INTRODUCTION TO NERVOUS

SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY
MIRITI M.D
KMTC LECTURE
SERIES
 CONTENTS

• Organization of the Nervous System

• Blood Supply to the BRAIN
• CSF Production, Flow and Reabsorbtion
• Blood Brain Barrier
• Neuron and Synapse
• The brain
• Spinal Cord Anatomy
ORGANIZATION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE BRAIN
 BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER

• The BBB is composed of endothelial

cells (ECs), pericytes (PCs), capillary
basement membrane, and astrocyte
end-feet, all of which aim to shield the
brain from toxic substances, filter
harmful compounds from the brain to
the bloodstream, and supply brain tissue
with nutrients
NERVOUS
TISSUE

Nervous system is composed

of nervous tissue, which
contains two types of cells:
1- Nerve cells or neurons
2- Supporting cells or
neuroglia (glia).
Nervous system contains
millions of neurons that vary The junction site of two neurons is
in their shape, size, and called a “synapse or relay”.
number of processes. In the synapses the membranes of
adjacent cells are in close
apposition (contiguity=contact, not
 Nervous tissue is organized as:
Grey matter, Which contains White matter, Which contains:
1- Cell bodies & 1- Processes of the neurons
2- Processes of the neurons, 2- Neuroglia and
3- Neuroglia and 3- Blood vessels
4- Blood vessels. NO cell bodies in the white matter.
PARTS OF THE BRAIN
The brain
composed of 4
parts:
Cerebral
hemispheres
Diencephalon
Cerebellum
Brain stem
CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES The largest part of
the brain.
They have
elevations, called
gyri.
PARIETAL Gyri are separated
FRONTAL by depressions
called sulci.
Each hemisphere is
TEMPORAL divided into 4
OCCIPITAL lobes named
according to the
bone above.
Lobes are separated
by deeper grooves
called fissures or
sulci.
TISSUE OF THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES The outer layer is the
gray matter or cortex
Deeper is located the
white matter, or
medulla, composed of
bundles of nerve fibers,
carrying impulses to
and from the cortex
Basal nuclei are gray
matter that are located
deep within the white
Basal nuclei matter
They help the motor
cortex in regulation of
voluntary motor
activities.
DIENCEPHALON
The diencephalon is located between
the 2 cerebral hemispheres and is
linked to them and to the brainstem.

The major structures of the

diencephalon are the Thalamus,
Hypothalamus, Subthalamus
and Epithalamus.
 BRAIN STEM

It is connected to the cerebellum with

The
The brainstem
brainstem has
has three
three
3 paired peduncles parts:
parts: midbrain,
midbrain, Pons
Pons and
and
Superior, middle and inferior medulla
medulla oblongata.
oblongata.
 CEREBELLUM

Cerebellum
Cerebellum has has 22 cerebellar
cerebellar hemispheres
hemispheres with
with convoluted
convoluted surface.
surface.
ItIt has
has an
an outer
outer cortex
cortex ofof gray
gray matter
matter and
and an
an inner
inner region
region of
of white
white matter.
matter.
ItIt provides
provides precise
precise coordination
coordination for
for body
body movements
movements and and helps
helps maintain
maintain
equilibrium.
equilibrium.
 MENINGES

There are three connective

tissue membranes invest the
brain and the spinal cord.
These are from outward to
inward are:
1- Dura mater.
2- Arachnoid mater.
3- Pia mater.
 Brain is bathed by the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
BRAIN VENTRICLES Inside the brain, there are 4
ventricles filled with CSF.
The 4 ventricles are:
2 lateral ventricles:
One in each hemispheres.
 3rd ventricle:
in the Diencephalon.
 4th ventricle:
between Pons, Medulla
oblongata & Cerebellum.
N.B. Cerebral aqueduct:
connects the 3rd to the 4th
ventricle.
CSF
CSF is
is constantly
constantly produced
produced by
by the
the CEREBROSPINAL FLUID
choroid
choroid plexuses
plexuses inside
inside the ventricle.
the ventricle
•Arachnoid
villi are
small
protrusions
of the
arachnoid.
•Villi absorb
cerebrospinal
fluid and
return it
finally to the
dural
venous
Inside the brain, CSF flows
circulation.
from the lateral ventricles
Most of the CSF drains from
to the 3rd
rd and 4th
th ventricles
the 4th ventricle to
From the 4th ventricle, part of the distribute in the
CSF flows down in the central subarachnoid space around
canal of the spinal cord. the brain and returns to the
dural sinuses through the
arachnoids villi.
CSF PRODUCTION, FLOW AND REABSORBTION
 SPINAL CORD PHYSIOLOGY

The spinal cord lies loosely in the vertebral canal. It extends from
foramen magnum where it is continuous with medulla oblongata,
above and up to the lower border of first lumbar vertebra below.
Spinal cord is made up of 31
segments:
• 8 Cervical segments
• 12 Thoracic segments
• 5 Lumbar segments
• 5 Sacral segments
• 1 Coccygeal segment
• In fact, the spinal cord is a continuous structure. The appearance of
the segment is given by the nerves arising from the spinal cord,
which are called spinal nerve.
An anterior (ventral) root and a posterior (dorsal) root form
each spinal nerve.
Both the roots on either side leave the spinal cord through the
corresponding
intervertebral foramina. Spinal nerves act as mediators,
communicating
information to and from the rest of the body and the spinal
cord. Three layers of
meninges surround the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots.
 Dura mater
 Arachnoid mater
The important functions of Spinal Cord are:
 Forms a connecting link between the brain and the
PNS
 Provides structural support and builds a body
posture
 Facilitates flexible movements
 Myelin present in the white matter acts as an
electrical insulation
 Communicates messages from the brain to different
parts of the body
 Coordinates reflexes
 Receives sensory information from receptors and
approaches towards the brain for processing.
 INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND
PHYSIOLOGY OF SPINAL CORD
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