Organization of Nervous

system
 The nervous system is
mainly divided into
central nervous system
& peripheral nervous
system.
 Central nervous
system is broadly
divided into brain and
spinal cord.
 The peripheral
nervous system is
divided into somatic
nervous system &
autonomic nervous
system.
Brain
 A typical brain has a
weight of 1.4kgs and
a volume of 1200cc.
 The Brain again
subdivided into
 1. Forebrain( divided
into Telencephalon &
Diencephalon)
 2. Mid brain
 3. Hind brain
1. Forebrain
 The forebrain is divided
into:-
a. Telencephalon
 Consist of Cerebral
Hemisphere i.e. Cerebrum
& their interconnections
i.e. Corpus Callosum.
b. Diencephalon
 Upper 2/3 formed by
Thalamus
 Lower 1/3 by
Hypothalamus.
2. Mid brain/Mesencephalon:
 Divided into 2 parts by
Aqueduct of Sylvius
 Divided into 2 parts by
Aqueduct of Sylvius
a. Cerebral Peduncle:
it is the ventral Part.
– Comprises of
tegmentum, substantia
nigra & basic peduncle
b. Tectum: it is the
dorsal part
– It Constitute of superior
& inferior colliculi.
3. Hind brain/ Rombencephalon
 It comprises of pons,
medulla oblongota &
cerebellum
 The midbrain, pons &
medulla constitute the brain
stem.
 The cranial nerves are part of
somatic nervous system
situated in the brain stem
 1. in Midbrain –III & IV
nerves.
 2. in Pons – V,VI,VII & VIII
Nerves
 3. in Medulla IX,X,XI & XII
Nerves.
B. Peripheral Nervous System
 It is divided into
 1. Somatic Nervous
System &
 2. Autonomic nervous
System
 Somatic Nervous system
consist of 31 pair of
Spinal Nerve &12 pair of
Cranial Nerves.
 Autonomic Nervous
System(ANS) consist
of Sympathetic
Nervous system &
Parasympathetic
Nervous System.
Cranial Nerves
Cranial Nerves
 There are 12 pair of
Cranial Nerves
 I. Olfactory Nerve
 II. Optic Nerve
 III. Oculomotor Nerve
 IV. Trochlear Nerve
 V.Trigeminal Nerve
 VI.Abducens Nerve
 VII. Facial Nerve
 VIII. Vestibulocochlear
Nerve
 IX. Glossopharyngeal
Nerve
 X. Vagus Nerve
 XI. Spinal Acessory
Nerve
 XII. Hypoglossal Nerve
 The cranial nerves are
situated in the brain
stem
 1. in Midbrain –III & IV
nerves.
 2. in Pons – V,VI,VII &
VIII Nerves
 3. in Medulla IX,X,XI &
XII Nerves.
Layers of Skull
Cranial Meninges
Cranial meninges
 The meninges refer to
the membranous
coverings of the brain
and spinal cord.
 The coverings of brain
are:
– DURA MATTER,
– ARACHNOID MATTER,
– PIA MATTER
Cranial meninges
 These coverings have
major functions:
i. Provide a supportive
framework for the
cerebral and cranial
vasculature.
Cranial meninges
 DURAL FOLDS: The
inner layer of dura matter
extends into the cranial
cavity forming a sheet .
 FALX CEREBRI:
present in the
longitudinal fissure.
Superior saggital sinus
and inferior saggital sinus
lie here.
 TENTORIUM
CEREBELLI: separates
cerebral hemispheres
from cerebellum.
transverse sinus lies here.
 FALX CEREBELLI:
between cerebral
hemispheres in mid
saggital line inferior to
tentorium cerbelli.
Spinal cord
 The spinal cord 
connects the brain to
nerves throughout the
body.
 The spinal cord is a
long, thin, tubular
structure made up of
nervous tissue, which
extends from the
medulla oblongata in
the brainstem to the
lumbar region of the
vertebral column.
 Length of spinal cord is
45 cm
Cross section of spinal cord
 Anterior median fissure.
Posterior median fissure &
central canal in between.
 H shaped grey matter
having DORSAL
[posterior] HORNS,
VENTRAL [ anterior ]
HORNS.
 Surrounding grey
matter is white matter
having:
– Anterior white column,
– Lateral white column ,&
– Dorsal white column.
Spinal Nerves
 31 pairs of spinal
nerves attached to it
by anterior and
posterior roots.
REXED LAMINA
REXED LAMINA
 Rexed divided the
spinal grey matter into
ten layers according to
the histological
characters &
deposition of cells.
 These were named by
him as lamina I to X &
named it as Rexed
Lamina.
REXED LAMINA
 Lamina I to VI:
contained in posterior
horn.
 Lamina VII : between
anterior & posterior
horn.
 Lamina VIII to IX: are in
anterior horn
 Lamina X : situated
near central canal.
 Lamina I : contains fusiform cells, which
receives from Aσ & C fibres.
 Lamina II & III together called Substantia
gelatinosa Rolando(SGR) which contains
small cells , receives from Aσ & C fibres.
 Lamina IV : composed of large cell, receives
thicker fibres from periphery.
 Lamina V : receives light touch & nociceptor*
fibres.
 Lamina VI: receives joints & muscle afferents.
 Lamina VII : connected to cerebellum &
brainstem. It contains pre-ganglionic autonomic
neurons.
 Lamina VIII : composed of neurons which
receive information from above & mainly project
to lamina IX.
 Lamina IX : contains α and γ neurones
 Lamina X : is situated around the central canal.
The Grey matter of the Spinal
Cord
Nuclei of Grey Horn
 Ventral Horn :-Purely
motor. Cell bodies of α,γ,
Renshaw motor
neurons.
 Dorsal Horn :- Purely
sensory.
 Intermedio lateral Horn
: Cell bodies of
autonomic neurons,
(sympathetic system).
 r
The Grey matter of the Spinal
Cord (classification)

The Grey matter of spinal cord is

classified into three columns:
A. Anterior grey
column/anterior horn:
1. α- motor neuron :
2. γ – motor neurons
3. Inter-neurons
B. Lateral
horn/Intermediolateral(IML)
grey column
C. Posterior grey
column/posterior horn
A. Anterior grey
column/anterior horn: it
consist of:-
1. α -motor neuron: also
called as lower motor
neurons whose axons(
Aα fibres) supply the
extrafusal fibres of
skeletal muscles.
Neurons of trunk
muscles are situated
medially & limbs are
situated laterally.
2. γ -motor neurons:
they are small motor
neurons supplying the
intrafusal fibres of
muscle spindle called γ
- motor neurons.
3. Interneurons: They
receive inputs from
various sources and
modify the activity of
alpha- motor neurons
mainly. They are both
excitatory & inhibitory.
B. Lateral
horn/intermediolater
al(IML) grey column:
– It is present on
lateral side of
central canal.
– Contains pre-
ganglionic neurons
of autonomic
nervous system
C. Posterior grey
column/posterior
horn:
– It contains cell
bodies of various
types of afferent
neurons which
gives origins to the
ascending tracts.
Thank you