THE NERVOUS TISSUE

Ppt #2
Overview of the Nervous System:
TWO (2) MAIN DIVISIONS:
– Central Nervous System (CNS)
– Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Histology of Nervous Tissue

• TWO (2) TYPES OF

CELLS:
I. NEURONS
II. NEUROGLIA
Ppt #2
 i. NEURON Dendrites

• Neurons are the basic

Soma
Nucleus
Nucleolus

functional units of Trigger zone:

nervous tissue.
Axon hillock
Initial segment

Axon collateral
Axon

• They are highly Direction of

specialized to transmit
signal transmission

Internodes

nerve impulses. Node of Ranvier

Myelin sheath

Schwann cell

Terminal
arborization

Figure 12.4a
Synaptic knobs

(a)
 Structure of a Neuron
Dendrites

• Three (3) main Soma

Nucleus

parts of Neuron:
Nucleolus

Trigger zone:
Axon hillock
Initial segment

– CELL BODY Axon

Axon collateral

– DENDRITES
Direction of

– AXON signal transmission

Internodes

Node of Ranvier

Myelin sheath

Schwann cell

Terminal
arborization

Figure 12.4a
Synaptic knobs

(a)
 TYPES OF NEURONS
ACCORDING TO SHAPE
 TYPES OF NEURONS
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

i. SENSORY or AFFERENT NEURONS

ii. MOTOR or EFFERENT NEURONS
iii. INTERNEURONS or ASSOCIATION
NEURONS

12-7
ii. NEUROGLIA or GLIA
-Supporting Cells
SUPPORTING CELLS OF THE
CNS
SUPPORTING CELLS OF THE
PNS
 Myelination of Axon

• in PNS, Schwann cell spirals repeatedly around a single

nerve fiber

• in CNS – Oligodendrocytes reaches out to myelinate

several nerve fibers in its immediate vicinity

12-11
CLUSTER OF NEURAL CELL
BODIES
– GANGLION
• A cluster of neural bodies located in the PNS

– NUCLEUS
• A cluster of neuronal cell bodies located in the
CNS

12-12
 BUNDLES OF AXONS

 NERVE
- A bundle of axons that is located in the PNS

TRACT
- A bundle of axons that is located in the CNS

12-13
 HISTOLOGY OF THE
CEREBRUM
• GRAY MATTER
– Located peripherally
Six (6) layers:
i. Molecular Layer
ii. External Granular Layer
iii. External Pyramidal Layer
iv. Internal Granular Layer
v. Internal Pyramidal Layer
vi. Multiform Layer
12-14
• WHITE MATTER
– Located centrally
– Consists of myelinated nerve fibers or axons
 HISTOLOGY OF THE
CEREBELLUM
• GRAY MATTER: outer layer
(3) layers:
i. Molecular Layer
-outer layer
ii. Purkenjie Layer
-middle layer
iii. Granular Layer
-innermost layer

12-17
• WHITE MATTER
– Consists of myelinated nerve fibers or
axons
HISTOLOGY OF THE SPINAL CORD
• GRAY MATTER
– Located centrally
– Symmetrical H- shaped or a butterfly shaped
– Consists of cell bodies of neurons, dendrites,
unmyelinated axons, and neuroglia
• Subdivided into regions called horns:
i. Posterior (dorsal) gray horns
ii. Anterior (ventral) gray horns
iii. Lateral gray horns
• Other structure:
- Gray commissure
- Anterior commissure
- Central canal
• WHITE MATTER
– Located peripherally
– Consists of myelinated axons grouped into
tracts:
• Sensory (ascending) Tracts
• Motor (descending) Tracts
– Organized into regions called columns:
i. Anterior white columns
ii. Posterior white columns
iii. Lateral white columns