PPT Notes Chapter 13 Flashcards
Structure of a Nerve
Cordlike organ of the PNS
Bundle of myelinated and unmyelinated peripheral axons enclosed by connective tissue
Connective tissue coverings include:
Endoneurium—loose connective tissue that encloses axons and their myelin sheaths
Perineurium—coarse connective tissue that bundles fibers into fascicles
Epineurium—tough fibrous sheath around a nerve
Classification of Nerves
Most nerves are mixtures of afferent and efferent fibers and somatic and autonomic (visceral) fibers
Pure sensory (afferent) or motor (efferent) nerves are rare
Types of fibers in mixed nerves:
Somatic afferent and somatic efferent
Visceral afferent and visceral efferent
Peripheral nerves classified as cranial or spinal nerves
Ganglia
Contain neuron cell bodies associated with nerves
Dorsal root ganglia (sensory, somatic) (Chapter12)
Autonomic ganglia (motor, visceral) (Chapter14)
Regeneration of Nerve Fibers
Mature neurons are amitotic
If the soma of a damaged nerve is intact, axon will regenerate
Involves coordinated activity among:
Macrophages—remove debris
Schwann cells—form regeneration tube and secrete growth factors
Axons—regenerate damaged part
CNS oligodendrocytes bear growth-inhibiting proteins that prevent CNS fiber regeneration [ALS involvement]
Cranial Nerves
Twelve pairs of nerves associated with the brain
Most are mixed in function; two pairs are purely sensory
Each nerve is identified by a number (Ithrough XII) and a name
I: The Olfactory Nerves
Arise from the olfactory receptor cells of nasal cavity
Pass through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
Fibers synapse in the olfactory bulbs
Pathway terminates in the primary olfactory cortex
Purely sensory (olfactory) function
II: The Optic Nerves
Arise from the retinas
Pass through the optic canals, converge and partially cross over at the optic chiasma
Optic tracts continue to the thalamus, where they synapse
Optic radiation fibers run to the occipital (visual) cortex
Purely sensory (visual) function
III: The Oculomotor Nerves
Fibers extend from the ventral midbrain through the superior orbital fissures to the extrinsic eye muscles
Functions in raising the eyelid, directing the eyeball, constricting the iris (parasympathetic), and controlling lens shape
IV: The Trochlear Nerves
Fibers from the dorsal midbrain enter the orbits via the superior orbital fissures to innervate the superior oblique muscle
Primarily a motor nerve that directs the eyeball
V: The Trigeminal Nerves
Largest cranial nerves; fibers extend from pons to face
Three divisions
Ophthalmic (V1) passes through the superior orbital fissure
Maxillary (V2) passes through the foramen rotundum
Mandibular (V3) passes through the foramen ovale
Convey sensory impulses from various areas of the face (V1) and (V2), and supplies motor fibers (V3) for mastication
VI: The Abducens Nerves
Fibers from the inferior pons enter the orbits via the superior orbital fissures
Primarily a motor, innervating the lateral rectus muscle
VII: The Facial Nerves
Fibers from the pons travel through the internal acoustic meatuses, and emerge through the stylomastoid foramina to the lateral aspect of the face Chief motor nerves of the face with 5 major branches Motor functions include facial expression, parasympathetic impulses to lacrimal and salivary glands Sensory function (taste) from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
VIII: The Vestibulocochlear Nerves
Afferent fibers from the hearing receptors (cochlear division) and equilibrium receptors (vestibular division) pass from the inner ear through the internal acoustic meatuses, and enter the brain stem at the pons-medulla border
Mostly sensory function; small motor component for adjustment of sensitivity of receptors
IX: The Glossopharyngeal Nerves
Fibers from the medulla leave the skull via the jugular foramen and run to the throat
Motor functions: innervate part of the tongue and pharynx for swallowing, and provide parasympathetic fibers to the parotid salivary glands
Sensory functions: fibers conduct taste and general sensory impulses from the pharynx and posterior tongue, and impulses from carotid chemoreceptors and baroreceptors
X: The Vagus Nerves
The only cranial nerves that extend beyond the head and neck region
Fibers from the medulla exit the skull via the jugular foramen
Most motor fibers are parasympathetic fibers that help regulate the activities of the heart, lungs, and abdominal viscera
Sensory fibers carry impulses from thoracic and abdominal viscera, baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and taste buds of posterior tongue and pharynx
XI: The Accessory Nerves
Formed from ventral rootlets from the C1–C5 region of the spinal cord (not the brain)
Rootlets pass into the cranium via each foramen magnum
Accessory nerves exit the skull via the jugular foramina to innervate the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles
XII: The Hypoglossal Nerves
Fibers from the medulla exit the skull via the hypoglossal canal
Innervate extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue that contribute to swallowing and speech
The Eye and Vision
70% of all sensory receptors are in the eye
Nearly half of the cerebral cortex is involved in processing visual information!
