The nervous system

The nervous system

The nervous system can be organized by anatomical or functional
divisions.
A. Nervous system is divided anatomically into the central nervous
system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the
peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes the nerves outside
the CNS and their associated ganglia.
B. Nervous system is divided functionally into a sensory component,
which transmits electrical impulses (signals) to the CNS, and a motor
component, which transmits impulses from the CNS to various
structures of the body.
C. Nervous tissue contains two types of cells: nerve cells (neurons),
which conduct electrical impulses, and glial (neuroglial) cells, which
support, nurture, and protect the neurons.
Supporting cells of the CNS (neuroglia cells) :
1-Oligodenderocytes present in white and gray matter.
2-Astrocytes stellate morphology.
3-Ependymal cells line ventricles .
4-Microglia highly phagocytic cells.
Supporting cells of the PNS. Schwann cells :
1-Satellite schwann cells surround cell bodies in ganglia.
2- Ensheathing schwann cells surround unmyelinated axons and
produce the myelin sheath around axons.
**Nerves are cordlike bundles of nerve fibers surrounded by
connective tissue sheaths
** Connective tissue investments
1. Epineurium is the layer of fibrous dense connective tissue (fascia)
that forms the external coat of the nerves.
2. Perineurium surrounds each bundle of nerve fibers (fascicle). Its
inner surface consists of layers of flattened cells joined by tight
junctions (zonulae occludentes) that prohibit passage of most
macromolecules.
3. Endoneurium is a thin layer of reticular fibers, produced mainly
by Schwann cells, that surrounds individual nerve fibers.
Nerve
A higher magnification of a transverse section of the nerve shows
the myelinated nerve fibers. The axons are thin, dark central
structures, surrounded by the washed-out remnants of myelin, the
protein network with peripheral radial lines. The nuclei and cell
membranes of the Schwann cells are peripheral to the myelinated
axon . The crescent shape of the Schwann cells that encircle the
axons allows their identification.
Myelinated Nerve Fibers
Schwann cells surround the axons in peripheral nerves and form a
myelin sheath.
In the longitudinal section, the myelin sheath is a thick, black
band surrounding a lighter, central axon . the myelin sheath exhibits
discontinuity that represent the nodes of Ranvier.
1-epineurium
2- perineurium
3-endoneurium

Nerve T.S.
Endoneurium

Nerve T.S.
1- Nucleus of Schwan
Cell
2- axon
3- endoneurium
4- perineurium

Nerve T.S.
Cerebellum
The cerebellar cortex exhibits numerous deeply convoluted folds
called cerebellar folia separated by sulci . The cerebellum consists of
an outer gray matter or cortex and an inner white matter. Three
distinct cell layers are distinguished in the cerebellar cortex: an outer
molecular layer with few and small neuronal cell bodies and fibers
that extend parallel to the length of the folium, a central or middle
Purkinje cell layer, and an inner granular layer with small neurons.
The Purkinje cells are pyriform, or pyramidal, in shape with ramified
dendrites that extend into the molecular layer.
The white matter forms the core of each cerebellar folium and
consists of myelinated nerve fibers, or axons. The axons are the
afferent and efferent fibers of the cerebellar cortex.
The Purkinje cells form the Purkinje cell layer, with their prominent
nuclei and nucleoli, and are arranged in a single row between the
molecular cell layer and the granular cell layer. The large “flask-
thick dendrites that shaped” bodies of the Purkinje cells exhibit
branch throughout the molecular cell layer to the cerebellar surface.
The molecular cell layer contains basket cells with unmyelinated
axons that course horizontally. Axons of the granule cells in the
granular cell layer extend into the molecular layer and also course
horizontally as unmyelinated axons.
The granular cell layer contains small granule cells with dark-staining
nuclei.
 5

1 2
3
4

1-molicular cell layer

2- Purkinje cell layer
3- granular cell layer
4-Basket cell Cerebellum
5- granular cell
 1
1-molicular cell layer
2
2- perkangi cell layer
3- granular cell layer

Cerebellum
 1
2

1-molicular cell layer

2- Purkinje cell layer
3- granular cell layer 3

Cerebellum
 1
2

1-molicular cell layer

2- Purkinje cell layer 3
3- granular cell layer
4- white matter

Cerebellum
Cerebral Cortex: Gray Matter

The most superficial is the molecular layer (1). Overlying the

molecular cell layer is the delicate connective tissue of the brain, the
pia mater . The peripheral portion of molecular layer is composed
predominantly of neuroglial cells and horizontal cells of Cajal.

The external granular layer(2) contains different types of neuroglial

cells and small pyramidal cells. The pyramidal cells get progressively
larger in successively deeper layers of the cortex. The apical dendrites
of the pyramidal Cells are directed toward the periphery of the cortex,
whereas their axons extend from the cell bases.
In the external pyramidal layer (3), medium-sized pyramidal cells
predominate. The internal granular layer (4) is a thin layer and
contains mainly small granule cells, some pyramidal cells, and
neuroglia that form complex connections with the pyramidal cells.

The internal pyramidal layer (5) contains neuroglial cells and the
largest pyramidal cells, especially in the motor area of the cerebral
cortex.
The deepest layer is the multiform layer (6) that is adjacent to the
white matter of the cerebral cortex. The multiform layer contains
intermixed cells of varying shapes and sizes, such as the fusiform cells,
granule cells, stellate cells, and cells of Martinotti. Bundles of axons
enter and leave the white matter.
 1
1- pia matter with blood vessels
2- molecular layer
3- external granular layer

Cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex
 1
1- pia matter with blood vessels
2- molecular layer
3- external granular layer
2

Cerebral cortex
1- bundles of axons
2- multiform layer
2

Cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex