Nervous system

ORGANIZATION OF NERVOUS
SYSTEM--- basic structural and
functional unit is NEURON
 Functions of nervous system
 Sensory functions
 Motor functions

 Autonomic / integrative functions .

 Sensory functions
 It involves sensory system
 Sensory receptors– receives information from
external and internal environment
 Neural pathways-- to conduct information from
receptors to the brain ( ascending and
descending tracts )
 Somato sensory cortex– part of the brain that
deals with processing of information
 If sensory information reaches consciousness–
sensation
 The understanding of sensation – perception
 Pain is a sensation but its awareness is
perception
 MOTOR FUNCTIONS

 Involves peripheral nervous system

 Carries information from CNS to
periphery/effectors
 Effectors are– muscles and glands
 Muscles contract when stimulated by
nerve impulse
 Glands produce a secretion when they are
stimulated
 Autonomic / integrated
Functions
 Involves ANS , which integrate vegetative
functions

 Regulation of CVS activity, respiration,

glands of GIT, sweat glands, adrenal
glands, and certain endocrine glands.
 To maintain homeostasis automatically
 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

 Occupies central axis of body

 Comprises BRAIN and SPINAL CORD.
 BRAIN
 BRAIN --- wt-1.5 Kg in adults, protected
outside by a bony skull and three meninges.
 Meninges from outside to inwards are –Dura
matter, Arachnoid Matter & Pia matter.
 Brain is divided into following parts-
 Two cerebral hemisphere (cerebrum),Basal
Ganglia,Thalamus & Hypothalamus-Fore
Brain
 Brain stem ( medulla, pons and mid brain )-
 Cerebellum
CNS: Physical Support

Figure 9.2a
Meninges
CEREBRUM
 Largest part of the brain
 Divided into right and left cerebral hemispheres.
 Two are connected to each other by bundle of
nerve fibers called corpus callosum
 most superficial part is called cerebral cortex /
cerebral grey matter.
 Underneath it /below it lies subcortical white
matter, in which subcortical nuclear masses of
grey matter ( basal ganglia, thalamus and
hypothalamus) are found/embedded. .
 These nuclear masses consist of nerve cells
densely packed together.
 Sulci – elevations and depressions – gyri are
found in cerebral hemispheres.
 Main are- Central sulcus, lateral sulcus, parieto-
occipital sulcus etc.
 Sulci divide the cerebral hemisphere into four
lobes—
1) Frontal lobe
2) Parietal lobe
3) Occipital lobe – lies behind the parieto-occipital
sulcus and concerned with visison.
4) Temporal lobe–lies below the lateral sulcus and
concerned with hearing , language (speech)
and memory functions.
FRONTAL LOBE
 Lies in front of central sulcus
 Concerned with motor functions (initiation
control and coordination of voluntary muscle
contraction)
 prefrontal lobe is located in front of frontal lobe.
 Concerned with control of higher intellectual
activities ,emotional affects, behaviour and
social consciousness, personality, memory,
sense of responsibilty, thinking, reasoning,
moral sense and learning etc.
PARIETAL LOBE
 Lies in between the central sulcus and parieto-
occipital sulcus.
 Concerned with sensory functions like
appreciation of elementary sense of touch, pain
,pressure, temperature (hot & cold) and joint
movements.
 Associated with discrimination process also –
warm to warmer, rough to rougher etc.
 Stereognosis –recognition of common familiar
objects.
 Limbic system– a ring like structure around the
brain stem. It is the oldest part of cerebral cortex.
Made up of primitive type of tissues.
Functions ---primary control of ANS, anger, rage
fear and motivation, behavioral aspect of hunger
and sex, olfaction and memory.
 Each cerebral hemisphere is divided into 47
functional areas-- BROADMANN’S AREAS
 In layers it is divided into I- VI layered structures.
 Neocortex– new cortex – complete VI layers are
present
 Allocortex – old cortex– less than VI layers are
present.
SUBCORTICAL NUCLEAR
MASSES
 Basal Ganglia–
 Thalamus
 Hypothalamus
 These lies deep underneath the cerebral
cortex
 These are groups of cell, bodies.
 BASAL GANGLIA
 Head ganglia of neural control
 Involved in planning and programming of
movements .
 Inhibits stretch reflex (muscle tone)
throughout the body.
 Provides muscle tone and co-ordination for
performance of skilled movements.
 Control normal automatic and associated
movements– swinging of arms during
walking .
 PARKINSON’S DISEASE ( Paralysis
Agitans)
 Disease of Basal Ganglia
 Agitans means Shaking ( Shaking Palsy)
 Rigidity (increased muscle tone )– involves both
flexors and extensors
 Tremors – regular , rhythmic, alternate contraction
of antagonistic and agonist muscles.(pill rolling
movements)
 Akinesia or Hypokinesia--Weakness of
movements. Mask like face and loss of normal
subconscious associated movements ( swinging of
arms)
 Due to degeneration of nuclei within Basal Ganglia
 THALAMUS
 Large ,egg shaped mass of grey matter in the
upper part of the brain
 Major sensory relay station for all sensations
except smaell
 Maintain conscious and alerting state of cerebral
cortex
 Responsible for subcortical perception of
sensations
 Concerned with control of muscular movements
 Integrating centre for sleep and concerned with
recent memory, speech and emotions .
 Imp role in genesis of electrical activity of brain
HYPOTHALAMUS
 Lies below the thalamus
 Contains many nuclear masses
 Functions:--
1)Regulation of body temperature
2)Regulation of anterior pitutary gland
3)Regulation of post. Pitutary gland
4)Control of circadian rhythm 5)Control of sleep wake
cycle
6)Control of ANS
7) Control of hunger and feeding centre
8) Control of water intake ( thirst
 BRAIN STEM
 Divided into three parts:-- medulla
oblongata, pons and mid brain.
 All Cranial nerves are situated in brain
stem:--
i) III & IV nerves in mid brain,
ii) V, VI, VII &VIII in pons
iii)IX, X, XI & XII in medulla
 Cerebellum
 Connected via three cerebellar peduncles
with brain stem
 Superior cerebellar peduncle with mid
brain
 Middle cerebellar peduncle with pons
 Inferior cerebellar peduncle with medulla
 Cerebellum

