Chapter 8 Nervous System

I. Functions
A. Sensory Input – stimuli interpreted as touch, taste, temperature, smell, sound,
blood pressure, and body position.
B. Integration – CNS processes sensory input and initiates responses categorizing
into immediate response, memory, or ignore
C. Homeostasis – maintains through sensory input and integration by stimulating or
inhibiting other systems
D. Mental Activity – consciousness, memory, thinking
E. Control of Muscles & Glands – controls skeletal muscle and helps control/regulate
smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
II. Divisions of the Nervous system – 2 anatomical/main divisions
A. CNS (Central Nervous System) – consists of the brain and spinal cord
B. PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) – consists of ganglia and nerves outside the brain
and spinal cord – has 2 subdivisions
1. Sensory Division (Afferent) – conducts action potentials from PNS toward
the CNS (by way of the sensory neurons) for evaluation
2. Motor Division (Efferent) – conducts action potentials from CNS toward
the PNS (by way of the motor neurons) creating a response from an effector
organ – has 2 subdivisions
a. Somatic Motor System – controls skeletal muscle only
b. Autonomic System – controls/effects smooth muscle, cardiac muscle,
and glands – 2 branches
• Sympathetic – accelerator “fight or flight”
• Parasympathetic – brake “resting and digesting”

* 4 Types of Effector Organs: skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands.

III. Cells of the Nervous System

A. Neurons – receive stimuli and transmit action potentials to other neurons or effector
organs – consist of a cell body (soma/perikarion), dendrites, and an axon – no
mitotic division
1. Cell body (soma) – contains a nucleus (source of information on protein
synthesis/how to make neurotransmitters), Golgi apparatus (packages
vesicles of neurotransmitters), mitochondria, large number of neurofilaments
and microtubules (separate the ER into distinct areas called nissl bodies
indicating large amount of protein synthesis as ribosomes are the work
benches upon which protein synthesis takes place)
2. Dendrites – short, often highly branching, cytoplasmic extensions of the
soma – function as the receiver of action potentials and carry them toward
the cell body
3. Axon – a long cell process extending from the soma - carry the action
potential away from the cell body – may very in length from millimeters to
more than a meter (spine to foot)
a. axon hillock – attachment site of the axon to the soma – devoid of nissl
bodies – where excitable postsynaptic potentials (electrically charged
ions) gather
B. Types of Neurons
1. Multipolar – have many dendrites and one axon – located mostly in the
CNS as motor neurons
 2. Bipolar – have one dendrite and one axon – located in some sensory
organs (retina of the eye & nasal cavity)
3. Unipolar – have a single axon which divides into two short branches –
located mostly in the sensory division of the PNS
C. Neuroglia (glial cells) – helper cells of the nervous system – do not conduct action
potentials – function in support, nourishment, and protection of neurons – capable of
mitotic division – is the most common cell in the nervous system – only cell in the
nervous system prone to disease (diseases of the nervous system are associated
with some form of damage to these cells, not neurons) – six types
1. Astrocytes – major support of the CNS – common site of CNS tumors –
look like a star with some of their processes reaching out and wrapping
around capillaries (create the blood brain barrier using tight junctions)
2. Ependymal – line the fluid filled cavities of the CNS – produce and move
the cerebral spinal fluid/CSF (clear blood filtrate) – are ciliated – form the
coroid plexus (a joining of capillaries and ependymal cells)
3. Micrroglia – phagocytes (macrophages/”janitor cells”) of the CNS
4. Oligodendrocytes – have processes that reach out forming a mylinated
sheath (multiple layers of phospholipid cell membrane) by wrapping around
(as a covering) axons – found in the CNS
5. Schwan Cells – form mylinated sheath (multiple layers of phospholipid cell
membrane) around axons by wrapping themselves around axons – found in
the PNS
a. Nodes of Ranvier – gaps where the schwan cells/oligodendrocytes meet
but do not completely cover the axon – function in the conduction of action
potentials causing faster (more rapid) conduction
6. Satelite Cells – PNS only – support, nourish, and protect neurons in
ganglion
IV. Electrical Conduction
A. Resting Membrane Potential – when no more K can diffuse out of the cell
because the negative ionic concentration within the cell won’t allow it – equilibrium
B. Local Current – area where Na channels briefly open and allow Na to rush into
the cell – start of depolarization
C. Depolarization – inside of the cell membrane becomes more positive – leads to a
local potential
D. Local Potential – local area depolarization – can go one of 2 ways
1. If threshold is not met repolarization occurs
2. If threshold is met action potential occurs
E. Action Potential – depolarization then repolarization of the entire cell in an all-or-
none fashion – complete charge reversal across the cell membrane – in a nerve cell
is non-detrimental (no loss in intensity from beginning to end)
1. stronger stimulus will produce a greater frequency of action potentials not a
greater amount (size of contraction)
2. differentiation occurs because of frequency of depolarizations – graded
response (light touch vs heavy touch)
3. Unmylinated axons – conduct action potentials more slowly because
depolarization and repolarization must move area by area (in a localized
step-by-step way) across the entire cell (dendrite, soma, & axon) through
the cytoplasm – refractory period (repolarization follows depolarization all
the way down) – 2 meters per second
4. Mylinated axons – conduct action potentials more quickly because the
potentials can jump from node to node (Nodes of Ranvier) instead of
 traveling the whole length of the axon – also called salutatory conduction –
120 meters per second
F. Synapse – junction where the axon of one neuron interacts with another neuron or
effector organ – has several parts
1. presynaptic terminal – end of the axon
2. synaptic cleft – space between the axon and the next neuron of effector
organ (5 thousandths of a mm small)
3. postsynaptic membrane – the membrane of the second neuron (at the
dendrite) or the effector organ
4. synaptic vesicles – located in the presynaptic terminal – produced by the
golgi apparatus – contain chemicals (neurotransmitters) responsible for
inhibiting or causing action potentials
5. neurotransmitters – chemicals stored in the synaptic vesicles that when
released across the synaptic cleft either inhibit or excite action potentials
a. acetylcholine – excitatory/ inhibitory
b. norepinephrine – excitatory/inhibitory
c. others include: serotonin – inhibitory, dopamine – excitatory, gamma-
aminobutyric – inhibitory, glycine – inhibitory, and endorphins (widely
used) – inhibitory

