Nervous System
Balie N. Carabacan, PTRP
Function of Nervous System
• Sensory Function
• Integrative function.
• Motor function.
Division of Nervous System
Nervous
System
Central Peripheral
Somatic Autonomic
Parasympatheti
Sympathetic
c
Neurons
Varieties
of
Neurons
Classification of neurons
according to length of axon
• Golgi type I
Axons of these neurons are long in comparison to their multiple short
dendrites
Axons of pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex
Axons of anterior horn cells of spinal cord
Purkinje cells from cerebellar cortex
• Golgi type II
Axons of these neurons are short, similar to the length of the dendrites
stellate cells of cerebellar cortex,
Functional Classification
• Sensory
• Motor
• Interneurons
Synapse
s
•
Axodendritic: Synapse between axon of presynaptic and
dendron of postsynaptic neuron.
• Axosomatic: Synapse between axon of presynaptic and
cell body or soma of postsynaptic neuron.
• Axoaxonic: It is considered as a lateral synapse. In this
type, axon of lateral neuron form synaptic connection
with axon of another neuron which is lying in the regular
neuronal chain
Neurotransmitters
• Many neurotransmitters are also hormones released into the
bloodstream by endocrine cells in organs throughout the body. Within
the brain, certain neurons, called neurosecretory cells, also secrete
hormones. Neurotransmitters can be divided into two classes based
on size: small molecule neurotransmitters and neuropeptides
• The small-molecule neurotransmitters include acetylcholine, amino
acids, biogenic amines, ATP and other purines, nitric oxide, and
carbon monoxide.
• acetylcholine (ACh) which is released by many PNS neurons and by some
CNS neurons. ACh is an excitatory neurotransmitter at some synapses, such as
the neuromuscular junction, where the binding of ACh to ionotropic receptors
opens cation channels
• For example, ACh slows heart rate at inhibitory synapses made by
parasympathetic neurons of the vagus (X) nerve. The enzyme
acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inactivates ACh by splitting it into acetate and
choline fragments.
• AMINO ACIDS
Several amino acids are neurotransmitters in the CNS. Glutamate (glutamic acid)
and aspartate (aspartic acid) have powerful excitatory effects.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine are important inhibitory
neurotransmitters.
GABA is found only in the CNS, where it is the most common inhibitory
neurotransmitter. As many as one-third of all brain synapses use GABA.
Biogenic Amines
Norepinephrine (NE)
• plays roles in arousal (awakening from deep sleep)
• Dreaming
• regulating mood
• A smaller number of neurons in the brain use epinephrine as a
neurotransmitter.
• Both epinephrine and norepinephrine also serve as hormones.
• Cells of the adrenal medulla, the inner portion of the adrenal gland,
release them into the blood
Dopamine (DA)
• active during emotional responses
• addictive behaviors
• pleasurable experiences.
• In addition, dopamine-releasing neurons help regulate skeletal
muscle tone and some aspects of movement due to contraction
of skeletal muscle
Serotonin
• also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT),
• concentrated in the neurons in a part of the brain
called the raphe nucleus.
• involved in sensory perception,
temperature regulation,
control of mood,
appetite,
the induction of sleep
ATP and Other Purines
adenosine portion of ATP is called a purine ring.
Adenosine itself, as well asits triphosphate, diphosphate, and
monophosphate derivatives (ATP, ADP, and AMP), is an
excitatory neurotransmitter in both the CNS and the PNS.
Most of the synaptic vesicles that contain ATP also contain
another neurotransmitter.
In the PNS, ATP and norepinephrine are released together
from some sympathetic neurons; some parasympathetic
neurons release ATP and acetylcholine in the same vesicles
Nitric Oxide
excitatory neurotransmitter secreted in the brain, spinal
cord, adrenal glands, and nerves to the penis and has
widespread effects throughout the body.
NO contains a single nitrogen atom, in contrast to
nitrous oxide (N2O), or laughing gas, which has two
nitrogen atoms.
N2O is sometimes used as an anesthetic during dental
procedures.
Carbon Monoxide
• formed as needed and diffuses out of cells that produce it into
adjacent cells.
• CO is an excitatory neurotransmitter produced in the brain and
in response to some neuromuscular and neuro glandular
functions.
• CO might protect against excess neuronal activity and might
be related to dilation of blood vessels, memory, olfaction
(sense of smell), vision, thermoregulation, insulin release, and
anti-inflammatory activity.
Neuroglia
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglial cells or Microglia
Ependymal Cells Ependymal cells
Schwann Cells
Satellite Cells
Astrocytes
• star-shaped cells
• largest and most numerous of the neuroglia
• contain microfilaments that give them considerable
strength, which enables them to support neurons
• In the embryo, astrocytes secrete chemicals that appear to
regulate the growth, migration, and interconnection among
neurons in the brain.
• help to maintain the appropriate chemical environment for
the generation of nerve impulses.
• role in learning and memory by influencing the formation of
neural synapse
Oligodendrocytes
• resembleastrocytes but are smaller and contain
fewer processes.
• responsible
for forming and maintaining the myelin
sheath around CNS axons.
Microglial cells or Microglia
• smallcells with slender processes that give
off numerous spinelike projections.
• functionas phagocytes, they remove cellular
debris formed during normal development of
the nervous system and phagocytize
microbes and damaged nervous tissue
Ependymal Cells Ependymal cells
• cuboidal to columnar cells arranged in a single layer that
possess microvilli and cilia
• These cells line the ventricles of the brain and central
canal of the spinal cord (spaces filled with cerebrospinal
fluid, which protects and nourishes the brain and spinal
cord)
• produce, possibly monitor, and assist in the circulation of
cerebrospinal fluid. They also form the blood–
cerebrospinal fluid barrier, PNS
Schwann Cells
• encircle
PNS axons. Like oligodendrocytes, they
form the myelin sheath around axons
• Schwann cells participate in axon regeneration,
which is more easily accomplished in the PNS than
in the CNS.
Satellite Cells
• flat
cells surround the cell bodies of neurons of
PNS ganglia
• Besidesproviding structural support, satellite
cells regulate the exchanges of materials
between neuronal cell bodies and interstitial
fluid
• theyalso form a covering around the cell
bodies of neurons of peripheral nervous system
Embryonic development of Nervous System
