ANATOMY OF

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

1
Nervous system

2
 Introduction
Nervous system
 Is the smallest and most complex of the 11 body systems.
 highly organized network of billions of neurons and more
neuroglia.
 It accounts 2kg ,about 3% of total body weight
 Terminally differentiated ones

3
  divided into
 the Central Nervous System (CNS)
 The brain
spinal cord
 The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS),
 the cranial nerves
 the spinal nerves
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
 sympathetic
 parasympathetic division

4
 …cnt
 Brain - which contains about 100 billion neurons.
 12 (right and left) of cranial nerves, numbered CNI up to XII,
emerge from the base of the brain.
 Spinal cord contains about 100 million neurons .
 31 pairs of spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord, each
serving a specific region on the right or left side of the body .
 Nervous cells are neurons

5
6
 …cnt
 Ganglia
 are small masses of nervous tissue , that are located outside the
brain and spinal cord.
 Enteric plexus
o extensive networks of neuron on the walls of organs of the
gastrointestinal tract help regulate the digestive system.
 sensory receptor is neurons (specialized cells) that monitor
changes in the internal or external environment,
 such as photoreceptors in the retina of the eye.

7
8
 Functions of the Nervous System
Sensory input – gathering information ,this sensory information is
carried into the brain and spinal cord through cranial and spinal
nerves.
 To monitor changes occurring inside and outside the body detect
internal stimuli, such as an increase in blood acidity,
 Changes are called stimuli

Integration To process and interpret sensory input and decide if

action is needed
Motor output
 A response to integrated stimuli

 The information is carried out side the brain and spinal cord

 The response activates muscles or glands

9
 Nervous Tissue
 Consist of 2 types of cells
1. Neurons
 Functional, signal conducting cells
2. Neuroglia
 It doesn’t conduct impulse
 Supporting cells & nutrition
Neurons = nerve cells , the functional and structural unit of
the nervous system
 Specialized to conduct information from one part of the body to
another.

10
 Major parts of neurons
 Cell body (soma) – contain nucleus other organells and metabolic
center of the cell
 One or more slender processes – fibers that extend from the cell body
(dendrites and axons)
Dendrites An input region - to wards the cell body
Axon conducting component , away from the cell body
· A secretory (output) region (axon terminal)

11
 …cnt
Cell body
 Contains nucleus ,large nucleolus, plus
most normal organelles
 Biosynthetic center of the neuron

 Contains many bundles of protein

filaments (neurofibrils) which help
maintain the shape, structure, and
integrity of the cell.

12
 Nervous system

 CNS:

 Gray matter

contains neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated

axons, axon terminals, and neuroglia.
White matter
 is composed primarily of myelinated axons.
The whitish color of myelin gives white matter its name
 PNS :Ganglia–are small masses of nervous tissue , that are
located outside the brain and spinal cord
13
 Nerves-bundles of axons in PNS
14
 Structural classification of neurons
Structurally, neurons are classified according to the
number of processes extending from the cell body

Multipolar-neurons
usually have several
dendrites and one
axon
Most neurons in the
brain and spinal cord

15
 …cnt
Bipolar
neurons have one main
dendrite and one axon
 They are found in the :
retina of the eye
inner ear
olfactory (to smell)
area of the brain.

16
 …cnt
Pseudounipolar
 Neurons have dendrites and one
axon that are fused together to
form a continuous process that
emerges from the cell body
 Found in dorsal root ganglia

17
18
Neuron Anatomy
 Axonal terminals contain vesicles with
neurotransmitters
 Axonal terminals are separated from the next
neuron by a gap
Synaptic cleft gap b/n adjacent neurons
Synapse junction between nerves

19
 Functional Classification of Neurons
Sensory = afferent neurons

 Carry impulses from the sensory receptors to the CNS

 Cutaneous sense organs

 Proprioceptors – detect stretch or tension

 Most sensory neurons are Unipolar in structure.

Motor = efferent neurons

 Carry impulses from the central nervous system to the muscles or
glands
 Most motor neurons are multi-polar in structure.

20
 Interneurons (association neurons)
 Found in neural pathways in the central nervous system

 b/n the connection of sensory and motor neurons

 Most interneurons are multipolar in structure.

