Nerve Tissue & the

Nervous System
Part II

Dr. Ghassan Balousha

Al-Quds University
Faculty of Medicine
Pathology Department
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The Central Nervous
System

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 The Central Nervous System
Ø consists of cerebrum, cerebellum, & spinal cord
Ø has almost no connective tissue → relatively soft gel-
like organ
Ø regions of CNS are:
white matter:
- composed of myelinated axons & oligodendrocytes.
- NO neuronal cell bodies present
gray matter:
- contains neuronal cell bodies, dendrites & initial
unmyelinated portion of axons and glial cells forming
cerebral & cerebellar cortex
- neuronal bodies forming islands of gray matter
embedded in white matter called nuclei
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The cortex (cerebral & cerebellar)
I- Cerebral cortex, gray matter has six layers of cells
ü some register afferent (sensory) impulses
ü other; efferent (motor) neurons generate motor
impulses
II- Cerebellar cortex has 3 layers:
a. outer molecular layer
b. central layer of Purkinje cells
- Purkinje cell has conspicuous body & highly
developed dendrites occupying molecular layer
c. inner granule layer
• formed by very small compact neurons
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 Spinal cord
Ø White matter is peripheral and gray matter is
central è H shape with central canal lined
with ependymal cells
is a cavity

Ø Gray matter of the legs of H forms the anterior

horns (motor)
Ø Gray matter of the arms of H forms the
posterior horns (sensory)

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spinal cord cerebellum

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Meninges of the brain & spinal cord
Ø Membranes of connective tissue encasing the
CNS:
Ø Starting with the outermost layer, the meninges
are:
1. Dura mater
2. Arachnoid matter
3. Pia mater

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 I- Dura Mater
Ø External layer of dense connective tissue
continuous with skull periosteum, but
separated from vertebral periosteum by
epidural space which contains thin veins, loose
connective tissue, and adipose tissue
Ø Covered internally by simple squamous
epithelium
Ø Separated from arachnoid by thin subdural
space.

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 II- Arachnoids
Ø Has two components:
I- Layer in contact with dura mater.
II- System of trabeculae connected to pia mater
Ø Composed of connective tissue devoid of blood
vessels.
Ø Squamous cells cover arachnoids mater
Subarachnoid space
ü Cavities between the trabeculae filled by CSF
ü Acts as hydraulic cushion that protects CNS
Ø Some areas, the arachnoid perforates dura
forming arachnoid villi
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 III- Pia Mater
against arachnoid matter

Ø loose connective tissue with many blood vessels

Ø between pia mater & neural elements is a thin
layer of neuroglial processes forming a physical
barrier
Ø follows all irregularities of the surface of the CNS
and penetrates it to some extent along blood
vessels
Ø Bloodvessels penetrate the CNS through tunnels
covered by pia mater = the perivascular spaces
Ø squamous cells cover pia mater

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 is
Blood–brain Barrier

ØFunctional barrier that prevents passage

of some substances from the blood to
nervous system
üThese substances include antibiotics and
chemical and bacterial toxic matter
Ø Resultsfrom reduced permeability, occluding
junctions & lack of endothelial cell
fenestrations.

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Choroid Plexus & Cerebrospinal Fluid
part of pia matter
I- Choroid plexus consists of invaginated folds of pia
mater, rich in dilated fenestrated capillaries.
Ø found in roofs of 3rd & 4th ventricles and in part of
lateral ventricles
Ø Covered by simple cuboidal /columnar epithelium
Ø Elaborate CSF which:
II- CSF:
ü Clear fluid
ü Has low density (1.004–1.008 g/mL)
ü Has very low protein content
ü Has few desquamated cells and 2-5 lymphocytes/ml
ü circulatesthrough ventricles → passes into subarachnoid
space and arachnoid villi provide the main pathway for
absorption of CSF into venous circulation
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Choroid Plexus
(BC): blood capillaries

Choroid Plexus

cubic epithelium fenestrated

capillary

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Peripheral Nervous
System

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 Peripheral Nervous System

Ø is composed of:
I- Nerves
• are bundles of nerve fibers surrounded by
connective tissue sheaths
II- Ganglia
III- Nerve endings

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 Nerve Fibers

Ø Consist of axons variably enveloped by special

sheath derived from ectoderm
ü PNS → Schwann cell
ü CNS → oligodendrocyte
I- Unmyelinated fibers:
- Axons of small diameter.
II- Myelinated fibers:
Thicker axons are generally sheathed by
concentric wrappings of myelin sheaths.

