The Nervous System

Exercise No. 25
Group 8:
Caliag, Harold Dominic
Marquez, Joyce Camille
Tulipa, Hazel Dynn
 NERVOUS SYSTEM
A complex mechanism by which the organism
is brought into functional relation with its
environment, and its various parts are
coordinated.
Divisions:
1. Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Cranial nerves and spinal nerves
 Central Nervous System
It is called “central” because it combines information
from the entire body and coordinates activity across
the whole organism.

Composition:
1. White Matter – white in color and soft in natural
state. It is composed largely of medullated nerve-fibers.
2. Gray Matter – brownish-gray in color with a tinge
of pink. It is much more vascular and softer than the
white matter.
- This is where neural cell bodies, axon terminals,
dendrites, and all the nerve synapses are located.
Sagittal section of the brain
 Peripheral Nervous System
Consists the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal
cord.
Responsible for relaying information between the body and
brain.

Composition:
1. Ganglia – gray masses found on the dorsal roots of the spinal
nerves and on the course of many nerves.
Shape: Usually ovoid, but some are irregular in shape and
branched.
Size: Varies from microscopic to inches long.
2. Nerves – Conducting trunks composed of bundles of parallel
nerve-fibers.
Classification of nerves according
to central connections:
a. Cranial/cerebral nerves
b. Spinal nerves
c. Sympathetic nerves
Somatic Nervous System
 Responsible for voluntary controls of the body
movements via the use of skeletal muscles.
 Composed of: sensory and motor neurons.

Autonomic Nervous System

- Responsible for regulating involuntary body
functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow,
breathing, and digestion.
- Composed of: the sympathetic nervous system
and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
 functions to produce localized adjustments (such
as sweating as a response to an increase in
temperature) and reflex adjustments of the
cardiovascular system.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

- responsible for the body's rest and digestion
response when the body is relaxed, resting, or
feeding.
 Brain
Part of the CNS that is situated in the cranial cavity. It
is enlarged and highly modified cephalic part if the
primitive neural tube.
Divided into the prosencephalon (forebrain),
mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon
(hindbrain)
Divisions of the Canine brain

Source: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/neurLab3/pages/MedFiveDiv.html
Line drawing of base of brain of Horse
Brain of the Horse
Has an average weight of 23 ounces (ca. 650
gm) without the dura matter.
Olfactory bulbs – its upturned ends are
seen in front of the frontal poles of the
hemispheres.
Cerebellum – much smaller rounded mass
which conceals the greater part of the
medulla oblongata.
Brain of the Horse, dorsal view

1. Entomarginal fissure
2. Marginal fissure
3. Ectomarginal fissure
4. Suprasylvia fissure
Brain of the Horse
Medulla oblongata
– quadrilateral in outline, but
much wider in front than
behind, and compressed
dorso-laterally. Its ventral
surface is convex in the
transverse direction, and
presents ventral median
fissure.
Brain of the Horse
Pons – When viewed ventrally, it is elongated
transversely, convex in both directions, and
presents a wide shallow median groove.
Cerebellum – approximately globular but very
irregular shape. It is somewhat compressed
dorso-ventrally and its transverse diameter is the
greatest.
Cerebral hemispheres – separated from the
vermis by two deep paramedian fissures. They
lie in the lateral depressions of the cerebellar
compartment of the cranium.
Brain of the Horse
Cerebral Peduncles – three on each side which
join the central white matter of the cerebellum at
the base.
Thalamus – Large ovoid-shaped mass placed
obliquely across the dorsal face of each cerebral
peduncle.
Brain of the Ox
Average weight of about 500 grams

Medulla Oblongata – short, wide , and thick,

with a strongly convexed ventral face.