*a & b are the 2 best known

G. Reflexes – involuntary reactions in response to a stimulus that’s applied to a

sensory organ and transmitted to the CNS (not necessarily the brain)
1. Reflex Arc – simplest neural pathway by which a reflex occurs – basic
functional unit/smallest and simplest pathway capable of receiving a
stimulus and yielding a response – consists of 5 components
a. Sensory receptor – initial stimulation happens here →
b. Sensory neuron – transports message →
c. Interneuron – located in the CNS (usually the spinal cord) not part of all
reflexes
d. Motor neuron – transports response message →
e. Effector organ – effects a change (skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscle or
glands)
2. Neural Pathways
a. Converging – two or more neurons synapse with a single neuron
• One or more may say “go” and/or one or more may say “stop” in
either scenario threshold must be reached in order for it to fire and
go
b. Diverging – one neuron with branching axon synapses with two or more
neurons

V. Spinal Cord – located in the vertebral foramen – the cervical and lumbar areas are
enlarged - extends from the foramen magnum to the second lumbar vertebra (end at L2
with the medulary cone) – inferior end of the spinal cord along with the nerves exiting
there are called the cauda equine (horses tail) – consists of peripheral white matter and
central grey matter – has 3 protective coverings called meninges (pia mater, arachnoid
mater, and dura mater)with fluid between called cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) this fluid also
circulates down through a narrow tube like structure in the center of the spinal cord
through the grey matter called the central canal – the space between the wall of the
vertebral foramen and the dura mater is filled with fat and is called the epidural space –
 and the subarachnoid space between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater is where
an intrathecal injection is given
A. White Matter – consists of myelinated axons – if halved each half is organized into 3
columns: dorsal (posterior), ventral (anterior), and lateral – each containing nerve
tracts – there are 2 types of nerve tracts
1. Ascending tracts – consist of axons that conduct action potentials toward
the brain – neurons of these axons located in the grey matter of the spinal
cord
2. Descending tracts – consist of axons that conduct action potentials away
from the brain – neurons of these axons are usually in the primary motor
cortex of the brain
B. Gray Matter – shaped like the letter H with posterior, anterior, and small lateral
horns (only found from T1 thru L1 and are only sympathetic neurons which control
visceral internal organs – motor to cardiac, smooth muscle and glands) – the middle
line of the H is called the gray commissure which allows for communication between
the horns
C. Spinal Nerve – mixed nerves (both afferent and efferent) formed by the joining of
the ventral and dorsal roots laterally to the spinal cord – they exit from the vertebral
column at the intravertebral foramen (lateral space between individual vertebrae)
1. Ventral root – nerves protruding from the anterior horn – motor axons form
rootlets that exit the spinal cord and bundle together to form the nerve –
usually carry action potentials away from the CNS
2. Dorsal root – nerves protruding from the posterior horn – sensory axons
from a bundle separate into rootlets that enter the spinal cord carrying
action potentials to the CNS – contain a swelling (knot) called a dorsal root
ganglion which contain cell bodies of unipolar sensory neurons whose
axons originate in the periphery of the body
D. Spinal Cord Reflexes – stretch reflexes are the simplest reflex, in which muscles
contract in response to stretching force - classic example is the knee-jerk reflex
(patellar reflex) – involves proprioseptors (sense receptors that know the position of
your body at all times) (e.g. anyio spiral rings which wrap around muscle fibers and
sense how much stretch (tension) is occurring)
E. Withdrawal Reflex – (flexor reflex) removes a body part from painful stimulus

