CHAPTER 8 PART I NERVOUS SYSTEM

Functions of the nervous system
    1. sensory function
 

    2. integration function

    3. motor function
 
 

    Overall maintains the homeostasis of body
        -with endocrine system

        -homeostasis
 
 

        -what is maintained
 
 
 
 
 

        -what occurs when homeostasis is not maintained

Organization of Nervous System
    Two principles parts
        1. central nervous system
        2. peripheral nervous system

Central Nervous system
    -consists of

    -control center for

    -all body sensations
 

    -all nerve impulses
 

Peripheral Nervous System
    -consists of

    -receptors

    -effectors

Neurology
 
 

Histology
    -two principal kinds of cell
        1. neurons (nerve cells)
 

        2. neuroglial cells
 

Neuroglial Cells
    -features

    -functions of
 
 
 
 
 
 

Neurons
    1. structure
        -variations of
 

        -consists of
            a) cell body
            b) dendrites
            c) axon

    2. Cell Body
            -consists of
 
 

            -lack

    3. Dendrites
        -consist of

        -function to
 

    4. Axons
        -consist of
 
 

        -variation in length
 

        -have side branches

        -distal ends

            -synaptic end bulb

            -functions to

        -nerve fiber

        -many axons are surrounded by

            -myelin sheath

            -white matter

        -unmyelinated axons

-gray matter         -laying down of myelin sheaths
 
 
 

Classification of Neurons

    A. functional classification

        1. sensory neurons
 
 

        2. associative neurons
 
 
 
 
 
 

        3. motor neurons

            -effectors =
 

Physiology of the Neuron

Nerve Impulse
    -general features
 

    -reaction time
 

    -events that occur:

        1. Before anything occurs the neuron has an electric potential difference between the
        outside and the inside of the neurons membrane. This is called the resting state.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        The potential is due to the fact that there are more positive ions on the outside of the
        membrane and more negative ions on the inside.

        2. When a sufficient stimulus (threshold stimulus) is applied to the nerve, the result is a
        change in polarity. This occurs due to a change in the permeability, allowing ions to flow
        across the membrane. The result is a depolarized membrane where the outside is now
        more negative and the inside is now more positive. The change in the polarity is called
        a nerve impulse. The change in polarity only lasts for .001 sec with a resulting
        reestablishment of the original polarity (repolarized).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        3. The next region of the neuron becomes depolarized etc. The nervous impulse then
        spreads down the neuron.

            -what cells can do this

            -excitability

            -refractory period
 

Characteristics of the Nerve Impulse
    1.

    2. all-or-none law
 
 
 

    3.
 

 
    4.
 
 

Speed of the impulse
    -varies
 

    -myelinated neurons

    -unmyelinated neurons
 

Synaptic transmission
    -when an impulse reaches the end of an axon
 

    -synapse

    -synapse is the same as

    -steps of

        1. When the nerve impulse reaches the end of the axon, the synaptic end bulb releases
        the neurotransmitter substance into the synapse.

        2. These chemicals diffuse across the synapse and combine with the receptor sites on
        the adjacent dendrite.

        3. This causes the membrane to depolarize and a new impulse is started on this next
        neuron.

        (An example of a neurotransmitter is acetylcholine which is also involved in muscle
        contraction.

        Certain chemicals act to inhibit the impulse. An example is norepinephrine in the brain's
        neurons. These are useful when a cell is receiving many stimuli. Acts as a buffer.)

        4. Enzymes present in the synapse break down the released neurotransmitters so as to
        stop their effect. Example is acetylcholinesterase.