21
 Neuroglia
• For support, regulation & protection of neurons
CNS neuroglia:
• astrocytes
• oligodendrocytes
• microglia
• ependymal cells
PNS neuroglia:
• Schwann cells
• satellite cells
22
 1. Astrocytes
 Star-shaped, abundant, and versatile
 Guide the migration of developing
neurons
 Function in nutrient transfer
 protect neurons from harmful
substances
 help maintain proper chemical
environment for generation of nerve
impulses
•

23
 Neuroglial cells of CNS
2. Microglia
 Specialized immune cells that act as the macrophages of the
CNS

the main phagocytic cell and antigen-presenting cells in the
CNS.

24
 Neuroglial cells of CNS
3. Ependymal Cells
 Some are ciliated which facilitates the movement of
cerebrospinal fluid and circulation
4. Oligodendrocytes
 Produce the myelin sheath which provides the electrical
insulation for certain neurons in the CNS

25
 Neuroglia in the PNS
1. Satellite cells
 Surround clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the PNS
 Support neurons and regulate exchange of material
b/n neural cell bodies and intertistial fluid
2. Schwann cells
 Form myelin sheaths around the axon of larger
nerve fibers in the PNS.
 Vital to neuronal regeneration

26
Organization of the Nervous System
is divided into
1. The Central Nervous System (CNS)
 the brain
 spinal cord
2. The Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS)
 Includes all nervous tissue outside
the CNS
 Component of PNS
 the cranial nerves and their branches
 the spinal nerves and their branches,
ganglia and sensory receptors

27
What covers and protects the CNS ?
The entire delicate CNS is protected by:
 a bony -cranial bone & vertebrae
 The menings,
 The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

28
29
 Meninges
are a connective tissue membranes that cover and
protect the brain and spinal cord
They are three layers from outside to inside
respectively
 the Dura mater(outer layer)
 the Arachnoid mater(Middle layer)
 the Pia mater(Inner layer)

30
 Cont…
1. The Dura mater
is in contact with bone
 is composed primarily of dense connective
tissue.
The cranial dura mater is a double-layered
structure.
The thicker outer periosteal layer adheres
tightly to the cranium, and meningeal layer .
It extends to S2(second sacral vertebra)

31
32
 The spinal dura mater is single layered and is similar to the menigeal
layer of the cranial dura mater.
2. The arachnoid mater
 is the middle layer of the three meninges.
 The subarachnoid space is located between the arachnoid mater
and the pia mater.
The subarachnoid space contains the CSF

33
3. The pia mater
 is the deepest meninges attached to the surfaces of the CNS
 It is composed of modified loose fibrous connective tissue.
 It is highly vascular and the ligamentum denticulatum is the lateral
extensions of the pia mater which attaches the spinal cord to the
dura mater.
 Both the pia mater and the arachnoid mater specialize over the
roofs of the ventricles to form the choroid plexuses.

34
 Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)
 CSF is secreted by choroidal epithelial cells (ependymal cells) of
the choroid plexuses in the lateral, 3rd, and 4th ventricles
 Fills the space between
the arachnoid and pia mater
 ventricles
 Central canal Spinal C.
Functions:
 Shock absorption
 Support
 Nourishment

35
36
37
Based on embryological dev’t the brain subdivided in to
three as:
 the forebrain (cerebrum and diencephalons)
 midbrain
 hindbrain (cerebellum, pons, and medulla).

 The Cerebrum
 is the largest portion of the brain.
 located in the region of the telencephalon
 It accounts for about 80%
 is responsible for the higher mental functions including memory
and reason
 consists of the right hemispheres & left hemispheres

38
The two hemisphere are connected internally by the
corpus callosum
 Each hemisphere contains a central cavity called the
lateral ventricle

39
The cerebrum consists of two layers.
 Cerebral cortex
 The surface layer
 is composed of gray matter( nerve cell bodies.)
 has numerous folds and grooves called convolutions.
 The elevated folds of the convolutions are the cerebral gyri
(singular, gyrus)
 the grooves are the cerebral sulci (singular, sulcus)
 White matter
 Beneath the cerebral cortex
 constitutes the second layer.