Pons – smaller, both transversely and

longitudinally, than that of the horse. It is
strongly convex and has a distinct central
depression.
Brain of the Ox, dorsal view
Brain of the Ox
Cerebellum – smaller and more angular in form
compared to the horse. The vermis is large and
has a distinct depression on its anterior face for
the posterior corpora quadrigemina.
Cerebral peduncles – they are short which has a
small eminence in the interpeduncular fossa
caused by the presence of the interpeduncular
ganglion.
Brain of the Ox
Infundibulum – relatively long that slopes
downward and backward.
Cerebral hemispheres – shorter, higher, and
relatively wider than in the horse.
Marginal pole – the marked prominence of the
highest point of the dorso-medial border.
Olfactory bulb – much smaller than in the
horse.
Brain of Sheep
Brain of the Pig
weighs about 4 and a half ounces.

Cerebrum – when viewed from above, it is an

elongated oval-shaped. The hemispheres are the
widest at the posterior third, and the occipital pole
is larger than the frontal pole.
Medulla oblongata – relatively broad. The
cuneate tubercle is very large and is limited
laterally by a groove, and the corpus trapezoideum
is very wide laterally.
Brain of the Pig, dorsal view
Brain of the Pig
Pons – less prominent than in ox.
Cerebellum – very wide and
short. Its anterior face is flattened
and presents a depression for the
corpora quadrigemina. The vermis
is large and the hemisphere consist
of a large medial part and a small
lateral part.
Cerebral peduncles – very short. The posterior corpora
quadrigemina are wide apart, rounded, and relatively
large. The medial geniculate body is prominent.
Brain of the Pig
Cerebral hemispheres – somewhat bean-shaped
in lateral view, the convex border being dorsal.
The arrangement of the gyri and sulci is simpler
than in the horse and ox.
Olfactory bulbs – very large and the tracts are
extremely broad and short. The trigonum
olfactorium is very prominent.
Meninges
– Layers of membranes that covers and protects
the spinal cord and the brain
– The central organs of the nervous system are
enclosed in three meninges or membranes:
1. Dura mater
2. Arachnoidea
3. Pia mater
Meningeal layers
Dura Mater
A dense, resistant membrane of white fibrous tissue
Bluish-white in color

Composition:
Cerebral Dura Mater
Falx cerebri
Tentorium cerebelli
Diaphragm sellae
Spinal dura mater
Subdural space
Dura mater
Cerebral dura mater (Dura mater encephali)
–adherent to the interior of the cranium, and may
be regarded as forming an internal periosteum for
the bones as well as being an envelope of the brain
Falx cerebri –a sickle-shaped median partition
situated in the longitudinal fissure between the
cerebral hemispheres
Tentorium cerebelli –a crescentic transverse fold
which occupies the transverse fissure between the
cerebellum and the cerebral hemispheres
Dura mater
Diaphragm sellae –a thickening of the dura
which roofs over the pituitary fossa and covers
the pituitary body, cavernous and intercavernous
sinuses
Spinal dura mater (Dura mater spinalis)
–forms a tube around the spinal cord from the
foramen magnum to the second or third segment of
the sacrum
Subdural space (Cavum subdurale) –the
cavity between the inner surface of the dura
mater and the arachnoidea
Arachnoidea
A very delicate and transparent membrane situated
between the dura mater and pia mater

Cerebral arachnoidea (Arachnoidea encephali) –

on the summits of the gyri it is so closely attached to
the pia mater that the two form practically a single
membrane
Spinal arachnoidea (Arachnoidea spinalis) –forms
a relatively wide tube around the spinal cord, so that
the latter is surrounded by a very considerable
quantity of cerebrospinal fluid
Pia mater
A delicate and very vascular membrane which invests
closely the surface of the brain and spinal cord and
sends processes into their substance

Cerebral pia mater (Pia mate encephali) –forms the

inner boundary of the subarachnoid space and is
covered by a layer of endothelium
Spinal pia mater (Pia mater spinalis) –thicker and
denser than that of the brain; has a strong outer layer of
fibrous tissue of which are longitudinal; inner layer is
vascular and adheres closely to the surface of the spinal
cord
Meningeal layers of brain of Horse
Spinal Cord
Runs in vertebral canal from foramen magnum
to the middle of the sacrum