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 Unmyelinated Nerve Fibers

isolated axons

many thin axons

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(A): myelinated nerve fibers
(B): unmyelinated nerve fibers
(1) Nucleus and cytoplasm of a Schwann cell;
(2) axon;
(3) microtubule;
(4) neurofilament;
(5) myelin sheath;
(6) mesaxon;
(7) node of Ranvier;
(8) interdigitating processes of Schwann cells
at the node of Ranvier;
(9) side view of an unmyelinated axon;
(10) basal lamina.

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 Myelinated Fibers

ØMyelin sheath in PNS consists of whitish

lipoprotein formed by plasmalemma of Shwann
cell
Ø In CNS, myelin is formed by oligodendrocytes
where different branches of one cell can
envelop segments of several axons
Ø Show gaps along its path ‘nodes of Ranvier’
which represent spaces between adjacent
Schwann cells ‘internode’

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 Unmyelinated Fibers

Ø In PNS, axons are enveloped within simple

clefts of Schwann cells
Ø Each Schwann cell can sheathe many axons
Ø No nodes of Ranvier, because abutting
Schwann cells are united to form a continuous
sheath
Ø CNS is rich in unmyelinated axons which:
Ø Are not sheathed
Ø Run free among other neuronal & glial
processes
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 Nerves (nerve fibers)
Ø Fibers are grouped in bundles to form nerves
I- Eepineurium:
- External fibrous coat of dense connective tissue.
II- Perineurium
- Each bundle is surrounded by a sleeve formed by
layers of flattened epithelium-like cells joined at
their edges by tight junctions.
III- Endoneurium: reticular fibers produced by
Schwann cell & envelop Schwann cell-sheathed
axon
Ø Afferent & Efferent fibers
Ø Sensory, motor & mixed nerves
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 Ganglia
Ø ovoid structures containing neuronal cell bodies
and glial cells supported by connective tissue
I- Sensory Ganglia: cranial ganglia & spinal
ganglia: pseudounipolar, large neuronal cell bodies
with prominent fine Nissl bodies surrounded by
glial cells called satellite cells
II- Autonomic Ganglia: bulbous dilatation in
multipolar autonomic nerve, some are located
within organs, especially in the walls of the digestive
tract = ‘intramural ganglia’ which is devoid of
connective tissue capsules & supported by stroma
of that organ like sensory

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 Autonomic Nervous System
Ø Related to control of smooth muscle, cardiac rhythm
& secretion of some glands
Ø Function: adjustments in certain activities of body to
maintain internal environment (homeostasis)
Ø Composed of collections of nerve cells located in
CNS, fibers leave through cranial /spinal nerves &
nerve ganglia ‘Preganglionic & postganglionic
fibers’
Ø Cholinergic fibers: release acetylcholine in all
preganglionic & at parasympathetic postganglionic
endings to smooth muscles, heart, and exocrine
glands
Ø Adrenal medulla is the only organ that receives
preganglionic fibers & release epinephrine &
norepinephrine.
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 Sympathetic System
Ø The nuclei are located in thoracic & lumbar
segments of spinal cord è Sympathetic System is
called thoracolumbar division of the autonomic
system
Ø Preganglionic fibers leave the CNS by way of
ventral roots & white communicating rami of
thoracic & lumbar nerves
Ø Chemical mediator of postganglionic fibers is
norepinephrine produced by adrenergic fibers
Ø Adrenergic fibers innervate sweat glands, blood
vessels of skeletal muscle & adrenal medulla.
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 Parasympathetic System
Ø Has its nuclei in medulla, midbrain & in the sacral
portion of spinal cord
Ø Preganglionic fibers leave through 4 of cranial
nerves (III, VII, IX & X) and also through 2nd, 3rd &
4th sacral spinal nerves èParasympathetic System
is called craniosacral division of the autonomic
system
Ø The second neuron of parasympathetic series is
found in ganglia smaller than those of sympathetic
system near or within the effector organs
Ø Chemical mediator released by pre- & post-
ganglionic nerve endings is acetylcholine
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Degeneration & Regeneration of Nerve Tissue
Ø Neurons usually do not divide & their degeneration
represents a permanent loss
Ø Neuronal processes in the CNS are within very
narrow limits, re-growth through the synthetic
activity of their perikaryons.
Ø Peripheral nerve fibers can regenerate if their
perikaryons are not destroyed
Ø The neurons functionally connected to dead neuron do
not die, except for those with only one link è the isolated
neuron undergoes transneuronal degeneration
Ø Neuroglia of CNS , Schwann cells & ganglionic satellite
cells of PNS are able to divide by mitosis
Ø Spaces in the CNS left by nerve cells lost by disease or
injury are invaded by neuroglia
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