40
 Lobes of cerebrum
 Each cerebral hemisphere is subdivided into five lobes by
deep sulci called fissures
The central sulcus (fissure of Rolando)
b/n the frontal lobe and the parietal lobe.
 The lateral sulcus (fissure of Sylvius)
b/n the frontal and temporal lobes

41
42
Frontal Lobe:
forms the anterior portion of each hemisphere .
extends from the central sulcus to the frontal pole
lies above the lateral sulcus and anterior to the
central sulcus
 concerned with initiating voluntary motor
impulses for the movement of skeletal muscles and
responses related to memory, emotions,
reasoning, judgment, verbal communications,etc.

43
Parietal lobe:
 extends from the central sulcus to the occipital
lobe
 lies superior to the temporal lobe,
 posterior to the central sulcus.
 functions : receives and integrates sensory
information

44
 Temporal lobe :
 lying below the lateral sulcus.
 located below the parietal lobe and the posterior portion
of the frontal lobe.
is separated from both by the lateral sulcus.
 extends from the temporal pole to the occipital lobe,
 extends from the lateral sulcus to the collateral sulcus.
 contains auditory centers that receive sensory fibers from
the cochlea of the ear

45
Occipital lobe:
lies posterior to the parieto-occipital sulcus and
the preoccipital notch.
forms the posterior portion of the cerebrum.
lies superior to the cerebellum.
contains the visual cortex
The principal function of the occipital lobe is
concerned with vision.

46
 Functions of Cerebrum
Frontal
voluntary motor functions
planning, mood, smell and social judgment
Parietal
receives and integrates sensory information
Occipital
visual center of brain
Temporal
areas for hearing, smell, learning, memory,
emotional behavior
47
 Special Senses
 Organs of special senses project to specialized regions of the
brain
 Taste - lower end of parietal lobe
 Smell - medial temporal lobe and inferior frontal lobe
 Vision - occipital lobe
 Hearing - superior temporal lobe
 Equilibrium - cerebellum and lateral and central sulcus

48
 Wernicke area
permits recognition of spoken and written language and
creates plan of speech
 Diencephalon
 is the second subdivision of the forebrain and divide in to:
1. Thalamus
2. hypothalamus
3. the epithalamus
 The 3rd ventricle forms a cavity on the median plane within the
diencephalon

49
50
 1.Thalamus
a paired, large, ovoid mass of gray matter, constituting
nearly 80% of the diencephalon.
Each portion is located immediately below the respective
lateral ventricle.
 Its principal function is to act as a relay center for all
sensory impulses, except smell.

51
 2.Hypothalamus
 a small portion of the diencephalon which forms the floor and part of the lateral
walls of the third ventricle.
 The hypothalamus performs numerous vital functions
 hormone secretion (pituitary)
 autonomic NS control
 thermoregulation (thermostat)
 food & water intake (hunger & satiety)
 sleep & circadian rhythms
 memory (mammillary bodies)

,
 emotional behavior anger, aggression, fear pleasure, sex

52
 3. Epithalamus
the dorsal portion of the diencephalon that includes a thin
roof over the third ventricle.
The pineal gland extends outward from the posterior end
of the epithalamus.
 The inside lining of the roof consists of a vascular choroids
plexus where CSF is produced.

53
 Pituitary gland (hypophysis)
is supported by the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone
positioned on the inferior aspect of the diencephalon and
is attached to the hypothalamus by a stalk-like structure
called the infundibulum.
 The pituitary gland is divided into
 anterior portion (adenohypophysis )
 posterior portion (neurohypophysis)

54
 The brain stem
The brain stem contains nuclei for autonomic
functions of the body and their connecting
tracts.
 It is the portion of the brain that attaches to
the spinal cord it :
includes
the midbrain
 pons
 medulla oblongata
55
56
 1. Midrain (Mesencephalon)
is a short section of the brain stem b/n the diencephalon
and the pons.

57
 2. Pons
 b/n the midbrain and the medulla oblongata .
 it has two respiratory centers of the pons are called the apneustic and the
pneumotaxic areas.

