Nervous System Flashcards
Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Command centre
- Brain + spinal cord
- Processes + integrates information
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- Consists of:
1) Cranial nerves - to/from brain
2) Spinal nerves to/from spinal cord - 2 divisions of PNS:
1) Sensory/afferent division
Peripheral Nervous System Divisions
1) Sensory/afferent division
- Has sensory receptors that detect stimuli (changes in the internal or external environments)
- Nerves convey impulses TOWARD CNS
2) Motor/Efferent division
- Nerves convey impulses AWAY from CNS
- Innervates (supplies nerves to) effectors = muscles + glands (endocrine or exocrine)
Relationship between CNS and PNS
Look at diagram
Nervous System Organization
Diagram
Neurons (Nerve cell type)
- Conduct impulses
- Make up CNS + PNS
- Mostly amitotic (irreplaceable) exceptions = taste, olfaction, memory
- Structures:
1) Cell body
2) Processes from cell body
a) Dendrites
b) Axon
Cell body (Neurons)
- Typical organelles
- RER called Nissl bodies
- Groups/clusters in CNS = nuclei (grey matter)
- Groups/clusters in PNS = ganglia
Dendrites (Neurons)
Receive incoming messages + relay to cell body
Axon (Neurons)
- Carries impulses away from cell body
- Axon hillock - where axon meets cell body
- Axon terminal - typically branched with synaptic end bulbs (enlarged tips)
Myelinated Axon
- Myelinated - wrapped in many layers of cell membrane from Schwann cells (PNS) or oligodendrocytes (CNS)
- Electrical insulation
- Gaps in myelin sheath are called nodes of Ranvier
- Myelinated axon bundles in:
1) CNS = tracts (white matter)
2) PNS = nerves (know the difference)
Unmyelinated Axon
No myelin
Neuroglia (Glial cells) (Nerve Cell Type)
- Support neurons = can undergo mitosis (prone to cancer - brain tumour)
CNS Neuroglia
1) Oligodendrocytes
2) Microglia
3) Astrocytes
4) Ependymal Cells
Oligodendrocytes (CNS neuroglia)
Produce myelin around axon
Microglia (CNS neuroglia)
- Protective – become phagocytic if detect infected, dead or damaged neurons (because immune cells can’t enter CNS)
Astrocytes (CNS neuroglia)
- Surrounded blood capillaries to form part of blood brain barrier (BBB)
- Help control capillary permeability
Ependymal Cells (CNS neuroglia)
- Neural epithelium
- Line brain ventricles + central canal of spinal cord
- Secrete cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) + circulate it (cilia)
PNS Neuroglia
1) Schwann Cells
- Form myelin around axons in PNS
2) Satellite Cells
- Surround neuron cell bodies ganglia
- Protection and support
Neuron Classification
1) Structural/ Anatomical Types:
- Based on number of processes coming off cell body
a) Unipolar
b) Bipolar
c) Multipolar
2) Functional Types:
- Based on direction of impulse conduction
a) Sensory/Afferent neurons
b) Interneurons
c) Motor/Efferent neurons
Unipolar
- 1 process the divides into two: central + peripheral
- Peripheral end has dendrites = sensory receptors (pain, touch, etc) - reminder is axon
- Always sensory
Bipolar
- 2 processes: 1 axon, 1 process with dendrites
- Sensory = retina, nose (olfaction)
Multipolar
- 3 or more processes: 1 axon, many dendrites
- All interneurons + motor neurons
Sensory/Afferent Neurons
- Mostly unipolar
- From sensory receptors to CNS
Interneurons
- Within CNS (between sensory + motor)
- 99% of neurons (mostly multipolar)
Motor/Efferent Neurons
- CNS to effectors (all multipolar)
Neuronal Junctions (Synapses)
1) Neuronal Junction:
- Neuron to Neuron
- Can be chemical (use neurotransmitters) or electrical (ions)
2) Neuromuscular Junction:
- Motor neuron to skeletal muscle cell
3) Neuroglandular Junction:
- Motor neuron to smooth or cardiac muscle, or a gland
Chemical Neuronal Synapses
- Most common
- Structures:
1) Presynaptic Neuron - Neuron bringing impulse
- Has axon terminal with synaptic end bulbs
- Inside end bulb = synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter (nt)
- Presynaptic membrane (cell membrane facing space)
2) Synaptic Cleft - Space between neurons
3) Postsynaptic Neuron - Receives the signal
- Has postsynaptic membrane = cell membrane of dendrites or cell body with receptors for nt
Central Nervous System: Protective Features
1) Bone
2) Meninges
3) Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
4) Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)
5) Cerebral Arterial Circle
Bone
- Skull and vertebral column
Meninges
- CT around brain + spinal cord
- Layers:
1) Dura Mater
2) Arachnoid Mater
3) Pia Mater - Meningitis = inflammation of meninges
Dura Mater (Outer)
- Brain = 2 fused layers - separated in some places to form spaces = venous (dural) sinuses - contain blood
- Spinal cord - 1 layer
- Deep to dura mater = subdural space - filled with ISF
- Superficial to dura mater = epidural space (spinal cord only) - filled with fat, blood vessels, CT, etc
Arachnoid Mater (Middle)
- Avascular
- Subarachnoid space:
~contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
~ Web-like strands of CT secure it to Pia mater (below) - Has arachnoid granulations (brain only)
~ Projections into dural sinuses
~ CSF enters granulations to return to blood
Pia Mater (Inner)
- On surface of CNS (brain and spinal cord)
- Vascular
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
- Surrounds brain + spinal cord
- In brain ventricles + central canal of spinal cord
- Ventricles:
~ Spaces inside brain (filled with CSF)
~ 2 lateral ventricles (1st and 2nd) - in cerebrum
~ 3rd ventricle - in diencephalon
~4th ventricle - surrounded by pons, medulla oblongata, cerebellum - Central canal:
~ Space in spinal cord - Cushions CNS - brain buoyant
- Formed from blood plasma (similar composition)
- Produced by choroid plexuses (blood capillaries) found in each ventricle
- Circulation: LOOK AT DIAGRAM
Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)
- 2 cell types:
1) Endothelial cells (of capillaries) with tight junctions
2) Astrocytes - foot processes wrap around endothelial cells - Selectively Permeable
- Allows: glucose, fat soluble material to cross
- Not toxins, antibiotics etc
- In most parts of brain except:
Posterior pituitary, hypothalamus, vomiting centre
Cerebral Arterial Circle
Cerebral arteries form circle at base of forebrain
- Circles pituitary gland and optic chiasma (where optic nerves cross)
- Unites the 2 major blood supplies to the brain (anterior and posterior)
- Provides an alternate toute for blood if vessels blocked