Handouts of Nervous System

USJR-COLLEGE OF NURSING
Review Anatomy and Physiology

Functions

In coordination with the endocrine system, provides means by which cell and tissue
functions are integrated into a solitary, surviving organism
Controls skeletal muscle movement ad helps to regulate cardiac and visceral
smooth muscle activity
Enables reception, integration, and perception of sensory information
Provides means necessary for intelligence, anticipation, and judgment
Facilitates adjustment to an ever changing external environment
Neuron

Structural and functional units of the nervous system

Consists of cell body, dendrites, axon
Cell body :
enlarged portion of the neuron
Contains well-defined nucleus and nucleolus and Nissl bodies composed of rough
endoplasmic reticulum
Nuclei – cluster of cell bodies within the CNS
Ganglia – cluster of cell bodies within the PNS
Neuron
Classifications
According to function based on the direction in which they conduct impulses
Sensory (afferent) - conduct impulses from the receptors into the CNS
Motor (efferent) – conduct impulses from the CNS to effector organs (muscle and
glands)
Association or interneurons – located entirely within the CNS serve the integrative
and associative functions of the nervous
Neuron
Dendrites: thin branched processes that extend from the cytoplasm of the cell body
Serve as a receptive area for stimuli
Transmit electrical impulses to the cell body
Axon: process that conducts impulses away from the cell body
Frequently referred to as nerve fibers
Neuron
Axon
Myelin sheath – composed of successive wrappings of the cell membrane
Serve to increase the velocity of nerve impulse conduction in axons
Myelinated axons – white matter
Myelin – has a high lipid content giving it a white color hence the name white
matter
Node of Ranvier – (after Louis Ranvier, French pathologist) also known as
neurofibril node, gap in the myelin sheath which increase conduction of nerve
impulses by allowing impulses to jump from node to node
Sheath of Schwann (neurilemomma or neurilemmal sheath) – a living sheath of
Schwann cytoplasm that surround an axon and its myelin sheath
Cell bodies – gray matter
Neuroglia

Also known as Glial cells or Supporting cells of the nervous system

Protect and aid the function of the neurons

Neuroglia

Types of Cells

Schwan cells or neurolemmocytes – form the myelin sheaths around axons of the
PNS

Oligodendrocytes or oligodedroglia – form myelin sheaths around axons of the CNS

Microglia – phagocytize foreign and degenerated material

Astrocytes – help regulate passage of molecules from blood to the brain “Blood-
brain barrier”

Ependymal cells – aid in movement of fluid within the CNS, “CSF-brain barrier” or
blood-CSF barrier”

Ganglionic cells (satellite cells) – support neuron cell bodies within the ganglia of the
PNS

CNS

Brain

Three Divisions/ Regions

Forebrain – cerebrum, limbic system, basal ganglia

Midbrain –corpora quadrigemina, tegmentum, cerebral peduncles

Hindbrain – medulla oblongata, pons, cerebellum

• Cerebrum

– concerned with higher brain functions such as perception of sensory

impulses, instigation of voluntary movement, storage of memory,
thought processes and reasoning ability, also concerned with
instinctual and emotional functions

– Consists of five paired lobes within two hemispheres

– Largest and most obvious portion of the brain

– Accounts for 80% of brain mass

 • Cerebral Hemispheres

• Left – controls analytical and verbal skills: reading, writing, and mathematics

• Right – spatial and artistic kinds of intelligence

• Corpus callosum – connect the two hemispheres internally, permits sharing of

learning and memory between two hemispheres

• Cerebrum

Two layers

• Cerebral cortex – composed of gray matter

• Cerebral medulla (Cerebrum) – composed of thick white matter

• Convolutions – numerous folds and grooves which characterized the cortex

– Triple the area of gray matter

• Gyrus (gyri) – elevated folds

• Sulcus (sulci) depressed grooves

• Cerebrum

Lobes

• Frontal Lobe –anterior portion, separated by the central sulcus from the
parietal lobe; lateral sulcus separates lobes from temporal lobe

– Precental gyrus is the primary motor cortex involve with control of

voluntary muscles

– Functions include initiating voluntary motor impulses of skeletal

muscles, analyzing sensory experiences, provides reponses relative to
personality

– Mediate responses related to memory, emotions, reasoning, judgment,

planning, and speaking

– Broca’s area (motor speech area)