3. Medulla oblongata
 function as autonomic centers for controlling vital visceral functions include
 Cardiac center- adjusts rate & force of heart beat
 Vasomotor center -adjusts blood vessel diameter
 Respiratory centers- control rate & depth of breathing
 Reflex centers- for coughing, sneezing, gagging, swallowing, vomiting, salivation,
sweating, movements of tongue & head

58
 Cerebellum
is the second lager structure in the brain.
occupies the inferior and posterior aspect of the cranial
cavity.
 attached to the brain stem by three paired bundles of nerve fibers
called cerebellar peduncles

59
 Function
Balance the body
 Coordinating skeletal muscle contractions by recruiting precise motor units
within muscles.
 Impulses for voluntary muscular movement originate in the cerebral cortex
and are coordinated by the cerebellum
 These alterations can produce ataxia is a disturbance in balance

60
61
 Spinal cord
 extends through the vertebral canal and surrounded by three meninges
 provides a means of neural communication to and from the brain
through tracts of white matter.
 These are:
 Ascending tracts
 Descending tracts
 serves as a center for spinal reflexes

62
 …cnt

 Extends from foramen

magnum to L2 vertebra
 Consists of:
Cervical region
Thoracic region
Lumbar region
Sacral region
Coccygeal region

63
Location
in adults, from the foramen magnum to the lower border of
the first lumbar vertebra or (L2)
 in newborns, it extends to the third lumbar(L3) vertebra.
is continuous with the medulla oblongata at the
spinomedullary junction.

64
65
 Internal Morphology
 in transverse sections, the spinal cord consists of central gray matter
and peripheral white matter.
A. Gray matter
 is located centrally within the spinal cord
 unmylinated
 is butterfly- or H- shaped in a configuration that varies according to spinal cord
level.
canal.
 contains a central

is divided into three horns or cell columns on each side

66
67
1. Dorsal/ posterior horn
 receives and processes sensory input
2. Lateral horn
receives viscerosensory input.
 is found between the dorsal and ventral horns.
3. Ventral/anterior horn
 contains predominately motor nuclei.
 is found at all levels.

68
69
 B . the white matter
Tracts of the spinal cord
 are divided into ascending and descending pathways.
1. Ascending spinal Tracts
Represent functional pathways that convey sensory
information from soma or viscera to higher levels of the
neural axis.
2. Descending spinal Tracts
are concerned with somatic and visceral motor
activities.

70
 PNS -subdivided into
I. Somatic nervous system
Consist of :
Sensory neurons- convey information from somatic
receptors and special senses to CNS
Motor neurons –conduct impulses from CNS to
skeletal muscle only- voluntarily

71
 ...cnt
II. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Consist of:
 Sensory neurons- convey information from autonomic
sensory receptors, located primarily in visceral
organs to CNS
Motor neurons- conduct impulse from CNS to smooth
muscle, cardiac muscle and glands- involuntary

72
 The peripheral nervous system.
is that portion of the nervous system outside the CNS .
The PNS functions to convey impulses to and from the
brain or spinal cord.
The nerves of the PNS are classified as
 cranial nerves (I-XII) pairs and
 spinal nerve (31) pairs

73
 The motor part of the ANS consists of two branches
 sympathetic division
 parasympathetic division.
With few exceptions, effectors receive nerves from both divisions,
and usually they have opposing actions

Sympathetic Nervous System

“Fight or Flight”
Exercise, excitement, emergency,
embarrassment
and,ejaculation
Parasympathetic Nervous
System
“Rest and Digest”
Digestion, defecation, and diuresis
and erection of clitoris and penis
74
 Cranial Nerves
 There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves
 The cranial nerves are designated by roman numerals
 Their names indicate the structures innervated or the principal
functions of the nerves
I Olfactory nerve – sensory for smell
II Optic nerve – sensory for vision
III Oculomotor nerve – motor fibers to eye muscles
IV Trochlear – motor fiber to eye muscles
V Trigeminal nerve – sensory for the face; motor fibers to
chewing muscles
75
VI Abducens nerve – motor fibers to eye muscles
VII Facial nerve – sensory for taste; motor fibers to the face
VIII Vestibulocochlear nerve – sensory for balance and
hearing
IX Glossopharyngeal nerve – sensory for taste; motor fibers
to the pharynx
X Vagus nerves – sensory and motor fibers for pharynx,
larynx, and viscera
XI Accessory nerve – motor fibers to neck and upper back
XII Hypoglossal nerve – motor fibers to tongue

