NEURAL SYSTEM

 It comprises of highly specialised cells called neurons.

 Neural organisation is very simple in lower vertebrates
ex hydra
 Better organised in insects, presence of brain,number
of ganglia and neural tissues.
 HUMAN NEURAL SYSTEM
• Divided into two parts
• The central neural system (CNS)
• The peripheral neural system (PNS)
CNS
• Includes the brain ,spinal cord, site of information processing and
control.
PNS
• Made up of nerves which extends between CNS and body parts.
• There are two types of nerve fibres
I. AFFERENT FIBRES: transmit the impulses from tissues/organs to
CNS
II. EFFERENT FIBRES: transmit regulatory impulses from the CNS
PNS is divided into two divisions
• Somatic neural system: consists of sensory nerves
carrying afferent nerves
• Autonomic neural system: made up of nerve fibres,
controls the involuntary functions of the body
• Composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous system
 VISCERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Part of PNS, that comprises the whole complex of
nerves, fibres, ganglia and plexuses
• Impulses travel from
CNS to the viscera and
From the viscera to CNS
 NEURON
• Composed of three major parts
Cell body: cytoplasm, Nissl’s granules
Dendrites: transmit impulses towards the cell body
Axon: long fibre, the distal end of which is branched
• Synaptic knob: possess synaptic vesicles containing
chemicals called neurotransmitters
Based on the number of axon and dendrites
the neurons are divided into 3 types
• Multipolar: 1 axon and 2 or more dendrites, cerebral
cortex
• Bipolar: 1 axon and 1 dendrite, retina of eye
• Unipolar: 1 axon only, embryonic stage
AXON
1. Myelinated: enveloped with Schwann cells, forms a
myelin sheath around the axon, Nodes of Ranvier
2. Unmyelinated: enclosed by a Schwann cell, does
not form a myelin sheath around the axon
BRAIN
• Acts as the ‘command and control system’
• Also the site for processing of vision, heading, speech
• Human brain is well protected by the skull
• Cranial meninges: covers the brain, consists of 3 layers
1. Dura mater: outer layer
2. Arachnoid: middle layer
3. Pia mater: inner layer
FOREBRAIN
• Consists of cerebrum ,thalamus ,hypothalamus
• Cerebrum: major part of the human brain
Separated into 2 halves: left and right cerebral
hemispheres
Corpus callosum: the nerve fibres that joins the two halves
The cerebral hemisphere is covered by a layer of grey
matter called cerebral cortex
• Thalamus: the cerebrum wraps around a
structure called thalamus
Coordinating centre for sensory and motor signalling
• Hypothalamus: important part of brain, lies at the base
of the thalamus
Contains a number of centres which control body
temperature, urge of eating and drinking
• Hypothalamic hormones: secreted by hypothalamus
• Hypothalamus is also involved in the regulation of sexual
behaviour, expression of emotional recation
MIDBRAIN
• Located between the thalamus of the forebrain and
pins of the hindbrain
• A canal called the cerebral aqueduct passes through
the midbrain
HINDBRAIN
• Comprises of pons, cerebellum, medulla
• Pons: interconnects different regions of the brain
• Cerebellum: provides additional space for many
neurons
• Medulla: contains centres which control respiration,
cardiovascular reflexes and gastric secretion
• Brain stem: mid brain, pons, medulla
Brain stem forms the connection between the brain
and spinal cord.
 CEREBELLUM

• Which means “little brain”

• Involved in coordinating movement and balance
• It is found just below cerebrum and behind the upper
portion of the brain stem
• Contains two major components
• Cerebellar cortex: the layer that contains most of the
nerve cells in the cerebellum
• Cerebellar nuclei: found deep within the cerebellum,
the nerve cells are involved in sending information
from the cerebellum
• Cerebellum accounts for about 10% of the brain’s
total size
Function of the cerebellum
• It receives input from other areas of the nervous
system. Cerebrum, brain stem, spinal cord
• It uses the information to regulate and coordinate
voluntary functions
• Balance and posture: works with eyes and ears to keep
the body upright and study
• Motor learning: involves the learning and fine tuning of
various movements
• Speech: it is also involved in the movements
associated while speaking.
• The cerebellar dysfunction may also play a role in
autism, dyslexia, anxiety disorders.