Lesson A1.

Overview of the Nervous

System
 identify the basic
1 components of the
Objectives nervous system;

At the end differentiate between CNS

of the 2 and PNS;
lesson, you
should be explain how neurons are
able to: 3 structurally and
functionally classified;
 differentiate between
4 neurons and neuroglia;
Objectives differentiate the
At the end structures and functions
5 of the supporting cells in
of the
lesson, you CNS and PNS; and
should be
able to: explain the general
6 functions of the nervous
system.
 Learn about It!

The Nervous System

● The nervous system is the body’s
master controlling system.

● It performs our thoughts and

actions.

● Basic components:
○ brain
○ spinal cord The nervous system controls
○ neuron our body functions
 Learn about It!

The Nervous System

● Two major divisions:

○ The central nervous system

(CNS) is composed of the brain
and spinal cord which act as
integrating command centers.

○ The peripheral nervous system

(PNS) consists of the neurons that
link the body organs to the CNS.
The nervous system
 Learn about It!

The Neurons
● Neurons (nerve cells or
nerves) are the basic units of
the nervous system.

● They are highly specialized

cells that transmit nerve
impulses or electrical
messages from one body part
to another. Network of neurons
 Learn about It!

The Neurons
● All types of neurons,
although structurally
different from one
another, have two
common features:

○ a cell body; and

○ its neural The general structure of neurons
processes or
extensions.
 Learn about It!

The Neurons
● Parts of a neuron:

○ The cell body (soma) is

the center of a neuron
as it contains the
nucleus.

○ The arm-like neural The general structure of neurons

processes serve as
passageways of signals.
 Learn about It!

The Neurons
● Neural processes:

○ Dendrites transmit
electrical signals toward
the cell body.

○ Axons generate
impulses away from the The general structure of neurons
cell body.
 Learn about It!

The Neurons
● Neural processes:

○ The axons branch out

into hundreds of axon
terminals, the small
vessels that contain the
neurotransmitters or
chemical messengers The general structure of neurons
of signals.
 Learn about It!

The Neurons
● Parts of a neuron:

○ Synapse is the
extracellular gap that
links the neurons
together.

○ Myelin sheath is a fatty The general structure of neurons

material that insulates
the neural processes.
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Neurons may be classified
based on their functions
and structure.

○ functional
classification

○ structural The general structure of neurons

classification
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Functional classification
of neurons is based on
the direction through
which the nerve impulses
travel relative to the CNS.

○ sensory neurons
○ motor neurons
○ interneurons The functional classification of neurons
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Functional classification:

○ Sensory neurons carry

impulses from sensory
receptors to the CNS.

○ They are also referred

to as afferent
neurons, which literally
The functional classification of neurons
means “to go toward.”
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Functional classification:

○ Motor neurons carry

impulses from the CNS
to the muscles and
glands of our body.

○ They are referred to as

efferent neurons which The functional classification of neurons
means “away from.”
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Functional classification:

○ Interneurons link the

sensory and motor
neurons to keep the
flow of impulses
between neurons.

○ They are also called as The functional classification of neurons

association neurons.
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Structural classification
of neurons is based on
the number of neural
processes that extend
from the cell body.

○ multipolar neuron
○ bipolar neuron
The structural classification of neurons
○ unipolar neuron
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Structural classification:

○ A multipolar neuron has several

dendrites and an axon.

○ All motor neurons and

interneurons have this kind of
neural structure.

○ All motor neurons are multipolar. Multipolar neuron

 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Structural classification:

○ Bipolar neurons are those that

have one axon and one
dendrite.

○ They are only found in sensory

organs, like the ears and eyes,
where they act as sensory
receptors. Bipolar neuron
 Learn about It!

Classifications of Neurons
● Structural classification:

○ Unipolar neurons consist of a single

neural process that extends from the
cell body in the form of an axon.

○ It conducts nerve impulses both

toward and away from the cell body.

○ They act as sensory neurons. Unipolar neuron

 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia (“nerve glue”)

are supporting cells that
lump together to support
and protect the nerve cells.

● Neuroglia cannot transmit

impulses.
Supporting cells of the nervous system
 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia of the CNS

○ Astrocytes are star-shaped

cells with numerous
projections that insulate
most of the neural tissues.

○ They are the most abundant Astrocytes protect the brain

type of neuroglial cells in against possible harmful
the CNS. substances in the blood.
 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia of the CNS

○ Microglia are spider-like

cells that act as phagocytes
to eliminate dead brain
cells and bacteria found
wandering in the brain.
The phagocytic microglial cells
○ They serve as the “eat” the unnecessary debris in
protectors of the CNS. the brain
 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia of the CNS

○ Ependymal cells form a

series of cells that line the
cavities of the brain and
the spinal cord.