76
77
No Nerve
1 Olfactory
2 Optic
3 Oculomotor
4 Trochlear
5 Trigeminal
Ophtalmic
Maxillary
Mandibular
6 Abducent
7 Facial
8 Auditory
(stato-acoustic)
9 Glossopharyngeal
10 Vagus (including
cranial accessory)
11 Spinal Accessory
78
12 Hypoglossal
Type Function
Sensory Smell
Sensory Vision
Motor To all muscles of the eye except two: (superior
oblique and lateral rectus)
Motor To one eye muscle (superior oblique)
Mixed: mainly, sensory; small motor -Sensory to mouth, face and
part anterior ½ of scalp
- Motor to muscles of mastication.
Motor To one eye muscle (lateral rectus)
Mixed: motor, sensory, and -Motor to muscles of the face
-Parasympathetic to certain glands in the bead.
parasympathetic -Sensory: taste to anterior 2/3rd of tongue.
Sensory (a)Hearing (cochlear part)
(b)Equilibrium (vestibular part)
Mixed: motor, sensory, and -Sensory for pharynx and tongue
parasympathetic -Motor to one muscle of pharynx
(stylopharyngeus)
-Parasympathetic to the parotid gland.
Mixed: motor, sensory and -Motor to the muscles of the pharynx (except
parasympathetic stylopharyngeus), larynx and palate
-Parasympathetic and sensory to the structures in
the thorax and abdomen.
Motor Two important muscles of the neck:
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius.
Motor To all muscles of the tongue (except
 Spinal Nerves
 31 pairs – contain thousands of nerve fibers
 Connect to the spinal cord
 Named for point of tissue from the spinal cord
8 pairs of cervical nerves (C1-C8)
12 pairs of thoracic nerves (T1-T12)
5 pairs of lumbar nerves (L1-L5)
5 pairs of sacral nerves (S1-S5)
1 pair of coccygeal nerves (Co1)

79
 Cont…

80
 Components and branches of SN
 The SN is formed by the union of dorsal and ventral roots resulting
in a mixed nerve.
1. Dorsal root
 Cell bodies – located in the dorsal root ganglion
 conveys sensory input from the body
2. Ventral root
 convey motor output to visceral and somatic motor neurons.
 joins the dorsal roots to form the spinal nerve

81
 Nerve plexuses
Except in the thoracic nerves T2-T12, the anterior
rami of the spinal nerves combine and then split
again as networks of nerves referred to as
plexuses.
There are four plexuses:
 the cervical
 the brachial
the lumbar
 sacral and
small coccygeal plexus

82
83
 Cervical plexus (8pairs)
 formed by the anterior rami of the nerves C1
- C4 and a portion of C5.
Branches of this innervate the skin and
muscles of the neck, and portions of the head
and upper part of the shoulders.
E.g. Fibers from C3, C4, and C5 unite to form
the phrenic nerve (C3-C5) which innervates
the diaphragm thereby causing it to contract
during inspiration
84
 Brachial plexus
It’s formed by the anterior rami of the nerves C5 –
C8 and T1
 Five major nerves
 axillary- deltoid , teres minor
 radial- posterior compartment of the arm
 musculocutaneous- anterior compartments
of the arm
ulnar -innervates muscles of anterior medial
compartements of the arm
median nerves- anterior compartments of
the arm and some portion of the hand
85
86
87
88
Lumbar plexus
It’s formed by the anterior rami of spinal nerves
(L1 - L4)
Branches from this innervate structures of
 the lower part of abdomen
 anterior and medial portions of the lower limb.
E.g. femoral nerve innervates the anterior muscles
of the thigh
 obturator nerve innervates the medial adductor
muscles of the thigh
Pudendal , gluteal, sciatic nerves are forms the
sacral plexus
89
The sciatic nerve
 is the largest branch of the sacral plexus and is the
largest nerve in the body.
 It’s composed of two nerves-
the tibial
common fibular nerves.
Tibial nerve
 innervates most of the posterior thigh and leg
muscles and many of the plantar muscles.
 Common fibular nerve
innervates the anterior and lateral muscles of
the leg and foot
90
91
92
93
 THE END
10U!!

94