• Cerebrum

Lobes

• Parietal Lobe- lies behind the recentral gyrus and above the lateral sulcus
 – Primary somatosensory cortex – (Postcentral gyrus) receives sensory
information from the thalamus

– Postcentral gyrus is also called somatoesthetic area since it responds

to stimuli from cutaneous and muscular receptors throughout the body

• Cerebrum

Lobes

• Temporal lobe – lies below the lateral sulcus and merges with the parietal
and occipital lobe

– Contains auditory centers that receive sensory neurons from the

cochlea of the ear

– Wernicke’s area – responsible for reception and interpretation of

speech

– Involved in long-term memory, balance, taste, and smell

• Cerebrum

Lobes

• Occipital lobe – lies posterior to the temporal and parietal lobes

– Primary visual cortex (visual receptive area), visual association area

• Cerebrum

Lobes

• Insula- fifth lobe, deep portion of the cerebrum

– Integrates other cerebral activities and may have some function in

memory

Basal Ganglia/Nuclei

Paired masses of gray matter located deep within the white matter of the cerebrum
Control unconscious contractions of skeletal muscles such as those of upper limbs
like arm swinging during walking and running
Adds gracefulness to UMN-controlled manipulative movements
Works together with the premotor and supplementary motor cortex, and parts of
the thalamus to provide associated movements that accompany highly skilled
behavior
Part of the extrapyramidal system
L
imbic System

Also known as the emotional brain

Composed of structures surrounding the corpus callosum and diencephalon
Involved with primary behavioral responses, visceral reaction to emotion, feeding
behaviors, biologic rhythm and sense of smell
Expression of affect (emotional and behavioral statesz0

Thalamus

Large oval mass of gray matter

Acts as a relay center for all sensory impulses except smell to the cerebral cortex
Responds to general sensory stimuli and crude awareness
Acts as relay center for critical information regarding motor activities ti and from
the motor cortex

Hypothalamus

Located below the thalamus, forms the floor and part of lateral wall of third
ventricle
Functions:
Cardiovascular regulations: control of heart beat and BP
Body Temperature regulation
Regulation of water and electrolyte balance: ADH, and Thirst center
Regulation of hunger and control of GI activity: Feeding center; satiety center
Regulation of sleeping and wakefulness: sleep and wake centers
Sexual response: sexual center respond to tactile stimulation of genital organ;
orgasm
Emotions such as anger, fear, pain, and pleasure
Control of endocrine functions

Epithalamus

Posterior portion of diencephalon including the thin roof over the third ventricle
Pineal gland or pineal body: thought to have neuro-endocrine functions

Subthalamus

Flanks the hypothalamus laterally

Serves as an important extrapyramidal center for motor activities
Pituitary Gland
Also called hypophysis, rounded, pea-shaped positioned inferiorly in the
diencephalon
Anterior (adenophysis)
Posterior(neurophysis)

Midbrain

Composed of the corpora quadrigemina (superior and inferior colliculi)

Superior colliculi: involved with voluntary and involuntary motor movements
Inferior colliculi: involved with movements affecting the auditory system such as
positioning of head to improve hearing
Tegmentum (Red nucleus and substantia negra)
Substantia negra synthesizes DOPAMINE
Cerebral peduncles: consist of efferent fibers of the corticospinal tract

Hindbrain

Medulla Oblongata

Forms lowest portion of brains stem

Controls reflex activity such as coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting
Nuclei of CNs IX and XII are located in this region
Point at which major descending motor pathways (corticospinal tracts) cross to the
other side, decussate
Reticular Activating System
Cardiac center
Vasomotor center
Respiratory center

Pons
Also called as bridge
Transmission of information from cerebellum to the brainstem and between two
cerebellar hemispheres
Respiratory centers
Apneustic and pneumotaxic centers
Nuclei of fifth through eight CNs originate in this structure

Cerebellum
Also known as the “little brain”
Functions to coordinate skeletal muscle contractions, reflexive involuntary fine-
tuning of motor control and for maintaining balance and posture
Ventricles of the Brain
Ventricles composed of the lateral (first and second), third, and fourth; central
canal; and subarachnoid space contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
CSF is formed in the Choroid plexuses from blood plasma
CSF is a clear, lymphlike fluid that serves as a protective cushionaround and within
the CNS

Spinal Cord
Portion of the CNS that lies within the vertebral canal and is surrounded and
protected by the vertebral column
Functions as a large nerve cable that connects the brain and the body
Impulse conduction
Reflex Integration