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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Summary
- The structures that make up the nervous system are the brain, 12 pairs of cranial nerves
and their branches, the spinal cord, 31 pairs of spinal nerves and their branches, sensory
receptors
- Anatomically the nervous system consists of 2 divisions
o The central nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord
o The peripheral nervous system which is all nervous tissue outside the CNS
- Functionally the nervous system integrates all body activities by sensing changes
(sensory functions) interpreting them (integrative function), and reacting to them (motor
functions)
- Afferent (sensory) neurons carry sensory information from cranial and spinal nerves into
the brain and spinal cord or from a lower to a higher level in the spinal cord and brain
o Interneurons have short axons that contact nearby neurons in the brain, spinal
cord, and ganglion
- Motor (efferent) neurons carry information from the brain toward the spinal cord or out
of the brain and spinal cord into cranial or spinal nerves
- Components of the PNS includes the somatic nervous system (SMS) and autonomic
nervous system (ANS)
- The SNS consist of somatic sensory neurons that conduct impulses from somatic and
special sense receptor to the CNS (input) and somatic motor neurons from the CNS to
skeletal muscles (output)
- ANS contains autonomic sensory neurons from visceral organs (input) and autonomic
motor neurons and convey impulses from the CNS to smooth muscle tissue, cardiac
muscle tissue, and glands (output)
o 2 main subdivisions of the ANS are the sympathetic and parasympathetic
divisions
o The third subdivision is the enteric nervous system
ENS consists of neurons in enteric plexuses in the GI tract that function
independently of the ANS and CNS to some extent
Sensory neurons of the ENS monitor chemical changes and stretching of
the GI tract (input) and motor neurons of the ENS generate contractions
and secretions of the GI tract (output)
Introduction
- Nervous tissue is made up of neurons (nerve cells) and neuroglia (cells that support the
activities of the neurons
16.1 Overview of the Nervous System
- Structures of the Nervous System
o Neurology is the branch of science that deals with the normal and disorder
functioning of the nervous system
Neurologist is a specialist in neurology
o Nervous system weighs only 2 kgs and is 3% of total body weight
o Smallest but most complex system in the body
o Major structures of the nervous system:
Brain, cranial nerves, spinal cord, spinal nerves, ganglia, enteric plexuses
(in small intestine), and sensory receptors
- Organization of the Nervous System
o Can be organized both anatomically and functionally
o Anatomical organization
Cells are extremely long compared to other body systems
Two main interconnected divisions
The CNS and PNS
The CNS
Composed of the brain and spinal cord
Brain is enclosed and protected by the skull in the cranial cavity
and contains about 85 billion neurons
Spinal cord is enclosed and protected by the bones of the vertebral
column in the vertebral canal and contains about 100 million
neurons
Brain and spinal cord are continuous with one another through the
foramen magnum of the occipital bone
Processes different kinds of incoming sensory information
Source of thoughts, emotions, and memories
Most nerve impulses that stimulate muscles to contract and glands
to secrete originate in the CNS
The PNS
Composed of all nervous structures outside the CNS
o Cranial nerves and all their branches, spinal nerves and
their branches, and sensory receptors
Link all parts of the body to the CNS
12 pairs of cranial nerves number I through XII from right to left
emerge from the base of the brain
Nerve: bundle of hundreds to thousands of axons (nerve cell fibers)
and associated connective tissue and blood vessels that lies outside
the brain and spinal cord
o Each nerve follows a defined path and serves a specific
region of the body
Median nerve carries signal for motor output and
sensory input to and from the muscles and skin of
the upper limb
31 pairs of spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord
o Each serving a specific region on the right or left side of the
body
Sensory receptors: are structures that monitor changes in the
internal and external environment
o Like receptors in the skin that detect touch sensations,
photoreceptors in the eyes, and olfactory (smell) receptors
in the nose
o Functional Organization
Diverse activities of the nervous system are grouped into 3 basic functions
Sensory = input
o Sensory receptors detect internal stimuli, like increase in
blood pressure and external stimuli like raindrop landing on
arm
o Afferent neurons (sensory) carry this sensory information
into the brain and spinal cord through cranial and spinal
nerves
Integrative= control
o Nervous system processes sensory information by
analyzing and storing some of it and by making decisions
for appropriate responses
Integration
o Perception is an integrative function
Conscious awareness of sensory stimuli
Occurs in the brain
o Interneurons
Neurons that interconnect with other neurons
Neurons that participate in integration
Axons that only extend for short distances and
contact nearby neurons in the brain or spinal cord to
set up the complex circuit boards of the CNS
Majority of neurons in the body are interneurons
and they make up the majority of the CNS
Motor = output
o Once sensory information is integrated the nervous system
must elicit and appropriate motor responses
Muscle contraction or glandular secretion
o Motor or efferent neurons serve this function
Carry information out of the brain or spinal cord to
effectors (muscles and glands) through cranial and
spinal nerves
Stimulation of the effectors by motor neurons
causes muscles to contract and glands to secret