Human Nervous System

Objectives:

By the end of this lecture the students will be able to :

 Classify nervous system.
 Identify parts of the brain and structure of spinal cord.
 Compare between cranial and spinal nerves.
 Mention blood supply of nervous system.
Human Nervous System
Divisions:
1. Central Nervous System (CNS).
A. Brain
1. Cerebrum
2. Cerebellum
3. Diencephalon
4. Brain Stem:
i. Midbrain
ii. Pons
iii. Medulla oblongata

B. Spinal Cord “31 segments”

2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

1. Spinal nerves “31 in number”
2. Cranial nerves “12 in number”
 Cerebrum
• Paired (left and right) hemispheres
• Corpus callosum connects hemispheres
• Represents 80% of the mass of the brain
• The main feature of the brain is the (grooves) sulci & gyri (ridges) .

• Function:
• Sensory and motor functions (voluntary) & higher mental processing

• Contralateral Motor Control:

• Right hemisphere controls left side of body
• Left hemisphere controls right side
 Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
1. Frontal lobe:
• Motor area (movement)
• Planning, speech, emotions & problem solving
2. Parietal lobe:
• Receives sensory input from the skin. (touch,
pressure, temperature, & pain
3. Temporal Lobe
• Contain Auditory area (hearing) and include
speech perception.
4. Occipital lobe
• Contain visual area
 2. Cerebellum
• The 2nd largest region

• Subdivided into:
• Two cerebellar hemispheres
• Vermis in-betweens

• Functions:

•Coordination and planning of muscle movement

•Balance
III- Diencephalon
· Location:
- Superior to the brain stem
· Formed of (3) parts
1- Thalamus
2- Hypothalamus
3- Epithalamus
II- Brain Stem
· Diameter: Is about the size of a thumb
Length: 4-5 inches
· Contains nuclei of all cranial nerves
except (olfactory and optic nerves)
· Parts :
A. Midbrain
B. Pons
C. Medulla Oblongata
A) Midbrain
- It the upper part of brain stem
- Contains nuclei of oculomotor and trochlear cranial nerves

B) Pons
- It the middle part of brain stem
- Contains nuclei of 5th , 6th , 7th and 8th cranial nerves

C) Medulla Oblongata:
- Contains nuclei of 9th , 10th , 11th and 12th cranial nerves
- It the inferior part of brain stem
- Contains important centers:
· Cardiac centers
· Breathing center
· Swallowing center
 Spinal cord
· Cylindrical, (42-43) cm continuous above with medulla
oblongata.
· Lies within the vertebral column & ends at the level of L1
· It consist of 31 segments
 8 Cervical (C)
 12 Thoracic (T)

 5 Lumber (L)

 5 Sacral (S)

 1 Coccygeal (Co)
· 31 pairs of nerves arise from it. They enter and exit through the
intervertebral foramina.
· Gray mater (inner) & white mater (outer)
· In gray mater; “dorsal” part is sensory & “ventral” is motor.
Cranial Nerves
· I Olfactory n: sensory for smell
· II Optic n: sensory for vision
· III Oculomotor n: motor fibers to eye muscles
· IV Trochlear n: motor fiber to eye muscles
· V Trigeminal n: sensory for the face
: motor to chewing muscles
· VI Abducent n : motor fibers to eye muscles
 Cranial Nerves
· VII Facial n: motor to face muscles.
· VIII Vestibulo-coclear n: balance and hearing.
· IX Glossopharyngeal n: sensory for taste
:motor fibers to the pharynx.
· X Vagus n: sensory & motor for (pharynx, larynx & viscera).
· XI Spinal accessory n: motor to neck
· XII Hypoglossal n : motor fibers to tongue.
 Meninges
· Connective membranes covering CNS
1- Dura mater :
- is the outermost layer, it is a double-layered membrane
2- Arachnoid mater( Spider) :
- It is the middle meningeal layer.
- The subarachnoid space is filled with (CSF)
- Arachnoid villi : drain the CSF into the venous blood.
3- Pia mater :
- It is the inner meningeal layer.
- Attached tightly to surface of brain following every fold.