Cells of Neural Tissue

Neurons: basic unit of the nervous system,

these cells communicate with one another
and with other cells

Neuroglia: regulate the environment of

neurons, provide supporting framework, act
as phagocytes
Structure of a Neuron
Motor neuron
Neuron from spinal cord
 Components of Neuron to Know
Dendrites: receive incoming signals
Axon: carries outgoing signals
Synaptic terminal: where axon
communicates with dendrites of another cell
Mitochondrion: supply ATP
Nucleus: houses DNA and nucleolus
Nucleolus: makes ribosomes
Nissl bodies: clusters of rough ER and free
ribosomes - makes gray matter gray
Components of Neuron to Know,
continued
Axon hillock: region of neuron where an
action potential may arise due
-to presence of specific chemicals,
-mechanical pressure,
-changes in temperature, or
-shifts in extracellular ion concentrations
Components of Neuron to Know,
continued
Collaterals: branches of axon
Synapse: site where one neuron
communicates with another neuron
Schwann cells: glial cells in the PNS that
myelinate the axons of neurons
Node of Ranvier: part of the neuron that is
NOT myelinated, in between the Schwann
cells along the axon
Cell Body
 Functional Classification of
Neurons
Sensory neurons: 10 million in afferent
division of PNS
Two kinds of receptors:
Somatic sensory receptors
External
Proprioreceptors
Visceral receptors (internal receptors)
 Functional Classification of
Neurons, continued
Motor neurons: 500,000 of efferent division
of PNS carry instructions from CNS to other
tissues
Effectors: peripheral targets, two kinds:
Somatic motor neurons: innervate skeletal
muscles
Visceral motor neurons of autonomic
division (sympathetic and parasympathetic):
cardiac, smooth muscle, glands, adipose
tissue
 Functional Classification of
Neurons, continued
Interneurons (association neurons):
20 billion!
-Located entirely within the brain and spinal
cord
-Connect other neurons
-Distribute sensory information
-Coordinate motor activity
-Play a role in all higher functions: memory,
planning, learning
 Structural Classification of
Neurons
Multipolar neuron: two or more dendrites
and a single axon, most common in CNS
Unipolar neuron: the dendrites and axon are
continuous and the cell body is off to one side,
mostly comprise sensory portion of PNS
Bipolar neurons: one dendrite and one axon,
with cell body in between, rare but occur in
special sense organs and act as relays for
sight, smell, hearing
 Neuroglia
Glia means “glue”
Found in both PNS and CNS, but great variety
in CNS
Four types of neuroglia in CNS:
1. Astrocytes
2. Oligodendrocytes
3. Microglia
4. Ependymal
 Astrocytes
-Largest and most numerous

-Secrete chemicals to maintain blood-brain

barrier

-Create structural framework for CNS neurons

Repair damaged neural tissue
 Oligodendrocytes
-Have fewer processes than astrocytes

-Wrap around axons of neurons to form

myelin sheaths

-Each cell myelinates short segments of

several axons

Internodes: areas covered in myelin

 Microglial cells: microglia
-Smallest and rarest of neuroglia

-Phagocytic cells derived from white blood

cells that migrated into CNS as it formed

-Engulf cellular waste and pathogens

 Ependymal cells
-Line central canal of spinal cord
-Line ventricles of the brain (chambers filled
with cerebrospinal fluid)
-Ependyma: the lining of epithelial cells they
form
-Ependyma produces CSF in some regions
Some ependyma have cilia to help circulate
CSF
 Two Types
of Neuroglial Cells in PNS
1. Satellite cells:surround and support cell
bodies in PNS, much as astrocytes do in
CNS
2. Schwann cells: cover every axon outside
the CNS
Neurilemma: outside of the Schwann cell
on a neuron of the PNS
*One Schwann cell can only myelinate the
axon of a single neuron
Be able to recognize each of the different
kinds of cells based upon their structures and
functions.
Structures of Neuroglial Cells