VI. Spinal Nerves – 31pair categorized by region (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5

sacral, 1 coccygeal – which spit into dorsal and ventral rami after exiting the vertebral
column at the intravertebral foramen, these then rejoin and are organized into 3
plexuses (switchboard; reorganization of spinal nerves)
A. Cervical Plexus – originates from spinal nerves C1 thru C4 – branches of this
plexus innervate muscles of the hyoid bone, neck skin, and posterior head skin –
most important branch is the phrenic nerve which innervates the diaphragm
B. Brachial Plexus – originates from spinal nerves C5 thru T1 - controls the upper
limbs – contains 5 major nerves
1. Axillary nerve – innervates 2 shoulder muscles along with the skin covering
them
2. Radial nerve – innervates muscles of the posterior forearm along with the
skin covering it and the hand
3. Musculocutaneous nerve – innervates the anterior muscles of the arm and
the skin covering the radial surface of the arm
4. Ulnar nerve – innervates two anterior muscles, and most intrinsic hand
muscles, and skin covering the ulnar side of hand – can be damaged easily
 where it passes posterior to the medial side of the elbow (hitting your funny
bone)
5. Median nerve – innervates most anterior forearm muscles, some intrinsic
hand muscles, and skin covering the radial side of hand
C. Lumbosacral Plexus – originates from spinal nerves L1 thru S4 – controls lower
limbs – 4 major nerves
1. Obturator nerve – innervates the muscles of the medial thigh and skin
covering them
2. Femoral nerve – innervates the anterior thigh muscles and skin over
anterior thigh and medial leg
3. Tibial nerve – innervates posterior thigh muscles, anterior and posterior leg
muscles, most intrinsic foot muscles and skin covering the sole of the foot
4. Common fibular nerve – innervates lateral thigh and leg muscles, some
intrinsic foot muscles, and skin covering the anterior and lateral leg as-well-
as dorsal surface (top) of the foot
*sciatic nerve – tibial and common fibular nerves bound together in a connective
tissue sheath

VII. Brain – 4 major regions

A. Brainstem – connection of spinal cord to brain – contains several nuclei which
control vital functions like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing – damages to small
areas can result in death – location of nuclei for all but the first two cranial nerves – 3
main parts
1. Medulla Oblongata – most inferior portion of the brainstem – located just
inside the cranial vault at the magnum foramen – is continuous with the
spinal cord (contains ascending and descending nerve tracts) – has discrete
nuclei – specific functions: regulation of heart rate, blood vessel diameter,
breathing, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, balance and
coordination – has two prominent enlargements on the anterior surface
called pyramids which contain descending nerve tracts associated with
voluntary skeletal muscle control
2. Pons – immediately superior to the medulla oblongata – also contains
ascending and descending nerve tracts and several nuclei some of which
also effect breathing, swallowing, and balance – others control chewing and
salivating – also functions as a relay bridge between cerebrum and
cerebellum
3. Midbrain – superior to the pons, is the smallest region of the brainstem –
consists largely of ascending and descending tracts, however it also
contains nuclei involved in coordination of eye movement, control of pupil
diameter and lens shape – has 2 areas of interest
a. Corpra quadrigemina – four mounds on the posterior part of the midbrain
called colliculi
• 2 inferior colliculi – major relay centers for auditory nerve pathways
to CNS
• 2 superior colliculi – involved in visual reflexes like turning head
toward; a tap on the shoulder, bright flash of light, or a sudden loud
noise
b. Substantianigra – black nuclear mass which is part of the basil nuclei –
involved in regulation of general body movements
B. Reticular Formation – group of nuclei scattered through out the brainstem –
involved with regulating cyclical motor function like respiration, walking and chewing
– major component to the reticular activating system which plays an important role in
 arousing and maintaining consciousness and regulating sleep & wake cycle – if
damaged can result in a coma – general anesthetics function to suppress it

