Histology of nervous tissue

Able to
• identify the neurons
• recognize and identify the specific neurones *
– in the cerebrum
– in the cerebellum
– in the spinal cord
– in the ganglia
– recognize and identify the glial cells
• recognize and identify the special types of glial
cells
– satellite / capsular cells in the ganglia
– Schwann cells in peripheral nerves
 Nervous tissue

supporting cells (glial cells )

nerve cells ( neurone )
Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
Ependymal cells
Microglial cells

Schwann cells
Capsular cells / satellite cells

connective tissue and blood vessels

 nerve cells ( neurone )
cell body
axon
Gray mater

cerebrum

spinal cord

cerebellum ganglia
cell bodies of the neurons can be observed in the gray matter

?
ganglia
DRG / prevertebral / paravertebral / terminal ganglia
cell body
• spherical or polyhedral
cell ( processes )
• with central nucleus,
nucleoli
• Nissl substance in
cytoplasm
Note:-
- neurone
- huge cell body,
- prominent nucleus & nucleoli
- basophilic granular cytoplasm
- the presence of processes
( dendrites, axon )
- neuroglial cells
 nerve cells ( neurone )
cell body
Gray mater

cerebrum
cerebrum ( N 1)
• characteristic feature- presence of sulci and gyri
• peripheral gray matter (cellular) central white matter (less cellular)
gray matter - cell bodies of nerve cells, their processes, supporting cells, synapses
white matter - nerve fibres, axons
identify the neurones in gray matter

*
Slide N 1 W
 fibres

small cells

pyramidal cells

small cells

pyramidal cells

fusiform cells

Cerebrum / neocortex
Slide N 1
Slide N 1
 Pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex

Slide N 1
 nerve cells ( neurone )
cell body
Gray mater

characteristic folia ( naked eye )

cerebellum
cerebellum ( N 7 )
- gray matter – 3 layers
1) outer molecular layer
( stellate/ basket cells )
2) middle Purkinje cell layer – one layered
flask shaped cell with dendrites going into
molecular layer, axons going into granular
layer
3) granular layer with granular cells

- white matter
 piamatter

Slide N 2 - 7
 Slide N 7

wh
ite
ma
tter
 2
1 3
W

Slide N 2 - 7
Slide N 2 - 7
Slide N 2 - 7
Slide N 7
Purkinje cells of cerebellar cortex
note :- characteristic flask shaped cell body
small single axon ( A )
finely branching dendritic tree ( D )

Silver impregnation method

 nerve cells ( neurone )
cell body
Gray mater

spinal cord
 posterior median sulcus

H-shaped central gray matter

central canal

peripheral white matter

Slide N3 11 12 13 anterior median fissure

posterior

W
G

anterior
Slide N3 11 12 13
Slide N3 11 12 13
Ganglion
– Spinal ganglion
– Sympathetic ganglion
– Parasympathetic ganglion
Spinal ganglia ( DRG )
pseudiunipolar cell
cell bodies (huge central nu & nucleolus)
surrounded by satellite cells

Slide N 5
 Slide N 5

• aggregated cell bodies

• widely separated by nerve fibres
 r e s
e fi b satellite cells
rv
ne

r e s
e f ib
rv
ne
cell bodies

Note:-
Rounded cell bodies with capsule cells ( satellite cells )
Aggregates of cell bodies / separated by nerve fibres Slide N 5
unipolar neurones
Slide N 5
Slide N 5
 Sympathetic ganglion
Note.
• cell bodies are evenly distributed.
• multipolar type
Parasympathetic ganglia
• within or near the effector organ
• between two layer of smooth muscles
nerve cells ( neurone )
axon

cell body
axon / nerve fibre
• most neurons have only one axon
• long cylindrical process
• starts from a short pyramid-shaped region, axon
hillock
• plasma membrane is axolemma, content is
axoplasm
• myelinated axon / initial segment
axons / peripheral nerves

• myelinated, wrapped around

by Schwann cells
– node of Ranvier ( discontinuity
between adjoining Schwann
cells )

• nonmyelinated, embedded in
Schwann cells
Node of Ranvier

nerve fibre
the cranial and spinal nerve are surrounded by
connective tissue sheath :-
- epineurium
- perinerium and
- endoneurium

Slide N 9.1
Slide N 4 9
Longitudinal section of nerve
- note typical wavy appearance

Slide N 9
Slide N 4 9
Slide N 4 9
Slide N 4 9
Slide N 4 9
Thank you