Spinal nerve
Nerves connected at the sides of the spinal
cord in pairs
Spinal cord of Horse
Approximately cylindrical, but more or less
flattened dorso-ventrally
Average length: 76 to 78 inches
Average weight: 9 ounces
Its posterior part tapers rapidly to a point, forming
the conus medullaris
42 pairs of spinal nerves connected with the sides
of the spinal cord
They are designated according to their relations to
the vertebral column as cervical (8), thoracic (18),
lumbar (6), sacral (5), and coccygeal (5).
Spinal cord of Horse
Spinal cord of Ox
Length: 65-67 inches
Weight: 8 ounces
Resembles the horse in conformation and
structure
Spinal cord of Pig
Weight: 1 ½ ounces
Almost circular in cross-section, except at the
enlargements, where it is somewhat flattened dorso-
ventrally
The Cranial Nerves
Comprise of twelve pairs which are designated from anterior to posterior
numerically and by name
I. Olfactory N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sensory (Smell)
II. Optic N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sensory (Sight)
III. Oculomotor N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Motor
IV. Trochlear N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Motor
V. Trigeminal N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mixed
VI. Abducent N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Motor
VII. Facial N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mixed
VIII. Acoustic N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sensory (hearing and equilibration)
IX. Glosso-pharyngeal N. . . . . . . . . . . Mixed
X. Vagus N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mixed
XI. Spinal accessory N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Motor
XII. Hypoglossal N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Motor
Cranial Nerves
Olfactory nerve (N. olfactorius)
Non-medullated
Fibers are not aggregated to form a trunk, but are
connected in small bundles with the olfactory bulb
Distinguished by its brown color

Optic nerve (N. opticus)

Composed of fibers which are the central processes of
the ganglion cells of the retina
The fibers converge within the eyeball to the optic
papilla
Cranial Nerves
Oculomotor nerve (N. ucolomotorius)
Arises by several radicles from the basal surface of the
cerebral peduncle.
Emerges through the foramen with the opthalmic n. and
the abducens and divides into two branch –dorsal bracnh
and ventral branch

Ox
Larger than in the horse
Emerges with the opthalmic and maxillary n. through the
foramen orbito-rotundum
Cranial Nerves
Trochlear nerve (N. trochlearis)
Smallest of the cranial nerves
Arises from the anterior cerebellar peduncle, ends in the
posterior part of the dorsal oblique muscle of the eyeball

Trigeminal nerve (N. Trigeminus)

Largest of the cranial series
It is connected with the lateral part of the pons by a large
sensory root and a smaller motor root
Branches of Trigeminal N.
Opthalmic n.
 Purely sensory and the smallest branch of the trigeminus
 Divides into 3 branches:
Lacrimal n.
Horse: ramifies in the skin of the temporal region.
Ox: large outer branch supplies the corium of the horn
Pig: resembles that of the horse
Frontal n.
horse: ramifies in the skin of the forehead and uppereyelid
Ox: emerges from the orbit below the supraorbital process
Pig: resembles that of the ox
Naso-ciliary n.
Divides into 2 branches
Ethmoidal n.
Infra-trochlear n.
Branches of Trigeminal N.
Maxillary n.
 Purely sensory, much larger than the ophthalmic.
Branches:
Zygomatic n.
Sphenopalatine n.
Divides into:
 posterior nasal n.

 greater palatine n.

 lesser palatine n.

