The Nervous

System
By Dr. Mary E. Boles
 The Human Nervous System: Structure
•The human nervous system consists of:
• Central nervous system (CNS) – the brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system (PNS) – all of the nerves in the
body

•Information is sent through the nervous system as electrical

impulses – these are electrical signals that pass along nerve
cells known as neurons
A bundle of neurons is known as a nerve

•The nerves spread out from the central nervous system to all other
regions of the body and importantly, to all of the sense organs
• The CNS, therefore, acts as a central coordinating
center for the impulses that come in from (or are sent out
to) any part of the body
Adaptations of neurons
•Neurons have a cell body (where the nucleus and main organelles are found) and cytoplasmic extensions
from this body called axons and dendrites
• The axon is the main long fiber of the neuron

•Some human neurons have axons over a meter in length (but only 1 - 4 micrometers wide)
• This is far more efficient than having multiple neurones to convey information from the CNS to
effectors – less time is wasted transferring electrical impulses from one cell to another

•The axon is insulated by a fatty myelin sheath with small uninsulated sections along its length
(called nodes of Ranvier)
• This means that the electrical impulse does not travel down the whole axon, but jumps from
one node to the next
•Many extensions called dendrites extend out from the cell body of the neurone and at the far end of the
axon
• This means neurones can connect to many other neurones and receive impulses from them,
forming a network for easy communication
To sum up:

Dendrites – receive information (either from receptor cells or other nerve cells), conducting
towards the cell body (~200 dendrites/cell body)

Cell body – location of the nucleus, high metabolic rate (so contains mitochondria)

Axon– may be 1m long, very thin, conducts the impulse towards other neurons or effectors, starts
at axon hillock, the smaller the neuronal diameter, the faster the neuronal transmission

Nodes of Ranvier– the unmyelinated sections of a myelinated neuron, impulses “jump” between
the nodes of Ranvier

Schwann cell (Glial cells) – responsible for the myelin synthesis

The myelin sheath - Protects the nerves from other electrical impulses.
Also, it speeds up the time it takes for a nerve to traverse an axon.
Types of neurons
There are three main types of neurons
1) Sensory neurons
Carry impulses from sense organs to the CNS (brain or
spinal cord)
2) Relay neurons
Are found inside the CNS and connect sensory and
motor neurons
3) Motor neurons
Carry impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles or
glands)

How to identify the three types of neurons

Sensory neurons are long and have a cell body
branching off the middle of the axon
Relay neurons are short and have a small cell body at
one end with many dendrites branching off it
Motor neurons are long and have a large cell body at
one end with long dendrites branching off it
Synapses
Nerve impulses are
transmitted via branches
called synapses. The
synapses are connectors…
hooking dendrites and
axons from one neuron to
another.

The number of synapses

influences transmission.
That number can decrease
with disease, lack of
stimulation, drug use, etc.
 The Somatic Nervous System
The somatic system serves the skin, skeletal muscles, and tendons.

The brain is always involved in voluntary muscle actions but somatic system reflexes
are automatic and may not require involvement of the brain.

• nerves running to skeletal muscle system (under voluntary control)

• motor neurons → voluntary effectors (skeletal muscle)

• control exists in the cerebrum & cerebellum (coordination in the brain)

 The Autonomic Nervous System
All autonomic nerves are motor nerves that regulate the organs of the body without
conscious control; involuntary

Control exists in the medulla (Coordination in the brain)

Effectors are smooth muscle (digestive system), cardiac muscle (heart) and glands
(exocrine & endocrine)

Responsible for maintaining homeostasis during times of rest and during

emergencies.

It consists of two parts: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

 Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic NS Parasympathetic NS

Fight or Flight (like being chased by Rest and Digest (Sleeping and healing)
zombies)

Increase blood pressure, heart rate, Decrease blood pressure heart rate, sweating
sweating
Eye Pupils Dilate Eye Pupils Constrict

Decrease digestion and elimination Increase digestion and elimination

Muscle breakdown (Catabolic) Muscle build up (Anabolic)

Contraction of bladder sphincter Relaxation of bladder sphincter

(Decreased Urine) (Increased Urine)
Saliva reduction Saliva Increased
Disorders Associated With the Nervous System

● Parkinson’s Disease: inadequate

production of dopamine in the brain causes
involuntary muscle contractions and
tremors; can be partially alleviated with L-
dopa (synthetic dopamine)

● Alzheimer’s Disease: decrease in CNS

levels of acetylcholine
● Multiple Sclerosis:

Degeneration of the Myelin sheath; Many symptoms, partial

paralysis, double vision, speech problems
Thank
You