Overview of the

nervous system
Prof Hannah Cock
Institute of Medical & Biomedical Education

MBBS4 Y1

Outline

• Overview structures
• Cell types & Surrounding structures
• Neurotransmission
• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system
• Autonomic nervous system
• Blood supply

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CELL TYPES:
• Neurons
• Glia
–PNS
Schwann cells
Satellite cells
–CNS
Astrocytes
Microglia
Oligodendroglia

Neurones (i)

Terminal Boutons

Soma Nodes of Ranvier

Dendrites
•1011 cells in the whole body
•Derived from ectodermal cells
•Aggregate in compact groups
•Gangliae, nuclei, laminae

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 Neurones (ii)

• Cannot proliferate*
• Receive, process and generate signals
–Action potentials
–Chemical neurotransmission (synapses)
–Electrical neurotransmission (gap junctions),
http://www.mind.ilstu.edu/curriculum/modOverv
iew.php?modGUI=232 The MIND PROJECT
* Neural Stem cells can proliferate, and are present in adult brain

Synapse

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 Glial cells (i)
CNS:
• Astrocyte (Astroglia)
– Star-shaped cells that provide physical and nutritional support for
neurons: 1) clean up brain "debris"; 2) transport nutrients to neurons; 3)
hold neurons in place; 4) digest parts of dead neurons; 5) regulate
content of extracellular space
• Microglia
– Like astrocytes, microglia digest parts of dead neurons.
• Oligodendroglia
– Provide the insulation (myelin) to neurons in the central nervous system.
PNS:
• Satellite Cells -Physical support to neurons
• Schwann Cells –Provide Insulation (myelin) to neurons

Glial cells (ii)

Myelin: PNS CNS

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 Protecting the CNS

CSF

CSF Functions
- Buoyancy
- Protection
- Chemical stability
- Prevention brain ischaemia

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 Brain

Brainstem &
Cranial nerves

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 Spinal cord (i)

Head,neck, UL
Cervical (8)

Chest, UL, abdo

Thoracic (12)

Abdo • Foramen Magnum-L1/2

• segmental arrangement
Lumbar (5) Pelvis • motor & sensory tracts
Sacral (5) • Local relay stations
Conus legs
• Anterior horn cells
Cauda equina

Spinal Cord (ii)

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 Peripheral Nervous System
Spinal Roots
Anterior (motor)
Posterior (sensory)

Plexus

Peripheral
nerves

Dermatomes - sensory

Myotomes - motor

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 Peripheral nerves

• Contains
–Epi/peri/endoneurium
–Schwann cells
–Myelinated and
unmyelinated nerve fibres

Motor nerve-Muscle:
Neuromuscular junction.

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 Sensory Nerve endings:
• Exteroceptors
– Receptors that respond to stimuli outside the
body Special senses (e.g. photoreceptors,
olfactory neurones, cochlear hair cells) and body
surface (e.g. mechanoreceptors,
chemoreceptors….)
• Proprioceptors
– Stimuli from muscles tendons and joints.
• Enteroceptors ( visceroceptors)
– Internal surfaces such as walls of viscera, blood
vessels.

Mechano-receptors
• Subdivided by type of sensation (e.g. vibration,
temperature, touch) and structure of receptor.

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 Proprioceptors

• Present in muscles, tendons, ligaments

and joints.
–Vital to the maintenance of balance and for
movement control.

–Golgi tendon organs

–Muscle spindles

–Joint kinaesthetic receptors

Muscle spindles.

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 Autonomic (visceral) nervous
system
• Involuntary and directed towards the
control of individual organ function and
homeostasis
• Parasympathetic
–cranial
–sacral
• Sympathetic
–T1 – L2

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 CNS blood supply

Arteries Veins

• Carotid arteries • Venous Sinuses

• Vertebral arteries • Jugular veins
–Circle of Willis
–Cerebral Arteries

Arteries to the brain:

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Arteries - Circle of Willis:

Cerebral Arteries:

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Cerebral veins.

Nervous System

“NEUROPHOBIA”

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