Infraorbital n.
Divides into:
 external nasal branch

 anterior nasal branch

 superior labial branch

Branches of Trigeminal N.
Mandibular n.
 Formed by the union of two roots, large sensory root and small
motor root
Horse: emerges from the cranium through the oval notch
of the foramen lacerum
Ox: emerges through the foramen ovale
Pig: emerges through the foramen lacerum anterius
Branches:
Masseteric n.
Deep temporal n.
Buccinator n.
Pterygoid n.
Branches of Trigeminal N. (con’t)
Superficial temporal n.
Horse: divides into two branches -transverse facial branch
and ventral branch
Ox: gives off a large branch which joins the superior
buccal division of the facial on the masseter
Pig: small
Mandibular alveolar n.
Lingual n.
Cranial Nerves
Abducent nerve (N. abducens)
 Emerges from the brain behind the pons and just lateral to the pyramid
 Innervates the lateral rectus muscle, responsible for the abduction of
the eye.

Facial nerve (N. facialis)

 Terminates after a short course on the surface of the masseter by
dividing into two buccal branches: dorsal buccal n. and ventral buccal
n.
Ox: divides into two terminal branches before reaching the border
of the jaw:
superior buccal n. –crosses the masseter much lower than in the
horse
small inferior buccal n.
Cranial Nerves
Acoustic nerve (N. acusticus)
Connected with the lateral aspect of the medulla just
behind and lateral to the facial.
Two roots:
vestibular n.
cochlear n.

Glosso-pharyngeal nerve (N. glossopharyngeus)

Its root-bundles enter the furrow ventral to the restiform
body; it helps raise part of the throat, enabling swallowing
Cranial Nerves
Vagus nerve (N. vagus)
Longest and most widely distributed of the cranial
nerves; it is also remarkable for the connections which it
forms with adjacent nerves and with the sympathetic.
Carries sensory information from the internal organs
back to the brain

Ox: bears a jugular ganglion and ganglion nodosum

Pig: similar to ox
Branches of Vagus N.
Dorsal and ventral vagus n. unite to form:
Horse: Dorsal and ventral oesophageal trunk run backward in
the posterior mediastinum and enter the abdominal cavity
through the hiatus oesophageus
Ox: Dorsal oesophageal trunk –ramifies on the surface of
the rumen and adjacent surface of the abomasum
Ventral oesophageal trunk –goes to the left surface of
the rumen; supplies
Pharyngeal branch
Anterior laryngeal n.
Recurrent n.
Cardiac branch
Small tracheal and oesophageal branches
Bronchial branches
Cranial Nerves
Spinal accessory nerve (N. accessorius)
provides motor function to two muscles essential to neck
and shoulder movement.
medullary part arises from the lateral aspect of the
medulla by several rootlets which are behind and in series
with those of the vagus.
spinal part arises from the cervical part of the spinal
cord by a series of fasciculi which emerge between the
dorsal and ventral roots.

Ox: presents two features –the medullary part joins the

jugular ganglion bears a small ganglion, the ventral branch
supplies both parts of the sterno-cephalicus
Cranial Nerves
Hypoglossal nerve (N. hypoglossus)
is purely motor; it innervates the muscles of the tongue
and the genio-hyoideus

Ox:
 Large
 Connected with the ventral division of the first cervical n.

Pig:
 May present a small dorsal root, on which there is minute
hypoglossal ganglion
Cervical Nerves
 Have eight pairs.

Phrenic nerve –the motor nerve to the diaphragm; formed by the

union of two or three roots which run obliquely downward and
backward over the superficial face of the scalenus muscle.

Brachial plexus appears as a thick, wide band between the two

parts of the scalenus muscle, and is covered by the anterior deep
pectoral and subscapularis muscles.
Ox: formed by the ventral branches of the last three
cervical and first thoracic nerves
Pig: derived from the same nerves as in ox
Branches of the brachial plexus
1. Suprascapular nerve
2. Subscapular nerves
3. Anterior thoracic or
pectoral nerves
4. Musculo-cutaneous nerve
5. Median nerve
6. Ulnar nerve
7. Radial nerve
8. Axillary nerve
9. Long thoracic nerve
10.Thoraco-dorsal nerve
11.External thoracic nerve
Branches of the brachial plexus (differences)
Median n.
Horse: descends over the insertion of the scalenus and reaches the
anterior border
Ox: divides into 2 branches –median branch and lateral branch

