Nervous Tissue

Functions of the Nervous System

Sensory input
Sensory receptors detect stimuli

Processing and integration

The brain interprets stimuli and determines
how to respond

Motor output
Effector organs (muscles and glands) are
activated

Organization of
the Nervous
System
Structural organization
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain
Spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Cranial nerves
Spinal nerves
Ganglia

Organization of the Nervous System

Functional organization
Sensory nervous system
Responsible for sensory input
Sensory receptors (PNS organs) receive stimuli and nerves
transmit this information to the CNS for interpretation

Motor nervous system

Responsible for motor output
The CNS sends information by way of nerves to effector
organs

Organization of
the Sensory
Nervous
System
The sensory nervous system consists of somatic
sensory and visceral sensory components
The somatic sensory component receives stimuli from the skin,
joints, skeletal muscles, and special sense organs
Voluntary (some control & are aware of the input)
The visceral sensory component receives stimuli from the
viscera
Involuntary (no control and generally not aware)

Organization of the
Motor
Nervous System
The motor nervous system consists of somatic motor
and autonomic motor components
The somatic motor component sends information to skeletal
muscle
Voluntary
The autonomic motor component sends information to cardiac
muscle, smooth muscle, and glands
Involuntary

Nervous
Tissue
Two types of cells make up nervous tissue
Neurons
The functional (excitable) cells of the nervous system
Neurons receive and transmit nerve impulses (aka action
potentials)

Glial cells
Nonexcitable cells
Glial cells support neurons

Neurons
Special
Characteristics:

Larger but less numerous than glial cells

High metabolic rate
Neurons require continuous supplies of glucose and oxygen

Extreme longevity
Neurons persist for the lifetime of an individual

Amitotic
Neurons do not divide to replace themselves

Neuron
Structure
Cell body
The neurons
control center
Contains the
neurons nucleus,
nucleolus, and
other organelles
Chromatophilic
substances = Nissl
bodies (ribosomes)
Interprets the
input from dendrites

Neuron
Structure
Dendrites
Multiple short,
branching
processes
projecting off of
the cell body
Receive nerve
impulses from
other neurons (or
sensory stimuli)
and pass the
signal to the cell
body

Axon
Structure
A single long process projecting off of
the cell body
Transmits nerve impulses from the
cell body to other neurons (or
effectors)
Axon structures
Axon hillockthe connection of
the axon to the cell body
Axon collateral side branch of
axon
Telodendriabranches at the end
of the axon
Synaptic knobsexpansions at
the ends of the telodendria

nucleus

dendrites
Figure 14.3

axon hillock

cell body

axon

Structural Classification of Neurons

Classified
according to the
number of
processes
emanating
directly from the
cell body of the
neuron:
1. Unipolar
2. Bipolar
3. Multipolar

Multipolarmany dendrites and a single axon, most common of all neurons

1. Unipolarsingle, short process that branches like a T

2. Bipolartwo processes, one dendrite and one axon

(Note: some neuro-anatomists prefer the term pseudounipolar

because of the peripheral process of the axon.)

Axon
or
Dendrite:
what is the
difference?
Dendrites and the Soma can
generate Graded Potentials
Can be either positive or
negative
Different sized
Become smaller as they
spread

Axon
or
Dendrite:
what is the
difference?
Axons & Axon Hillock, generate
Action Potentials
All or None = always the
same size & polarity
regardless of stimulus
Always the same magnitude
do NOT become smaller
as they spread.

Correction to text
The McLaughlin text is imprecise in its use of the
term nerve impulse - sometimes using it when
the proper term is graded potential and
sometimes when the precise term is action
potential
On page page 425 (section 14.3) it states that A
nerve impulse is also known as an action
potential. but nerve impulse is not a rigorous
scientific term.
Dendrites & the soma do NOT generate action
potentials.