Cerebellum (Metencephalon)
 Control body posture and equillibrium by coordinating
muscular activity.
 Control of muscle tone and stretch reflexes.
 Cognitive functions
 Important in equilibrium, posture and movements.
 Medulla Oblongata
 2.5 cm long
 Extends from pons above and spinal cord below
 Consist of centres ( gp of neurons ):-
1) Cardiac centre – controls rate , rhythm and
force of contraction of the myocardium
2) Respiratory centre– controls the rate and depth
of the respiration
3) Vasomotor centre– controls B.P ( diameter of
the blood vessels)
4) Centres of vomitting, coughing, sneezing and
swallowing reflexes.
5) Contains motor and sensory tracts
 Medulla Oblongata
Contains control centers for
many subconscious
activities
• Respiratory rate
• Heart rate
• Arteriole constriction
• Swallowing
• Hiccupping
• Coughing
• Sneezing
 PONS
 Part of brain situated in front of cerebellum
between the mid brain and medulla
 It acts as relay station
 Some give origin to cranial nerves
 It also helps in regulation of respiration
 Pons

 Connects the two halves

of the cerebellum.
 Regulates breathing.
 MID BRAIN
 Situated between the cerebrum above and pons
below
 Connects the cerebrum with lower part of the brain
with spinal cord.
 Contains nuclei of cranial nerves
 Act as a relay station for sensory and motor fibres.
 Functions :-- centre for postural reflexes to control
body posture.
maintain body in upright position
Provide stable background for voluntary activities.
 Midbrain
 Cerebellar peduncles
 Tectum
 Superior colliculi
 Inferior colliculi
thalamus  Substantia nigra
 Red nuclei
Posterior

Red nucleus
Substantia nigra

Anterior
 Reticular formation
 Composed of nuclear masses
 Absolutely essential for life
 It form integrating centre for CVS, RESP, swallowing
and vomiting centres.
 It recieves and integrates information from all regions
in the CNS.
 Concerned with conscious alertness and perception
 Concerned with adjustment of stretch reflexes to
control body movement and posture
 Concerned with regulation of heart rate , B.P. and
respiration
 The SPINAL CORD
 Long, narrow cylindrical structure outside
the skull in the vertebral canal.
 Extend from foramen magnum till I st
lumbar vertebra.
 Lumber and sacral roots are known as
Cauda Equina.
 CROSS SECTION OF S.C.
 A prominent anterior fissure – anterior median
fissure.
 Less prominent posterior fissure– posterior median
fissure.
 Between the two lies Central Canal.
 Grey matter around the central canal forms H
shaped figure.
 It consist of long and narrow dorsal or posterior
horns ( contains cell bodies of motor neurons ) and
thick and broad ventral or anterior horns (contain
cell bodies of sensory neurons).
 In between present intermediolateral horn(contains
 In between present intermediolateral
horn(contains cell bodies of autonomic
neurons ).

