Physiology Summary

The Nervous System :

•Function : Master control , communication
• cells communicate by electrical , chemical singles -> rapid , speci c -> immediate responses .
• Function and division of the nervous system :
1- Sensory input: Sensory receptors monitor changes inside and outside the body. The gathered information is called sensory input.
2- Integration : Processing and interpretation of sensory input and decides what should be done at each moment .
3- Motor output : Activation of muscles and glands to cause a response.

Nervous System

CNS PNS
— Consist of the brain , spinal cord — outside the CNS
— integrating and control center of the nervous system — Consist of the nerves (bundles of axons )
— interprets sensory input
— dictates motor output based on re exes, current Spinal carry impulses to and from the spinal cord
Cranial
conditions, and past experience. Nerve carry impulses to and from the brain Nerve
— These peripheral nerves serve as
communication lines that link all parts of the
body to the CNS.

Efferent [ Motor ] Afferent [ Sensory ]

Consist of nerve bres (axons ) that transmit impulses Consist of nerve bres (axons ) that convey impulses to the
from the CNS to effect organ ( muscles , glands ) CNS from sensory receptors located thought out the body

Visceral Sensory Somatic Sensory

Autonomic Nervous Somatic Nervous
bres bres
System System
Sympathetic 1- Involuntary Convey impulses from
1- Voluntary
Convey impulses from Skin - Skeletal muscles -
2- Visceral motor nerve bres 2- somatic motor nerve bres
Visceral organs Joint
Parasympathetic 3- CNS ⇾ Cardiac Muscle , 3- CNS ⇾ Skeletal Muscle
smooth muscles, glands
 • Histology of the Nervous Tissue : The nervous system are densely packed and tightly intertwined. It is made up of two types of cells:
Neuroglia
Supporting cells | small |
surround and wrap the
more delicate neurons
PNS
Satellite cells
1- Surround neuron cell bodies
2- Similar to the astrocytes of
CNS in function.
Schwann cells
1- Surround nerve bers.
2- Form the myelin sheaths
around the thicker nerve bers.
3- Similar to oligodendrocytes
of the CNS in function .
CNS
Make up about half the mass of the brain
Oligodendrocytes Ependymal
1- Fewer processes than 1- Squamous to columnar
astrocytes. shape , ciliated .
2- Function : Form the 2- Line the central cavities
myelin sheath ( brain , spinal cord )
( insulating covering) , 3- Function : Form a
that line up along the barrier between CSF ,
thick nerve bers and tissue uid .
warp their processes 4- Cilia helps to circulate
tightly . the CSF.
Microglial
1- Small , ovoid , long
processes ( thorny ) .
2- Migrate towards the
injury neurone.
3- Function :
- Protection —> due to the
limited access of immune
system to the CNS .
- Transform into a macrophage
—> phagocytizes the
microorganisms or neuronal
debris
Neurons
Nerve cells | excitable
(responsive to stimuli) and
transmit electrical signals
Astrocytes
- shaped like branching sea anemones .
- Their processes cling to neurons ,
their synaptic endings, and cover nearby
capillaries
- Function : support and anchor the
neurone | Making exchanges between
capillaries and neurons | Guide the
migration of young neurons | formation
of synapses (junctions) between
neurons | Control the chemical
environment -> recycling released
neurotransmitters | Respond to nerve
impulses , released neurotransmitters |
Participate in information processing in
the brain .