Anatomy of the nervous system

Chapter 1 p7-9 Chapter 7 p168-176, p180-181 p192-199, Box 7.2 and 7.3
Components of the CNS Subdivisions of the nervous system Anatomical planes of section The central nervous system The peripheral nervous system Brain imaging techniques MRI, PET

1 Molecular Neuroscience
The role of molecules (NTs, ions, proteins) crucial for neuronal communication

5 Cognitive Neuroscience
how psychological/cognitive functions are produced by the neural circuitry (perception, intelligence)

2 Cellular Neuroscience
How molecules work together to give neurons specific properties (action potential)

Neuroscience today

4 Behavioural Neuroscience
Where in the brain is specific behaviour (dreams, emotions)

3 Systems Neuroscience
How brain circuits analyze sensory information (movement, vision etc.)

Formation of the nervous system

Inner cell mass

The nervous system and the skin

The internal organs (viscera) The bones and the muscles

Neurulation
the process by which the neural plate becomes the neural tube 22 days after conception

The PNS

The CNS

notochord Fig 7.8 plays a key role in understanding the development of the CNS

Spina bifida

A developmental birth defect involving the neural tube:

incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube results in an incompletely formed spinal cord dysfunction of the spinal cord and associated nerves that control the muscles in the hip, leg, knee and foot can be prevented with daily folic acid supplements taken prior to conception.

Anatomical references
Lateral view Medial view

Anterior

Posterior

Anterior

Posterior

Anatomical references
Dorsal

Anterior

Posterior

Dorsal view

Ventral view

Ventral

Anatomical planes of section

Fig. 7.3

White matter and gray matter

Fig. 1.6

Central Nervous System

Gray matter
Cell bodies Dendrites Synapses

White matter
Axons (coated with myelin)

Components of the NS
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain and Spinal cord

The brain:
receives sensory input from the spinal cord as well as from its own nerves processing of sensory inputs and initiating appropriate motor outputs.

The spinal cord:

conducts sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the brain conducts motor information from the brain to our various effectors
skeletal muscles cardiac muscle smooth muscle glands

Components of the NS
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) Outside the CNS Nerves extending from brain and spinal cord
Cranial nerves Spinal nerves

Link all regions of the body to the CNS

Components of the CNS

Cerebral cortex Diencephalon (hypothalamus and thalamus) Midbrain Pons Cerebellum Medulla Spinal cord

Forebrain

Brainstem

Major Divisions of the Brain 1. 2. 3. 4. Spinal cord Brainstem Cerebellum Forebrain Diencephalon hypothalamus, thalamus Cerebral cortex

Components of the CNS

Brainstem consists of:
the medulla (an enlarged portion of the upper spinal cord), pons and midbrain Controls
the reflexes and automatic functions (heart rate, blood pressure), limb movements and visceral functions (digestion, urination).

Components of the CNS

Cerebellum - "little brain"
Control of movement & balance Coordination of limb movements

Components of the CNS

Hypothalamus - controls
The viscera (internal organs) Body temperature and Heart rate Respiration Fat metabolism

Thalamus
receives all sensory messages from the spinal cord (except for smell) prior to being directed to the cerebrum's sensory areas

cerebral cortex

Cerebrum
consists of the cerebral cortex, large fiber tracts (corpus callosum links two hemisheres) deeper structures (basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampus)

Corpus callosum and Primordial Dwarfism

Components of the CNS

Basal ganglia - caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus
movement control mood memory and reasoning attention

Hippocampus
learning and memory

Amygdala
fear aggression behaviour

Cerebral lobes

The cerebrum
Central sulcus

Sylvian fissure (lateral sulcus)

Fig. 1.8

Wrinkles and folds of the brain: -folds (gyri) -grooves (sulci)

Somatosensory cortex Parietal lobe Motor cortex

Fine Movement Sensation Perception Making sense of the world, arithmetic, spelling

Frontal lobe

Occipital lobe
Vision

Prefrontal cortex
Executive functions, Thinking, planning, organizing & problem solving. Emotions & behavioural control, personality

Temporal lobe Auditory Memory, cortex understanding &

language

Spinal cord
Carrying messages

Cerebellum
Balance

The somatic sensory system

CNS components of the somatic sensory system
Trigeminal ganglion

spinal cord, brain stem, thalamus, and cerebral cortex

Somatosensory information from the body surface is mapped into dorsal root ganglion DRG Information from the head and neck is relayed to the Dorsal root ganglion CNS via the trigeminal ganglion

The somatic sensory system

Parallel pathways

Thalamus

Thalamus

Thalamus Sensory relay station to the cerebral cortex (except for smell)

Fig 7.14

The somatosensory system

The dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain the cell bodies of sensory neurons located outside the brain

Dorsal root ganglion

Dorsal root ganglion

Afferent information to CNS

White matter

Gray matter

Efferent information from CNS to muscles and glands

Simplified Design of the Nervous System

Cerebral cortex Thalamus Cerebrum

Brain stem
Interneuron
bringing sensory Information to the cerebral cortex

Sensory input

Motor output

Nervous system: basic function

Cerebrum, hypothalamus, thalamus,

Brain Ventricles
The four ventricles consist of
the two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle and the fourth ventricle

We have water in our brain and spinal cord. Why?

Firstly, to support and cushion them from trauma. Secondly, "to clean" waste products of metabolism, drugs and other substances that diffuse into the brain from the blood.

Brain Ventricles
Ventricles - the cavities in the brain that contain CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), which
acts as a buffer against damage caused by blows to the head. contains small amounts of protein, glucose, and potassium and relative large amounts of sodium chloride formed by choroid plexuses located in the walls and roofs of the ventricles

Brain Imaging Techniques (Box 7.3)

Magnetic resonance imagining (MRI).
Brain anatomy (X-rays)

Functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI).

Brain function based on local metabolism

Position emission tomography (PET).

Activity-dependent changes in blood flow, tissue metabolism, or biochemical activity (Gamma rays) Injection of precursor molecules of specific neurotransmitters, or glucose radiolabeled

Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT).

Injection or inhalation of radiolabeled compound (e.g. 123Ilabeled iodoamphetamine)

MRI and disease diagnosis

(i.e. Multiple sclerosis)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine shows areas of demyelination as bright lesions. can reveal lesions prior to clinical symptoms

MRI- MS Diagnosis
Typical MRI characteristics white matter abnormalities 95% of patients White lesions indicate areas of fresh inflammation and open BBB.

Brain atrophy with widened lateral ventricles and cortical sulci.

Sospedra 2005

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

The PET scan allows one to see how the brain uses glucose Glucose provides energy to each neuron so it can perform work Brain metabolic activity The red color shows the highest level of glucose utilization yellow represents less utilization and blue shows the least) The reduction in the neurons' ability to use glucose (energy) results in disruption of many brain functions.

PET and MRI in Alzheimers

Brain Atrophy

Loss of energy metabolism

Mark Mattson "Pathways towards and away from Alzheimer's Disease" Nature v. 430 August 5, 2004.

PET and MRI in Schizophrenia

PET scan show frontal lobe hypometabolism (too little)

MRI:
1. 2. Increased lateral ventricular volume. Decreased volume of hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, thalamus.

Next Class Chapter 2, Box 2.5

Neurons and glia Neuronal cell and types of neurons Types of glial cells