Ulnar n.
Horse: descends behind the brachial artery accompanied the radial
nerve
Ox: divides into 2 branches –dorsal branch and volar branch

Radial n.
Horse: descends with the ulnar nerve
Ox: continued below the elbow by a large cutaneous branch
Pig: cutaneous branch divides at the carpus
 Thoracic nerves –number eighteen on either side in the horse.
They are designated numerically according to the vertebrae
behind which they emerge.
 Lumbar nerves –six pairs, the last of which emerge between the
last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. The anterior two or three are
about the same size as the thoracic nerves, but the others are much
larger.

Lumbosacral plexus
Horse: union of the ventral branches of the last three lumbar
and the first two sacral nerves, but it derives a small root
from the third lumbar nerve also
Ox: branches to the pelvis and thigh present no very
striking special features
Pig: derived from the ventral branches of the last three
lumbar and first sacral n.
Femoral nerve –derived chiefly from the fifth lumbar
nerves
Saphenous nerve –given off as the femoral crosses the
terminal pat of the ilio-psoas
Obturator nerve –derived from the ventral branches of
the fourth and fifth lumbar nerves
Anterior gluteal nerve –derived from the last lumbar
and first sacral nerves, but commonly has a fifth lumbar
root
Posterior gluteal nerve –derived from the sacral roots
of the lumbo-sacral plexus
Great sciatic nerve –the largest in the body; derived
from the sixth lumbar and first sacral roots of the lumbo-
sacral plexus, but usually has a fifth lumbar root
Tibial nerve –direct continuation of the great sciatic
nerve
Ox: divides at the back of the hock into medial and
lateral plantar n.
Pig: divides at the tarsuss into medial and lateral
plantar n.
Plantar nerves (medial and lateral) –result from the
bifurcation of the tibial nerve in the distal part of the leg
Sacral nerves –five pairs present in the horse
Coccygeal nerve –commonly number five in pairs
 Sympathetic Nervous System
Part of the nervous system which serves:
1. To transmit stimuli to the heart muscle, unstriped
muscle, and glands
2. To conduct impulses from the viscera to the
cerebrospinal system

Ox: closely resembles that of the horse

 Sympathetic Nervous System
Anterior/ superior cervical ganglion
Horse: lies on the guttural pouch below the occipito- atlantal
articulation; reddish- gray in color, fusiform, and about an inch in
length
Ox: closer to the cranial base and thicker than in the horse;
branches to the carotid and cavernous plexuses are large, and no
connection is formed with the spinal accessory n.
Pig: long and fusiform

Cervical trunk
Horse: connects the anterior and posterior cervical ganglia.
Ox: smaller than in the horse; arises by 2 or 3 bundles form the
anterior cervical ganglion
Pig: short and relatively larger than in the ox
 Sympathetic Nervous System
Posterior or inferior cervical ganglion
Horse: situated under cover of the first rib and the
insertion of the scalenus
Ox: distinctly separable from the first thoracic

Great splanchnic nerve

Horse: arises by a series of roots derived from the
sixth or seventh to the fourteenth or fifteenth
thoracic ganglia
Ox: begins at the fifth or sixth thoracic ganglion
 Sympathetic Nervous System
Small splanchnic nerve
Horse: formed by roots derived from the last two
or three thoracic ganglia
Ox: starts from the first lumbar ganglion to the
adrenal plexus and the coelic ganglion
 Abdominal and Pelvic Plexus
Chief plexus that distribute nerves to the viscera and vessels of
the abdominal and pelvic cavities:

Coeliac plexus
Horse: situated on the dorsal wall of the abdominal
cavity, in relation to the aorta and the origin of its chief
visceral branches
Ox: more complex than horse

Pelvic plexus –pelvic continuation of the aortic and posterior

mesenteric plexuses
THE END!

Questions??