Functional
Classification
of Neurons
Functionally, neurons are classified according to
the direction that the nerve impulse is traveling
relative to the CNS:
1. Sensory (afferent)
2. Motor (efferent)
3. Interneurons

Sensory (afferent)transmit impulses from

sensory receptors to the CNS

Motor (efferent)transmit impulses from CNS to

muscles or glands

Interneuronsfacilitate communication
between sensory and motor neurons

Structural and Functional class of each of these three neurons

Identify their dendrites and axons

Glial Cells

Smaller but more numerous than neurons

Actively mitotic
the reason they are one of the most common
cells involved in brain cancer

Glial Cells of
the CNS

Astrocytes
Attach to neurons and to capillaries
Connect neurons to their nutrient supply
Form the blood-brain barrier

Glial Cells of
the CNS

Ependymal cells
Line the internal cavities of the CNS
The ventricles of the brain and the central canal of
the spinal cord

Produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and

secrete it into the cavities

Glial Cells of
the CNS

Microglial cells
Immune cells of the CNS

Glial Cells of
the CNS

Oligodendrocytes
Wrap around the axons of CNS neurons
Form the myelin sheath in the CNS

Astrocytes

Oligodendrocytes

Microglial cells

Ependymal cells

Glial Cells of
the PNS

Satellite cells
Surround the cell bodies of PNS neurons
Regulate exchange of nutrients & waste
products with surrounding fluids

Glial Cells of
the PNS

Neurolemmocytes (aka Schwann cells)

Wrap around the axons of PNS neurons
Form the myelin sheath in the PNS

Myelin
Sheath
Oligodendrocytes (CNS) and
neurolemmocytes (PNS) form
myelin sheath around a
neurons axon
Oligodendrocytes and
neurolemmocytes are full of lipids
They wrap around the axons like
gauze
Multiple layers of plasma membrane
lipids

Myelin Sheath
Gaps exist between
neighboring
oligodendrocytes or
neurolemmocytes
Termed neurofibril nodes
(aka nodes of Ranvier)

Nerve impulses jump

from node to node
Myelin sheath significantly
speeds up the
transmission of a nerve
impulse along an axon

Synapse

A synapse is the junction between the axon of one neuron

and the dendrite of another neuron (or an effector organ)
Where the nerve impulse is transmitted to the neighboring neuron
(or effector)

Synapse

A synapse consists
of:
presynaptic neuron
with its
synaptic knobs;
A synaptic cleft (small
space) between it and
the
postsynaptic neuron

Synapse
The action potential travels
down the axon of the
presynaptic neuron to its
synaptic knob
It causes voltage-gated calcium
channels to open, allowing Ca++
to enter
The Ca++ causes synaptic
vesicles to release the
neurotransmitter (e.g.
acetylcholine red balls) into
the synaptic cleft

Synapse
Neurotransmitters bind
to receptors (ligandgated ion channels) on
the postsynaptic
membrane
Sodium ions enter the
cell through the channel
An action potential is
triggered on the
postsynaptic neuron
Nerve transmission
converts from electrical
to chemical back to
electrical

Figure 14.14b

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Identify:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
6.

Presynaptic neuron
Postsynaptic neuron
Synaptic knob
Synaptic cleft
Voltage-gated Ca++ channels
Synaptic vesicles
Receptor protein
Sodium ions
(do they enter the cell?)
8. Acetylcholine molecules
(do they enter the cell?)

Nerves
Nerves are bundles of axons running
parallel to each other
Sensory nerves carry impulses only toward
the CNS
Motor nerves carry impulses only away from
the CNS
Mixed nerves carry impulses in both
directions

Nerves
An individual nerve
is an organ
Nerve axons and
blood vessels run
throughout
Surrounded by
epineurium
Dense irregular
connective tissue

Nerves
Within the nerve,
axons are grouped
into bundles called
fascicles
Fascicles are
separated from
other fascicles by
perineurium
Dense irregular
connective tissue

Nerves
Individual axons
within fascicles are
surrounded by
endoneurium
Areolar
connective tissue
Myelin sheath is
found within the
endoneurium

What is the name of the

CT covering?
What kind of CT is it?

What is the name of this

Structure?

What is the name of the

CT covering?
What kind of CT is it?

What is the name of the

CT covering?
What kind of CT is it?

Identify:
1. Dendrites
2. Soma
3. Axon Hillock
4. Axon
5. Nucleus
6. Nucleolus
7. Chromatophilic substance
8. Axon collateral
9. Neurolemma
10.Neurofibril Node
11.Myelin Sheath
12.Telodendria
13.Synaptic knob