VIII. Diencephalon – region of the brain between the brainstem and the cerebrum – 3 main
components
A. Thalamus – the largest part of the diencephalon – consists of a cluster of nuclei –
with two large lateral parts connected in the center by an intermediate mass called
the interthalamic adhesion (yo-yo) – influences mood and registers as unlocalized,
uncomfortable perception of pain
B. Epithalamus – small area superior and posterior to the thalamus – consists of a few
small nuclei involved in emotional and visceral response to odors – also includes the
pineal body which is an endocrine gland that may influence the onset of puberty and
play a role in controlling long-term cycles that are influenced by light-and-dark cycle
C. Hypothalamus – most inferior part of the diencephalon – contains several small
nuclei important to homeostasis – plays a central role in control of body temperature,
hunger, and thirst – sexual pleasure, feeling relaxed “good” after a meal, rage, and
fear are related to the hypothalamus which is related to the limbic system (primitive
brain) – related to inappropriate emotional responses – controls secretion of
hormones from the pituitary gland
1. Infundibulum – funnel shaped stalk from the hypothalamus to the pituitary
gland – only connects them
2. Mamillary bodies – form the external visible swellings on the posterior
portion of the hypothalamus – involved in the emotional response to odor
and memory

IX. Cerebellum – (little brain) attached to the brainstem by cerebellar peduncles at the
pons and midbrain – consist of gray matter and white matter (looks like a tree) called
the arbor vitae – has gyri and sulci only smaller and more compact then the cerebrum –
involved in balance, muscle tone, and coordination of fine motor movement – major
function: comparator – responsible for initiation of voluntary movement (skeletal muscle)
by receiving information from proprioceptive neurons it then compares intended
movement to real movement and makes adjustments necessary for smooth movement
(coordination) – alcohol inhibits function – accelerator for movement (see Basal Nuclei)

X. Cerebrum – largest part of the brain – has two hemispheres (right and left) separated
by the longitudinal fissure connected at the base by the corpus callosum – gyri (raised
fold) and sulci (intervening grooves) increase the surface-to-volume ratio – divided into
8 lobes
A. Frontal lobes – (2, one for each hemisphere) – important in control of voluntary
motor functions, motivation, aggression, mood, and olfactory reception – site of the
primary motor cortex which is located directly anterior to the central sulcus (dividing
line (sulci) of the frontal and parietal lobes) – also the site of Broca’s Area (motor
speech area) where the physical movement of speech is controlled (located in the
inferior/posterior portion of the frontal lobe)
B. Parietal lobes – (again 2, one for each hemisphere) – principle center for reception
and conscious perception of most sensory information (touch, pain, temperature,
balance, and taste) – site of Wernicke’s Area (sensory speech area) – if damaged
speaks nonsense (no coherent sentences) located in the inferior potion of the
parietal lobe – also the site of somatic sensory cortex directly posterior to the central
sulcus
C. Occipital lobes – (2) – function in reception and perception of visual input
 D. Temporal lobes – (2) – involved in olfactory & auditory perception and in memory –
also abstract thought and judgment

XI. Basil Nuclei – group of functionally related nuclei – have two primary nuclei corpus
striatum (located deep in the cerebrum) and substantia nigra (darkly pigmented cells in
the midbrain) – important in planning, organizing, and coordinating motor movement
and posture – brake for motor movement (see Cerebellum) – disorders (Parkinson’s
and Cerebral Palsy) result in difficulty rising from a sitting position and initiating walking,
increased muscle to and exaggerated, uncontrolled movements when at rest and/or
resting tremors

XII. Limbic System – olfactory cortex + deep cortical regions + nuclei of the cerebrum and
diencephalon - make up the limbic system (primitive brain) – control responses
necessary for survival (hunger, thirst, visceral responses to emotion, motivation, mood)
– lesions in the limbic system cause voracious appetite, increased (often perverse)
sexual activity, and docility (including loss of normal fear and anger responses)

