Nervous system 1 Flashcards
The nervous system
A network of fibres which span the body, coordinating a diverse range of voluntary and involuntary actions.
* Transmits signals between part of the body
* Rapidly responds to changes within the internal and external environment
* Works alongside the endocrine system to maintain homeostasis
* Contains two main divisions 1) Central nervous system (CNS) and Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
The nervous system; function – key areas
Three key areas:
1. Sensory
2. Integration
3. Motor
Functions - sensory
Sensory function:
* Detects internal and external environmental changes (e.g. proprioception, sensation / touch)
* Impulse carried by sensory neurons
Functions - Integration
Integration function:
* Processes sensory information by analysing, storing and making decisions
* Abundant in the brain (‘perception’)
* Impulse carried by interneurons
Functions – motor
Motor function:
* Processes a response to sensory information (perception) to effect change
* Impulse carried by motor neurons
The nervous system; 2 Divisions
The nervous system contains two main divisions:
1) Central nervous system (CNS): Consists of brain and spinal cord
2) Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Peripheral nerves (nerves not in the CNS e.g. arms and legs)
Peripheral nervous system
- The Peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes all nervous tissue located outside the CNS
- The PNS can be further subdivided into
1) The somatic nervous system
2) The autonomic nervous system
Peripheral nervous system – somatic nervous system
The somatic nervous system
* Controls voluntary muscles & transmits sensory information to the CNS.
* Conveys sensory information from head, limbs etc. and motor signals to skeletal muscles only (hence voluntary)
Peripheral nervous system – autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) works automatically and involuntarily to maintain homeostasis
* The hypothalamus is the highest control centre over autonomic motor neurons
* Affects organs, glands, cardiac and smooth muscles
Peripheral nervous system – autonomic nervous system branches
There are two branches;
1) Sympathetic:
* ‘Fight or flight’ response
* Thoraco-lumbar innervation
2) Parasympathetic:
* ‘Rest and digest’
* Cranio-sacral innervation
Peripheral nervous system – autonomic nervous system - sympathetic NS
The sympathetic & parasympathetic divisions have opposite effects e.g. parasympathetic activity increases GIT peristalsis & secretions, sympathetic activity reduces it
Sympathetic:
Eye (pupil; Dilation
Lungs; Bronchodilation
Heart; Heat rate & blood pressure increased
Gastrointestinal Tract; Decreased motility and secretions
Liver; Conversion of glycogen to glucose
Adrenal glands; Releases adrenaline
Enteric Nervous system
The ‘brain’ of the GIT, containing around 100 million neurons
* Functions independently but regulated by the autonomic nervous system
* Links with the CNS via the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibres (vagus nerve) – involuntary
Enteric Nervous system; neurons
- Sensory neurons monitor chemical changes (via chemo-receptors) in the GI tract and stretching (stretch receptors) of its walls
- Motor neurons govern motility & secretions of the GIT & associated glands
- Interneurons connect the two plexuses
Histology; Neuron cells (types)
Nervous tissue contains two types of cells:
1. Neurons
2. Neurolglia (glial cells)
Histology; Neuron
- Neurons (10% brain volume)
* Neurons process and transmit information.
* Structural and functional units of the nervous system. They are electrically excitable.
* Lots of different types of neurons (most diverse cell in the body)
Histology; Neuroglia (glial cells)
- Neuroglia (glial cells) (90% brain volume):
* Glial cells are supporting cells that nourish, support and protect neurons.
* There are 6 types of glial cell (4 found in CNS & 2 found in PNS)
* More numerous than neurons, making up 90% of brain volume)
(Glia = glue)
Histology: Nerves and Neurons
A ‘nerve’ is a bundle of one or more neurons
- Neurons possess electrical excitability: The ability to create a nerve impulse or ‘action potential’
Neurons can contain the following parts:
- Cell body and dendrites
- Axon
- Myelin sheath and nodes of Ranvier
- Terminal endings
- A stimulus is anything able to generate an action potential. The stimulus can be internal or external.
Histology: Neurons; cell body and dendrites
Cell bodies consists of a nucleus and cell organelles
* Cell bodies are known collectively as grey matter
* Collections of cell bodies clustered together are referred to as
- Nuclei in the CNS – form structural & functional groups in the brain
- Ganglia in the PNS
* Dendrites are the receiving portion of the cell. They communicate with other neurons / dentrites
(Dentrites = little trees)
Histology: Neurons; Axons
Axons are long, thin cylindrical projections that carry nerve impulses towards another neuron, away from the cell body.
* Length varies from <1mm (in CNS) to approx. 1m (sciatic nerve)
* Axons are covered by a membrane called the axolemma
* The ends are called axon terminals
* Axon bundles are called tracts in the CNS and nerves in the PS.
* If injured, axons can regenerate at a rate of 1-2mm per day
Histology: Neurons; Myelin sheath
A multi-layered lipid & protein covering around the axons.
* The myelin sheath electrically insulates the axon and increases the speed of nerve conduction
* Formed by glial cells (Schwann cells (PNS) and oligodendrocytes (CNS) in the embryo, continuing through childhood and peaking in adolescence
* Each cell wraps about 1mm of length repeatedly (up to 100 layers) in a myelinated axon
* Gaps in myelin sheath are called nodes of Ranvier
* Vitamin B12 is a co-factor needed for the production of myelin
(Myelin = fat/ protein layering, Sheath = covering)
Histology: Grey and White matter
When observing a region of the brain or spinal cord, some regions appear white whilst others appear grey
Grey matter is mostly composed of cell bodies. It also contains dendrites and unmyelinated axons
White matter is composed primarily of myelinated axons. The whitish colour of myelin is what gives the region its name
Histology: Neuroglia
Neuroglia (glial cells) are non-excitatory. They surround and bind neurons. Neurons would not function without glial cells.
* Glial cells are far smaller than neurons but 50x more prevalent. They can multiply and divide (unlike neurons)
* After trauma, glia fill spaces left by damaged neurons (an important concept with growth of tumours ‘gliomas’)
Functions:
* Surround neurons and hold them in place
* Supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons
* Destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons
Histology: Neuroglia cell types:
There are six types of neuroglia
* Four in the CNS; Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia & ependymal cells
* Two in the PNS; Schwann cells and satellite cells
Histology: Neuroglia in CNS; Astrocytes
Astrocytes:
* Star shaped with branching processes
* Most numerous and largest neuroglia (in CNS)
* Hold neurons to their blood supply (physical support)
* Contribute to the blood brain barrier (wrap around blood vessels to form a barrier)
Histology: Neuroglia in CNS; Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes:
Glial cells that myelinate axons in the CNS
Histology: Neuroglia in CNS; Microglia
Microglia:
* Derived from monocytes (N/B: micro=macro=monocytes) that migrate to the CNS before birth
* Resident immune cells in brain; ‘Phagocytic’
* Mobile in brain and multiply with damage