Part 12 – Nervous System Anatomy

– CNS comprises 2% of body weight (3–4

pounds).
• Receives 15% of blood supply
– High metabolic rate
• Brain uses 20% of oxygen consumed by
body at rest.
• Brain uses 50% of glucose consumed by
body at rest.
– Depends on blood flow for energy.
 Central nervous system Components
• Two Anatomical Divisions
– Central nervous system (CNS)
• Brain
• Spinal cord
– Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
• All the neural tissue outside CNS
• Are nerves that go out to targets in body

• Two groups of neural cells in the nervous system:

• Neurons - For processing, transfer, and storage of

information. 30,000 neurons can fit on a pinhead.
Neuroglia: For support, regulation & protection of neurons
 Neuroglia Cells
• 90% of CNS composed of glia
• CNS neuroglia:
• astrocytes
• oligodendrocytes
• microglia
• ependymal cells
• PNS neuroglia:
• Schwann cells (neurolemmocytes)
• satellite cells
Functional Classification of Neurons
• Sensory (afferent) neurons – transmit sensory information from
receptors of PNS towards the CNS
• most sensory neurons are unipolar, a few are bipolar
• Motor (efferent) neurons – transmit motor information from the
CNS to effectors (muscles/glands/adipose tissue) in the periphery of
the body
• all are multipolar
• Association (interneurons) – transmit information between neurons
within the CNS; analyze inputs, coordinate outputs
• are the most common type of neuron (20 billion)
• are all multipolar
Structure of Typical Synapse
 Human Cerebral Cortex
The four lobes: occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal
Amass of 100 billion neurons located inside the skull
Cerebrum : largest part
of human brain
The Brain
Human Brain Stem
CNS: Physical Support
 Spinal Cord
-Cylinder of nerve tissue
- Continuous with brain
- Surrounded by vertebral
column
- Origin of spinal nerves
(31 pairs)
Spinal Cord Structure
CNS Gray and White Matter
 Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
– Extracellular fluid of the CNS
– Secreted by ependymal cells of the
choroid plexus
• Circulates to subarachnoid space and ventricles
• Reabsorbed by arachnoid villi
– Functions
• Cushions brain
• Maintains stable interstitial fluid environment
– Total volume of CSF = 125–150 mL
– Choroid plexus produces 400–500 mL/day
– Recycled three times a day