The Nervous

System

Dr. Rasha Alshali

Assistant prof. in Anatomy Department
 The Nervous System
The nervous system enables the body to
react to the continuous changes in external
and internal environments.

It controls body activities

(such as circulation & respiration).

The nervous system (NS) is classified

functionally & structurally
 The Nervous System
CNS Nervous System PNS
(Central Nervous System) (structurally) (Peripheral Nervous System)

Spinal nerves Cranial nerves

Brain Spinal Cord
(31 pairs) (12 pairs)

Autonomic nerves
& ganglia
 The Nervous System
Somatic NS Autonomic NS
Nervous System
voluntary activities involuntary activities
(functionally)

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Afferents Efferents
Afferent/Efferent Afferent/Efferent

Receive somatic sensation Receive visceral sensation from

from ‘body ‘viscera
Controls voluntary activities: Controls activities of internal
(contraction of skeletal organs, glands,
muscles) involuntary muscles
(cardiac & smooth muscles)
 The CNS
(Brain – Spinal cord)
The CNS is the part of the nervous system, which is present in midline of
the body and protected within bony cages.

The CNS is formed of:

Brain: lies in the skull
Spinal cord: lies within the vertebral column

It is responsible to (functions):
Integrate and coordinate incoming and outgoing neural signals.
Carry out higher mental functions such as thinking and learning.
 The CNS is covered by 3 meninges: arranged from outside to inside:
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

It is bathed in a layer of fluid called cerebrospinal fluid, present in the “subarachenoid space”.

Subarachnoid
space
The Brain Parts of the brain

Brain
(Cephalon)

Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrain

(Prosencephalon) (Mesencephalon) (Rhombencephalon) Brain stem

Cerebral Medulla
hemispheres oblongata Midbrain

Diencephalon Pons Pons

Cerebellum
Medulla
oblongata
 Parts of the brain

Cerebrum
Diencephalon

Pons
Medulla Oblongata
Cerebellum

Brain
Stem [ Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

Spinal cord
 The Cerebrum (cerebral hemispheres)
It is the largest part of the brain
It consists of two cerebral hemispheres.
 The Spinal Cord
- A part of the CNS which lies within the vertebral canal.
- It is surrounded with the three meninges
It begins at the foramen magnum, as a continuation of the medulla oblongata.
In adult, it ends at the level of lower border of 1st lumbar vertebra. LL1

The cord narrows inferiorly to form ‘conus medullaris.

The lower nerve roots of lower lumbar , sacral & coccygeal nerves together are called ‘cauda equina’.
The “filum terminale” is the extension of ‘ Pia matter downward.
Cord LL1

REMEMBER:
The cord ends at lower L1
The meningeal tube ends at S2
The filum terminale is attached to 1st coccyx.
Meninges
S2

Filum terminale

C1
 Enlargments of Spinal Cord
It shows two enlargements:
*Cervical enlargement:
Gives ‘nerves forming the Brachial plexus.
(nerves to upper limb)

*Lumbar enlargement:
Gives ‘nerves forming the Lumbar plexus.
(nerves to lower limb)

LL1
 Segments of the Spinal Cord
The spinal segments: the part of the spinal cord giving attachment to a
pair of spinal nerves is called the “spinal segment”.
-
The spinal cord has 31 segments
—> gives 31 pair of spinal nerves. Cervical
ns.

Thoracic ns.

Lumbar ns.

Sacral ns.
Coccygeal ns.
 Lumbar
Puncture
Clinical
Note
 Transverse cut section of the
spinal cord shows:
The Central Canal Posterior median sulcus
(in ‘centre of gray matter, containing CSF). Posterolateral sulci

Gray Matter à In the centre of the

Spinal Cord as letter “H” Horns
White
White Matter à at the periphery Matter
surrounding the gray matter Columns
Gray
Central
Matter
Canal

Anterolateral sulci

Anterior median fissure

Anterior median fissure
Posterior median sulcus
Anterolateral sulci (2)
Posterolateral sulci (2)
 The PNS
(Cranial nerves - Spinal nerves)
The cranial nerves •They are 12 pairs of nerves attached to the brain
•They exit the cranial cavity through the skull foramina.

No. Ner ve name Type Main function

I Olfactory Sensory Smell
II Optic Sensory Vision
III Oculomotor Motor Eyeball movement
IV Trochlear Motor Eyeball movement
V Trigeminal Mixed Sensations from head
VI Abducent Motor Eyeball movement
Facial muscles
VII Facial Mixed movement, glands
secretion, taste
VIII Vestibulocochlear Sensory Equilibrium, Hearing
IX Glossopharyngeal Mixed Taste, glands secretion
Parasympathetic to
X Vagus Mixed
heart & smooth muscles
X1 Accessory Motor Muscles movement
XII Hypoglossal Motor Tongue movement
 The spinal nerves
How many vertebrae ? 33
How many spinal nerves ? 31
They are 31 pairs of nerves attached to the spinal cord
They exit the vertebral column through ‘intervertebral foramina
except (1st spinal nervesà exit between ‘occipital bone & atlas)

The spinal nerves are classified:

Cervical ns.
Region No. of No. of
vertebrae spinal
nerves
Thoracic ns.
Cervical (C) 7 8
Thoracic (T) 12 12
Lumbar (L) 5 5 Lumbar ns.
Sacral (S) 5 5
Coccygeal (C) 2-4 1
Sacral ns.

Coccygeal ns.
The exit of the
spinal nerves
How is the spinal nerve formed?

•Each spinal nerve is formed by 2 roots attached to the segment of ’cord:

Anterior/ ventral (motor) root
Posterior/ dorsal (sensory) root —> has post root ganglion.

The two roots join to form ‘Spinal nerve prior to exiting ‘vertebral column.
(‘spinal nerve is classified as Mixed nerve bcuz it has motor & sensory roots)

Each spinal nerve divides into Two rami:

Anterior/ ventral (mixed) ramus à supply the front of ‘body & ‘limbs (thicker)
posterior/ dorsal (mixed) ramus à supply the back of ‘body
Ant rami join to form nerve plexuses
(except Ant Rami of the thoracic spinal nerves)
Post (sensory)
root

Ant (Motor) root

 The PNS
(Autonomic nerves)
 The Autonomic Nerves

•The autonomic nervous system is not present separately,

but distributed within the CNS & PNS.
•It controls the activities of the structures which are out of our control
(viscera, glands, blood vessels, involuntary muscles)

• it has two divisions:

Sympathetic system à arises from the Thoraco-lumbar segments
Parasympathetic system

Both systems target the same organs but they have antagonistic
(opposite) actions, they are complementary to each others.
Dr.Rasha Alshali