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Understanding Nervous System: Functions & Cell Types

Explore nervous tissue structure, CNS vs. PNS functions, neuron anatomy, and glial cells in this comprehensive guide to the nervous system. Learn about the sensory, integrative, and motor functions that enable responses to stimuli.

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Understanding Nervous System: Functions & Cell Types

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  1. Nervous System Objectives: Identify structures of the nervous system. Explain differences in the function of the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system.

  2. D. Nervous Tissue • Nervous tissue is • found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. • made up of: • Neurons: nerve cells (bundles of axons) • Neuroglial cells: helper cells • “glia” = glue • Support and bind components of nervous tissue to each other and to blood vessels • Function similarly to connective tissue in other organ systems

  3. Parts of a Neuron • Sketch neuron and label parts.

  4. Nervous System • Organs of this system are divided into 2 groups: • Central Nervous System (CNS) • Brain • Spinal cord • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) • Composed of the nerves (peripheral nerves) that connect the CNS to other body parts • Functions of the nervous system: • Sensory • Integrative • Motor

  5. 1. Sensory Function • Sensory receptors at the ends of peripheral neurons: • Gather info by detecting changes inside and outside the body. • Inside: temperature and oxygen concentration • Outside: light and sound intensities • Convert info into nerve impulses (electrochemical changes) which are transmitted along peripheral nerves to the CNS

  6. 2. Integrative Function • Nerve impulses are integrated (brought together) in the CNS. • Allows us to make conscious or subconscious decisions.

  7. 3. Motor Function • Peripheral nerves carry impulses from the CNS to effectors (responsive structures). • Effectors are NOT part of the nervous system, but include muscles and glands.

  8. Motor Function • Motor functions can be divided into 2 groups: • Somatic nervous system • Consciously controlled (voluntary) • Controls skeletal muscle • Autonomic nervous system: • Involuntary • Includes heart, smooth muscle, and various glands

  9. Nervous System Function Recap • Detects changes inside and outside the body, • Makes decisions based on the information received, and • Stimulates muscles or glands to respond. • What is the purpose of this process?????

  10. Neuroglial Cells • Functions: • Fill spaces • Provide structural frameworks • Produce myelin • Carry on phagocytosis • Vary from CNS to PNS • Table: Type of Cell, Location, Function, Other specific info

  11. CNS Neuroglial Cells • Greatly outnumber neurons in the CNS (think worker ants vs. Queen ant) • Microglial cells • Scattered throughout CNS • Support neurons and phagocytize bacterial cells and cellular debris • Oligodendrocytes • Occur in rows along nerve fibers • Provide layers of myelin around axons within brain and spinal cord

  12. CNS Neuroglial Cells, continued…. • Astrocytes • Found between neurons and blood vessels • Provide structural support, help regulate nutrients and ions in tissues • Form scar tissue to fill spaces after CNS injuries • Ependymal cells • Form epithelial-like membrane in parts of the brain (choroid plexuses) • Form inner linings that enclose ventricles in the brain and central canal in the spinal cord

  13. CNS Neuroglial Cells

  14. PNS Neuroglial cells • Schwann cells: form myelin sheath around axons

  15. Neurons • Vary in size and structure, but have common features: • Cell Body • Dendrites • Axon • Mature neurons do not divide, but neural stem cells can divide and form neurons or neuroglial cells.

  16. 1. Cell Body • Contains normal cellular structures (golgi apparatus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, cell membrane, etc.) • Neurofibrils – fine threads that extend into the axon • Nissl bodies (chromatophilic substances) • Membranous sacs in the cytoplasm • Similar to rough ER • Ribosomes on Nissl bodies synthesize ______

  17. 2. Dendrites • Usually short and highly branched (dendr = ?) • The main receptive surfaces for receiving communication from axons of other neurons

  18. 3. Axons • Arise from a slight elevation of the cell body, called the axonal hillock. • Conduct nerve impulses away from the cell body • Contains many mitochondria, microtubules, and neurofibrils • Originates as a single structure, but may have branches, especially at the end to interact with receptive surfaces of other cells

  19. PNS Axons • Enclosed in myelin sheaths composed of many Schwann cells • Myelin is a lipoprotein. • Neurilemma sheath surrounds the myelin sheath • Nodes of Ranvier – narrow gaps in the myelin sheath between the Schwann cells

  20. Classification of Neurons • Classification based on Structural differences: • Bipolar neurons • Unipolar neurons • Multipolar neurons • Classification based on Functional differences: • Sensory neurons (afferent neurons) • Interneurons (association or internuncial neurons) • Motor neurons (efferent neurons)

  21. Structural Differences • Sketch the neurons below. Notes on the next 3 slides:

  22. Structural Differences, cont….. • Bipolar: • 2 processes • Axon • Dendrite • Found in specialized parts of the eyes, nose, and ears

  23. Structural Differences, cont….. • Unipolar: • 1 process divides into 2 branches, which function as a single axon • 1 branch (peripheral process) associated with dendrites • Other branch (central process) enters brain or spinal cord

  24. Structural Differences, cont….. • Multipolar: • Many processes arising from cell body: • 1 axon • Many dendrites • Most neurons whose cell bodies lie in the brain or spinal cord are multipolar. • Direction of impulse is ALWAYS from dendrites to axon.

  25. Functional Differences • Sensory (afferent) neurons • From peripheral body parts to the brain or spinal cord • Have specialized receptor ends at the tips of their dendrites OR • Dendrites closely associated with receptor cells in the skin or sensory organs. • Most are unipolar, but some are bipolar.

  26. Functional Differences, cont….. • Interneurons (association or internuncial neurons) • Lie entirely in the brain or spinal cord • Multipolar and link other neurons • Transmit impulses from one part of the brain or spinal cord to another • Motor (efferent) neurons • Multipolar • Carry nerve impulses from brain or spinal cord to effectors • Stimulate muscles or glands

  27. Copy Diagram on Whiteboard • Identify the direction of nerve impulse. • How can you tell the direction? • Label all dendrites, cell bodies, and axons. • Label each nerve as either sensory neuron, interneuron, or motor neuron. • Color code the CNS and PNS portions of the pathway.

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