Most of the eye is protected by a cushion of fat and the bony orbit
Accessory Structures of the Eye
Protect the eye and aid eye function Eyebrows Eyelids (palpebrae) Conjunctiva Lacrimal apparatus Extrinsic eye muscles
Eyebrows
Overlie the supraorbital margins
Function in
Shading the eye
Preventing perspiration from reaching the eye
Eyelids
Protect the eye anteriorly
Palpebral fissure—separates eyelids
Lacrimal caruncle—elevation at medial commissure; contains oil and sweat glands
Tarsal plates—internal supporting connective tissue sheet
Levator palpebrae superioris—gives the upper eyelid mobility
Eyelashes
Nerve endings of follicles initiate reflex blinking
Lubricating glands associated with the eyelids
Tarsal (Meibomian) glands
Sebaceous glands associated with follicles
Ciliary glands between the hair follicles
Conjunctiva
Transparent membrane
Palpebral conjunctiva lines the eyelids
Bulbar conjunctiva covers the white of the eyes
Produces a lubricating mucous secretion
Lacrimal Apparatus
Lacrimal gland and ducts that connect to nasal cavity
Lacrimal secretion (tears)
Dilute saline solution containing mucus, antibodies, and lysozyme
Blinking spreads the tears toward the medial commissure
Tears enter paired lacrimal canaliculi via the lacrimal puncta
Drain into the nasolacrimal duct
Extrinsic Eye Muscles
Six straplike extrinsic eye muscles
Originate from the bony orbit
Enable the eye to follow moving objects
Maintain the shape of the eyeball
Four rectus muscles originate from the common tendinous ring; names indicate the movements they promote
Two oblique muscles move the eye in the vertical plane and rotate the eyeball
Structure of the Eyeball
Wall of eyeball contains three layers
Fibrous
Vascular
Sensory
Internal cavity is filled with fluids called humors [aqueous, vitreous]
The lens separates the internal cavity into anterior and posterior segments (cavities)
Fibrous Layer
Outermost layer; dense avascular connective tissue
Two regions: sclera and cornea
Sclera
Opaque posterior region
Protects and shapes eyeball
Anchors extrinsic eye muscles
Cornea:
Transparent anterior 1/6 of fibrous layer
Bends light as it enters the eye
Sodium pumps of the corneal endothelium on the inner face help maintain the clarity of the cornea
Numerous pain receptors contribute to blinking and tearing reflexes
Vascular Layer (Uvea)
Middle pigmented layer
Three regions: choroid, ciliary body, and iris
Choroid region
Posterior portion of the uvea
Supplies blood to all layers of the eyeball
Brown pigment absorbs light to prevent visual confusion
Ciliary body
Ring of tissue surrounding the lens
Smooth muscle bundles (ciliary muscles) control lens shape
Capillaries of ciliary processes secrete fluid into the anterior segment.
Ciliary zonule (suspensory ligament) holds lens in position
Iris
The colored part of the eye
Pupil—central opening that regulates the amount of light entering the eye
Close vision and bright light—sphincter pupillae (circular muscles) contract; pupils constrict
Distant vision and dim light—dilator pupillae (radial muscles) contract; pupils dilate
Changes in emotional state—pupils dilate when the subject matter is appealing or requires problem-solving skills
Sensory Layer: Retina
Delicate two-layered membrane
Pigmented layer
Outer layer
Absorbs light and prevents its scattering
Stores vitamin A for use by photoreceptor cells
Neural layer
Photoreceptor: transduce light energy
Cells that transmit and process signals: bipolar cells, ganglion cells, amacrine cells, and horizontal cells
The Retina
Ganglion cell axons
Run along the inner surface of the retina
Leave the eye as the optic nerve
Optic disc (blind spot)
Site where the optic nerve leaves the eye
Lacks photoreceptors
Photoreceptors
Rods
More numerous at peripheral region of retina, away from the macula lutea
Operate in dim light
Provide indistinct, fuzzy, non color peripheral vision
Cones
Found in the macula lutea; concentrated in the fovea centralis
Operate in bright light
Provide high-acuity color vision
Blood Supply to the Retina
Two sources of blood supply
Choroid supplies the outer third (photoreceptors)
Central artery and vein of the retina supply the inner two-thirds
Internal Chambers and Fluids
The lens and ciliary zonule separate the anterior and posterior segments
Posterior segment contains vitreous humor that:
Transmits light
Supports the posterior surface of the lens
Holds the neural retina firmly against the pigmented layer
Contributes to intraocular pressure
Anterior segment is composed of two chambers
Anterior chamber—between the cornea and the iris
Posterior chamber—between the iris and the lens
Anterior segment contains aqueous humor
Plasma like fluid continuously filtered from capillaries of the ciliary processes
Drains via the scleral venous sinus (canal of Schlemm) at the sclera-cornea junction
Supplies nutrients and oxygen mainly to the lens and cornea but also to the retina, and removes wastes
Glaucoma: compression of the retina and optic nerve if drainage of aqueous humor is blocked
Lens
Biconvex, transparent, flexible, elastic, and avascular
Allows precise focusing of light on the retina
Cells of lens epithelium differentiate into lens fibers that form the bulk of the lens
Lens fibers—cells filled with the transparent protein crystallin
Lens becomes denser, more convex, and less elastic with age
Cataracts (clouding of lens) occur as a consequence of aging, diabetes mellitus, heavy smoking, and frequent exposure to intense sunlight