○ Specialized ependymal The ciliated ependymal cells

cells produce the produce the CSF that protects the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). brain and spinal cord
 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia of the CNS

○ Oligodendrocytes are
the supporting cells that
produce the insulative
myelin sheaths of the
neural processes in the
central nervous system. The myelin-producing
oligodendrocytes of the CNS
 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia of the PNS

○ Schwann cells are

specialized supporting cells
that produce the myelin of
neurons in the PNS.

○ Have exposed membranes

and cytoplasms; their CNS The supporting cells of the PNS
counterparts do not have.
 Learn about It!

Supporting Cells of the Nervous System

● Neuroglia of the PNS

○ Satellite cells are flattened

supporting cells wrapped
around the cell bodies of
sensory neurons in PNS.

○ Their main function is to The supporting cells of the PNS

act as protective
cushioning cells.
 Learn about It!

General Functions of the Nervous System

● Through the coordination
of the components of the
nervous system, it is able
to control all the
processes in our body.

○ sensory perception
○ integration
○ response production Functional process of the nervous system
 Learn about It!

General Functions of the Nervous System

● Sensory perception

○ Sensory receptors
incorporated in our
organs receive different
internal and external
stimuli all the time
called sensory input.
Functional process of the nervous system
 Learn about It!

General Functions of the Nervous System

● Integration

○ Electrical signals sent

by the sensory
receptors are assessed
in the brain through
integration in which
the involved organs will
be tapped to create a Functional process of the nervous system
response.
 Learn about It!

General Functions of the Nervous System

● Response production

○ Once the electrical

signals have been
assessed, the nervous
system will activate the
appropriate muscles or
glands to create a
response called the Functional process of the nervous system
motor output.
 Learn about It!

The Nervous System

● The nervous system is able to
perform its functions as the
control and coordinating
center of all our organ
systems.

● However, it still needs the help

of the other systems for the
body to function optimally. The organ systems work together
for an optimum body function
Key Points

The nervous system is basically composed of the

brain, spinal cord, and the neurons. They work
1 together to act as the controlling system of our body.
It is divided into two divisions: the central and
peripheral nervous systems.

The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of

2 the brain and the spinal cord which serve as the
integrating command centers of the nervous system.
Key Points

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) mainly

3 consists of the neurons which serve as passageway of
nerve impulses to and from the brain.

Neurons are the basic unit of the nervous system.

They are highly specialized cells that transmit nerve
4 impulses from one body part to another. They may be
classified based on their structure and functions.
Key Points

Neuroglia are supporting cells that lump together to

support, insulate, and protect the delicate neurons.
Astrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells, and
5 oligodendrocytes are the supporting cells of the CNS.
The Schwann cells and satellite cells are the
supporting cells of the PNS.
 Check Your Understanding

Complete the following analogy.

1. PNS: neurons; CNS: _______________________

2. Sensory neurons: afferent; Motor neurons: ______________
3. Astrocytes: star-shaped; Microglial cells: __________________
4. Messenger of impulses: neurons; Supporting cells: __________
5. Afferent neuron: “to go toward”; Efferent neuron: ___________
 Challenge Yourself

There is a belief that

there are as many
neurons in the human
body as there are stars
in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Do you believe this? How
would you react on this?
 Bibliography

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https://canvas.brown.edu/courses/971296/pages/communication-between-neurons?
module_item_id=8127864

Campbell, Neil A. et al. 2008. Biology: Eight Edition. San Francisco, California: Pearson Education Inc.
 Bibliography

CK-12 Foundation. “Central Nervous System.” Accessed August 27, 2019. https://www.ck12.org/c/life-
science/central-nervous-system/lesson/Central-Nervous-System-MS-LS/

Elert, Glenn. The Physics Factbook. “Speed Of Nerve Impulses.” Accessed August 17, 2019.
https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/DavidParizh.shtml

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California. Pearson Education Inc.

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Accessed August 27, 2019. https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s2/chapter03.html

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Accessed August 28, 2019. https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/peripheral-nervous-system
 Bibliography

Science Museum. “How do nerves connect with each other?” Accessed August 27, 2019.
http://whoami.sciencemuseum.org.uk/whoami/findoutmore/yourbrain/howdoesyourbrainwork/
howdoesyournervoussystemwork/howdonervesconnectwitheachother

Vince, Gaia, through Discover Magazine. May 26, 2015. “Hacking the Nervous System to Heal the Body.”
Accessed August 28, 2019. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2015/05/26/hacking-nervous-
system/#.XWbJoegzbIU