Clinical Applications

    1. myasthenia gravis
 
 
 
 

    2. curare
 
 
 
 

    3. nerve gas
 
 
 
 
 

    4. Botulism toxin
 
 
 
 

    5. tranquilizers and anesthetics
 
 
 
 

    6. caffeine and nicotine
 

    7. pressure on nerves
 

Regeneration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Organization of Neurons
    -neuronal pools
 
 
 
 
 
 

Disorders Involving Neurons
    1. shingles
        -what is it

        -due to

        -chickenpox

        -caused by

        -herpes zoster

        -what occurs
 

        -what causes

        -results in

    2. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
        -what is it

        -what occurs

        -plaques

        -occurs when

        -symptoms
 

        -remission
 

        -as the disease progresses

        -speed of disease

        -results in
 
 
 

        -cure

        -cause

    3. Poliomyelitis (Polio)
        -called infantile paralysis

        -when occurs

        -caused by

        -virus found

        -what is it

        -symptoms

        -sever cases

        -final result

        -incidence of

            -Salk and Sabin vaccines

Groupings of Neural Tissue
    1. white matter
 

    2. gray matter
 

    3. nerve
 

    4. ganglia
 

    5. tracts
 
 
 

Structure of the Spinal Cord

A. General Features
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

B. Protective Coverings
    1. Vertebral column
 
 
 
 

    2. meninges
 
 

C. Cerebrospinal Fluid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

D. Physical Attachments
 
 
 

Structure of the Brain

    A. General Features
 
 
 
 
 

    B. Principal parts
        1. brainstem
        2. diencephalon
        3. cerebrum
        4. cerebellum

    Brainstem
        1. medulla oblongata
        2. pons
        3. midbrain (mesencephalon)

    Diencephalon
        1. thalamus
        2. hypothalamus

    Cerebrum
        -has four lobes
            1. temporal
            2. frontal
            3. parietal
            4. occipital

    Cerebellum

    C. Protective Coverings
        1. cranial bones

        2. cranial meninges

    D. Cerebrospinal Fluid
        -what is it

        -amount of it

        -description of

        -contains

        -two principal functions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    E. Blood Supply
        -well supplied

        -utilizes

        -most metabolically active

        -use of oxygen

        -interruption of blood flow
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        -glucose use

Parts of the Brain
    A. Brainstem
        1. medulla oblongata
            -what is it

            -location of

            -tracts of
 

            -crossing over
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

            -four cranial nerves

           2. Pons
            -location of

            -size

            -connects

        3. midbrain (mesencephalon)
            -location

             -cranial nerves

    B. Diencephalon
        1. thalamus
            -location

             -description of

            -embedded in

        2. hypothalamus
            -location

            -pituitary gland (hypophysis)
 

            -neurons from it
 
 

    C. Cerebrum
        -size

        -weight

        -number of neurons

        -surface compose of

            -cerebral cortex

        -beneath cerebral cortex

        -development of
 

            -convolutions

            -fissures

            -longitudinal fissure

        -hemispheres

        -corpus collosum

        -lobes of hemispheres
            1. frontal
            2. temporal
            3. parietal
            4. occipital

        -insula

        Divisions of the Gray Matter (of the cerebrum)
            1. olfactory bulb
 

            2. limbic system
 

            3. basal ganglia (cerebral nuclei)
 

            4. cerebral cortex
 
 
 

        White Matter (of the cerebrum)
            -location

            -consists of

            1. associative fibers
 
 
 

            2. commissural fibers
 
 
 
 

            3. projection fibers
 
 
 
 

    D. Cerebellum
        -size

        -location

        -connected to

        -vermis
 

        -hemispheres

        -cortex
 

        -arbor vitae
 

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
        -consists of
 

        -two main parts
            1. afferent system
 
 
 
 

            2. efferent system
 
 
 
 

Efferent System (two parts)
    1. somatic nervous system (SNS)
 
 
 
 

    2. autonomic nervous system (ANS)
 
 
 
 

Autonomic Nervous System (two parts)
    1. sympathetic division

    2. parasympathetic division

    -general functions
 
 
 
 

Nerves
    -description
 

    -two categories
        1. spinal nerves
        2. cranial nerves

Spinal Nerves
    -number of

    -how are named
 

    -consist of
 

Cranial Nerves
    -consist of

    -originate from

    -exit through foramens of skull

    -designated by

    -contain
 
 

Receptors
    -what are they

    -stimuli

    -what sorts of stimuli
 

    -stimulus causes

    -range in structure
 
 
 
 

Effectors