bipolar: have 2 processes—one dendrite and one axon with cell body in between them. Rare. Occur in
special sense organ.

 Functional classification of neurons

o Sensory neurons. Form the afferent division of the PNS. Receive information from sensory receptors
monitoring the external and internal environments and then relay the information to other neurons in
the CNS.
 Somatic sensory receptors. Detect information about the outside world or our physical position
within it.
 External receptors: information about the external environment in the form of touch
temp., and pressure
 Proprioceptors: monitor the position and movement of skeletal muscles and joints
 Visceral receptors. Monitor the activities of the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary,
and reproductive systems.
o Motor neurons. Part of the efferent division and carry instructions from the CNS to other tissues, organs,
or organ systems.
 Somatic motor neurons. Innervate skeletal muscles.
 Visceral motor neurons. ANS. Innervate all other effectors.
o Interneurons. Association neurons. Located entirely within the brain and the spinal cord. Responsible for
the distribution of sensory information and the coordination of motor activity. Also play a role in higher
functions such as memory, planning, and learning.

NEUROGLIA

Neuroglia regulate the environment around the neurons, provide a supporting framework for neural tissue, and act as
phagocytes. They are also much smaller cells and outnumber neurons. Most glial cells retain the ability to divide.

 Astrocytes. Largest and most numerous. Secrete chemicals vital to the maintenance of the blood-brain barrier.
Isolates CNS from general circulation. Creates structural framework for CNS neurons and performs repairs on
damaged neural tissue.
 Oligodendrocytes. Create a membranous sheath of insulation made of myelin. Areas of the CNS with myelin
appear glossy white and constitute the white matter of the CNS
 Microglia. Smallest and rarest. Phagocytic cells. CNS
 Ependymal. Line the central canal of the spinal cord ant eh chambers of the brain. Creates ependyma.
 Satellite cells. Surround and support neuron cell bodies in the PNS. PNS
 Schwann cells. Cover every axon outside the CNS

STRUCTURE OF A NERVE

Cerebellum
  Located near the back of the brain below the cerebral cortex; it almost completely covers the brain stem
 Adjusts voluntary and involuntary motor activities on the basis of sensory information and stored memories of previous moments

Central Sulcus

 Located between the frontal and parietal lobe

 It separates the frontal lobe which mainly controls motor functions from the parietal lobe which is known as the sensory cortex

Lateral Sulcus

 Located between temporal and parietal lobe

 Its function is to separate the functions of the temporal lobe form that of the parietal lobe

Longitudinal Fissure

 Located in between two hemispheres of the brain (on the swim cap it is the black line that runs down the middle of the cap)

Frontal Lobe

 Located in the front part of the brain

 It has the ability to recognize consequences resulting from actions, to choose between good and bad actions, override unacceptable
social responses, and determine similarities and differences between things or events

Temporal Lobe

 The temporal lobe is located just inferior to the parietal lobe and posterior to the frontal lobe
 They are responsible for hearing, memory, meaning, language and play a role in emotional learning. In other words, they are concerned
with interpreting and processing auditory stimuli.

Parietal Lobe

 Located just posterior to the frontal lobe and just superior to the temporal lobe.
 Its function is to interpret sensory information and they can also have language functions.

Occipital Lobe

 Located on the posterior portion of the cerebral cortex just posterior to the parietal and temporal lobes.
 This lobe is responsible for the brain’s ability to recognize objects. In other words, it is the part of the brain that is responsible for vision.

Broca’s Area

 Broca’s area is located in the frontal lobe close to the anterior end of the temporal lobe.
 Its main function is linked to speech production and language

Wernicke’s Area

 Located near the posterior end of the temporal lobe and partly resting in the parietal lobe and partly in the temporal lobe.
 It is this region of the brain in which spoken language is understood.

Primary Auditory

 The primary auditory region is located in the temporal lobe.

 It understands sensations of perception. In other words, it is where auditory sensations are understood.

Primary Visual

 The primary visual area is located in the occipital lobe.

 Its main function is to interpret visual information that approaches them

Prefrontal Cortex

 The prefrontal cortex is located near the anterior side of the frontal lobe.
 The basic activity of this brain region is considered to be orchestration of thoughts and actions in accordance with internal goals

Sulci
  Shallow depressions that separate gyri from each other (the area between the black lines on the swim cap)
 Helps increase the brain’s surface area

Gyri

 An outer surface of elevated ridges (the black lines on the swim cap)
 Helps increase the brain’s surface area

Medulla Oblongata

 Located on the brain stem under the pons. It is attached to the spinal cord
 It relays sensory information to the thalamus and other brain stem centers and contains major centers that regulate autonomic functions
such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and digestive activities.

Pons

 Located near the cerebellum, but is located on anterior to the cerebellum and superior to the medulla oblongata
 It contains nuclei involved in somatic and visceral motor control

Lateral Ventricle

 Located superior to the dicephalon; near the corpus collosum

 Passageways filled with cerebrospinal fluid and lined by ependymal cells.

3rd Ventricle

 Located in the dicephalon

 Passageways filled with cerebrospinal fluid and lined by ependymal cells.

4th Ventricle

 Located in the pons and upper portion of the medulla oblongata

 Passageways filled with cerebrospinal fluid and lined by ependymal cells.

Choroid Plexus of 3rd Ventricle and Extension into Lateral Ventricle

 Located between the posterior horn of the third ventricle and the lateral ventricle (on the swim cap it is the squiggly lines around the
thalamus and hypothalamus)
 It is a network of permeable capillaries that extends into each of the four ventricles

Hypothalamus

 Located superior to the pons and near the bottom of the 3rd ventricle
 Contains centers involved with emotions, autonomic function, and hormone production

Thalamus

 Located superior to the hypothalamus and near the top of the 3rd ventricle
 Contains relay and processing centers for sensory information

Pituitary Gland

 Located in close proximity to the hypothalamus (indicated by a black circle on the swim cap)
 The primary link between the nervous and endocrine systems

Corpus Collosum

 Large band above the thalamus and hypothalamus

 Helps connect the two hemispheres of the body together by a bundle of the thick white nerves