 The white matter is divided into three white

columns:- anterior , lateral and posterior.
 The sensory and motor fibres join to form a
mixed nerve, which comes out as a
peripheral spinal nerves.
ASCENDING TRACTS IN THE
SPINAL CORD.
 A group of nerve fibres travelling in the CNS is
called a tract or pathway.
 They are grouped into ascending or descending
tracts.
 Ascending tracts carry fibres from Receptor to
CNS are called sensory or afferent tracts.
1) Dorsal (posterior white column)– co veys fine
touch, tactile localization and
discrimination,proprioceptive and kinesthetic
sensation,vibration sense and sense of deep
pressure.
 Lateral white column--- carries fibres of pain
and temperature impulses, unconscious
kinesthetic impulses to the brain for
regulation of body posture.
 Visceral (anterior )white column---carries
gross (crude) touch sensations and tactile
localisation.
SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX
 Deals with processing of somatic
sensations .
 Lies in parietal lobe.
 Afferents from opposite side of the body
but from both side of face.
 Inverted representation of body parts.
 Fingers, thumb & lips are represented at
larger area .
 MOTOR tracts /descending pathways
 2 types – pyramidal and extrapyramidal
 Pyramidal tracts are the longest tract from motor
cortex to spinal cord tip.
 Motor fibres to the spinal ventral horn cells
constitute Corticospinal Tracts.
 Motor fibres to the motor cranial nuclei constitute
the Corticobulbar /Corticonuclear tracts.
 The pyramidal cells and tracts constitute the Upper
motor neurons .
 Spinal and cranial motor neurons which directly
innervate the muscles-constitute lower motor
neurons.
 FUNCTIONS
 Of corticospinal tracts—
1) Lateral corticospinal tracts control the voluntary
movements, fine, precise movement of fingers and
hands to carry out skilled work.
2) Anterior corticospinal tracts– control the muscles
of the trunk and proximal portions of the limbs to
carry out postural adjustments and gross
movements.
3) Corticobulbar tracts – responsible for voluntary
control of muscles of larynx, pharynx, palate,
upper and lower face, jaw eye etc.
 Extrapyramidal tracts
 Concerned with muscular movements and
posture.
 Have many synapses in their pathways with
cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, hypothalamus and
nuclei of the reticular formation in the brain stem.
 Functions – 1) control the movement of eyeballs 2)
control of tone, posture & equilibrium 3) control
complex movements of the body and limb–
coordinated movements of arms and legs during
walking.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Clear, colorless alkaline fluid.
Specific gravity1005-1008
Protein free and cell free liquid

Total volume of CSF = 125–150 mL

 Choroid plexus produces 400–500 mL/day
 Recycled three times a day Extracellular fluid of the CNS
 Secreted by ependymal cells of the
choroid plexus
 Circulates to subarachnoid space and ventricles
 Reabsorbed by blood vessels of arachnoid villi
Functions:
 Maintains stable interstitial fluid environment
 Provides mechanical buoyancy and support the brain
 Nourishes the CNS and removes metabolites
 Cushions brain

 APPLIED
Peripheral nervous system
 Lies outside the CNS
 Consists of nerves extending from brain
and spinal cord to all parts of the body.
 Somatic and autonomic nervous system
Somatic nervous system
 N.F. going from CNS to skeletal muscles
 SPINAL and CRANIAL nerves.
 31 pairs of Spinal nerves– 8 cervical, 12
thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 1 pair of
coccygeal nerves.
 Cranial nerves—12 pairs
On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Fat Voracious German Viewed A Hop
1. Olfactory- smell
2. Optic- vision
3. Oculomotor- 4 of the 6 extrinsic eye muscles
4. Trochlear- extrinsic eye muscles
5. Trigeminal- sensory fibers to the face and motor fibers to
the chewing muscles
6. Abducens- controls eye muscles that turn the eye laterally
7. Facial- facial expression
8. Vestibulocochlear- hearing and balance
9. Glosopharyngeal- tongue and pharynx
10.Vagus- parasympathetic control of heart, lungs &
abdominal organs
11.Accessory- accessory part of vagus nerve, neck & throat
muscles
12.Hypoglossal- moves muscles under tongue
 Olfactory
Optic
Oculomotor
Trochlear
Trigeminal
Abducens
Facial
Vestibulocochlear
Glossopharyngeal
Vagus
Accessory Hypoglossal
 Autonomic Nervous System

Controlled by medulla oblongata and

hypothalamus
 Part of the PNS.
 Not under conscious control.
 Has 2 divisions: Sympathetic &
Parasympathetic
 Controls heart rate, digestion, respiration
rate, salivation, & perspiration.
Sympathetic
 Neurons begin in the Thoracic &
Lumbar region of the spinal cord
 Functions in actions that require a quick
response.
 “Fight or Flight” response.
 Anatomically – thoracolumbar nervous
system
 Biochemically– adrenergic nervous
system
 Parasympathetic
 Neurons begin in the cervical
& sacral regions of the spinal
cord.
 Functions in actions that do
not require an immediate
response.
 “Rest & Digest”
 Constant opposition to
Sympathetic N.S.
 Anatomically– craniosacral
N.S.
 Biochemically – cholinergic
Blood-Brain Barrier

 Capillaries
 Sites of exchange
between blood and
interstitial fluid
 Blood-brain barrier
 Special anatomy of
CNS capillaries which
limit exchange

Figure 9.4b
The nervous system is the master
controlling and communicating system
of the body.
 The nervous system has 3 main
functions:
 Uses sensory receptors to monitor
changes inside and outside of the body.
(Sensory Neurons)
 Intergration: Processes and interprets
sensory input and makes decision.
 Motor output: Responds by muscles or
glands. (Motor Neurons)
General Organization of the nervous system
Brain & spinal
cord
 THANKS

for your patience