Section 9Section 9

The Nervous System

2

LIU Chuan Yong

刘传勇

Institute of Physiology

Medical School of SDU

Tel 88381175 (lab)

88382098 (office)

Email: liucy@sdu.edu.cn

Website: www.physiology.sdu.edu.cn

Reference – Website and Reference – Website and TextbookTextbook

Chapter 29. Cells in Nervous Chapter 29. Cells in Nervous System and Their FunctionSystem and Their Function

NeurocyteNeuroglia (Glia cell)

The Nervous System

• Components– Brain, spinal cord, nerves, sensory receptors

• Responsible for– Sensory perceptions, mental activities,

stimulating muscle movements, secretions of many glands

• Subdivisions– Central nervous system (CNS)– Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Central Nervous System

• Consists of– Brain– Spinal cord

• Brain and spinal cord– Continuous with

each other

Peripheral Nervous System

• Two subcategories– Sensory or afferent

– Motor or efferent• Divisions

– Somatic nervous system

– Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

» Sympathetic

» Parasympathetic

» Enteric

Nervous System Organization

Cells of Nervous System

• Neurons or nerve cells– Receive stimuli and

transmit action potentials

– Organization• Cell body or soma

• Dendrites: Input

• Axons: Output

• Neuroglia or glial cells– Support and protect

neurons

Part 1 Neuron

Typical Neuron has 4 Regions

• Cell Body • Dendrites• Axon• Presynaptic Terminals

Each region is specialized for its particular function

Information flows in a single direction

1. Structure and Function

Neuron Cell Body LocationNeuron Cell Body Location

Most are found in the central nervous system

Gray matter – cell bodies and unmylenated fibers

Nuclei – clusters of cell bodies within the white matter of the central nervous system

Ganglia – collections of cell bodies outside the central nervous system

Functional Classification of Functional Classification of NeuronsNeurons

Sensory (afferent) neurons

Carry impulses from the sensory receptors

Cutaneous sense organs

Proprioceptors – detect stretch or tension

Motor (efferent) neurons

Carry impulses from the central nervous system

Functional Classification of Functional Classification of NeuronsNeurons

Interneurons (association neurons)

Found in neural pathways in the central nervous system

Connect sensory and motor neurons

By function (connections)

Interneuron

Sensory Motor

Neuron ClassificationNeuron Classification

Neuron AnatomyNeuron Anatomy

Extensions outside the cell body Dendrites –

conduct impulses toward the cell body

Axons – conduct impulses away from the cell body

Dendrites of Motor Neurons

• Short, tapering, and diffusely branched processes

• The receptive, or input, regions of the neuron

• Electrical signals are conveyed as graded potentials (not action potentials)

Axons: Structure • Slender processes of uniform diameter arising from the hillock

• Long axons are called nerve fibers

• Usually only one unbranched axon per neuron

• Rare branches, if present, are called axon collaterals

• Axonal terminal – branched terminus of an axon

Axons: Function

• Generate and transmit action potentials

• Secrete neurotransmitters from the axonal terminals

Myelin Sheath

• Whitish, fatty (protein-lipid), segmented sheath around most long axons

• It functions in:– Protection of the axon

– Electrically insulating fibers from one another

– Increasing the speed of nerve impulse transmission

Myelin

• CNS: oligodendrogliaor

oligodendrocytes

• PNS: Schwann cells ~

Nodes of Ranvier • Gaps in the

myelin sheath between adjacent Schwann cells

• The sites where collaterals can emerge

• Saltatory conduction

Myelin Sheath and Neurilemma: Formation

• Formed by Schwann cells in the PNS• A Schwann cell:

– Encloses the axon with its plasma membrane

– Concentric layers of membrane make up the myelin sheath

• Neurilemma （神经鞘）– remaining nucleus and cytoplasm of a Schwann cell

Myelin Sheath and

Neurilemma: Formation

Figure 11.5a-d

Unmyelinated Axons• A Schwann cell surrounds nerve fibers but

coiling does not take place

• Schwann cells partially enclose 15 or more axons

Axons of the CNS• Both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers are

present

• Myelin sheaths are formed by oligodendrocytes

• Nodes of Ranvier are widely spaced

• There is no neurilemma

2. Function of Nerve Fibers2. Function of Nerve Fibers

• conducting action potential

• 1) Characteristic

physiological integration (anesthetic and

tetrodotoxin, TTX)

insulation

two direction

no fatigue

. Conducting Action PotentialConducting Action Potential

2). velocities of AP propagation:

– 0.5~120m/s

– The factors that influence the AP propagation Diameter

Myelin sheath

Temperature

3). Classification of NF3). Classification of NF

Efferent nerve

– A, A, A, A; B, C.

Afferent nerve

– I, II, III, IV.

4) Axoplasmic transport4) Axoplasmic transportThe concept: Various organelles and materials is

moved from the cell body to the axon and its terminals in order to maintain the structure and function of the cell axon.

The mechanisms: Cytoskeletal filaments in the axon and cell body, which serve as the rails along which the transport occurs, are linked by proteins to the substances and organelles being moved.

Axoplasmic transportAxoplasmic transport

Anterograde axoplasmic transport– ~ fast axoplasmic transport: 410mm/day,

mitochondria, vesicles, secretory granule.

– ~ slow axoplasmic transport:1-12 mm/d, cytoskeletal elements & soluble proteins

Retrograde axoplasmic transport：– 205mm/d,

– NGF, tetanic toxin, horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

Fig. Axopasmic transport Fig. The method of horseraidish peroxidase

5) Trophic action of the nerve 5) Trophic action of the nerve to the targetto the target

The motor nerve release some substance that has trophic action on the skeletal muscle

The denervated muscle does not receive nerve signals and due to this, muscle atrophy begins. – After two months, the muscle fibers degenerate

and denervation atrophy follows. – Fibrous tissue replaces the muscle

II Supporting Cells: Neuroglia

Ependymal Cell

Microglia

Oligodendrocyte

Astrocyte

Martini, F. Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, Fig 12-6.

Neuroglia of CNS

• Astrocytes– Regulate extracellular brain fluid composition– Promote tight junctions to form blood-brain barrier

• Ependymal Cells– Line brain ventricles and spinal cord central canal– Help form choroid plexuses that secrete cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Neuroglia of CNS

• Microglia– Specialized macrophages

• Oligodendrocytes– Form myelin sheaths if surround axon

Neuroglia of PNS

• Schwann cells or neurolemmocytes– Wrap around portion of only one axon to form myelin sheath

• Satellite cells– Surround neuron cell bodies in ganglia, provide support and

nutrients