XIII. Memory – 3 types

A. Sensory – brief retention of sensory input received by the brain for short evaluation
then acted on
B. Short-term – with in the temporal lobe – information retained for a few seconds to a
few minutes – limited to about 7 bits of info (why phone numbers are 7 digits)
C. Long-term – involves physical change in neurons by reaching out and making new
connections – these neurons are called memory engrams

XIV. Brain Waves – recorded by an electroencephalogram (ECG) – different types of

electrical activity of the brain - 4 types
A. Alpha waves, often seen in a relaxed individual with eyes closed
B. Beta waves, typical of an alert individual
C. Theta waves, seen in the first stage of sleep
D. Delta waves, characteristic of deep sleep

XV. Meninges and Cerebrospinal Fluid

A. Meninges – connective tissue membranes covering and protecting the brain and
spinal cord (CNS) – 3 layers
1. Dura mater – (tough mother) – outer most covering
 Subdural space – contains a small amount of serous fluid
2. Arachnoid mater – very thin wispy and web like
 Subarachnoid space – filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CFS)
3. Pia mater – (affectionate mother) – tightly bound to the surface of the brain
and spinal cord
B. Ventricles – (4) CNS fluid filled cavities
1. Lateral ventricles – (2, one in each hemisphere) – formed by the corpus
callosum and fornix – separated by a thin membrane called the septum
pellucidum – lined by choroid plexus (small mass of capillaries in
conjunction with ependymal cells) which produce the cerebrospinal fluid
 Foramen of Monro
2. Third Ventricle – small midline cavity located in the center of the
diencephalon between the two halves of the thalamus
 Cerebral Aqueduct
 3. Fourth Ventricles – located at the base of the cerebellum – continuous with
the central canal of the spinal cord (passes through an area called the
Foramen of Magendie)
C. Cerebrospinal Fluid – (CSF) is a clear blood filtrate that bathes the brain and spinal
cord – helps create a protective cushion around the CNS – is produced by the
choroid plexus (thin layer lining the ventricles of the brain – consist of capillaries and
ependymal cells) that lines all ventricles of the brain – is returned to the blood by
arachnoid granulations (small masses of arachnoid tissue (mater) that penetrates
the superior sagital sinus, which is a dural venous sinus located in the longitudinal
fissure)

∆ Flow of CSF in the CNS

 Start at the lateral ventricles → flows down through the foramen of Monro → and into
the third ventricle → then flows down through the cerebral aqueduct → and into the
fourth ventricle → here it splits: some of the CSF flows down through the foramen of
Magendie and into the central canal of the spinal cord; some of the CSF exits through
small openings in the roof and walls of the fourth ventricle and into the subarachnoid
space → where it washes over the spinal cord and up-and-around the brain until it
reaches arachnoid granulations → where it is filtered back into venous blood through
the superior sagital sinus

XVI. Cranial Nerves (12)

Old I Olfactory S - Smell

Opie II Optic S – Vision
Occasionally III Oculomotor M – 4 extrinsic eye muscles, upper eyelid; P - pupil, lens
Tries IV Trochlear M – 1 extrinsic eye muscle
Trig V Trigeminal S – face, teeth; M – muscles of mastication
And VI Abducens M – 1 extrinsic eye muscle
Feels VII Facial S – Taste; M – muscles of facial expression; P – salivary & tear glands
Very VIII Vestibulocochlear S – Hearing and balance
Gloomy IX Glossopharyngeal S – Taste & touch (back of tongue); M – pharyngeal muscles; P –
salivary glands
Vague X Vagus S – Pharynx, larynx, and viscera; M – palate, pharynx, and larynx; P –
viscera of thorax and abdomen
And XI Accessory M – 2 neck and upper back muscles (trapezius and sternocleidomastoid)
Hypoactive XII Hypoglossal M – Tongue muscles
S = Sensory; M = Motor; P = Parasympathetic
* Only cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X have parasympathetic control.

XVII. Autonomic Nervous System – unlike somatic motor neurons, which extent from the
CNS all the way out to the effector (skeletal muscle), autonomic motor neurons only
extend part way then synapse with another neuron, which carries the action potential
the rest of the way to the effector (glands, smooth muscle or cardiac muscle), at a
knotted area called a ganglion
A. Preganglionic neurons – are the first neuron extending from the CNS to the
ganglion
B. Postganglionic neurons – are the second neuron extending form the ganglion to
the effector
C. Divisions of Autonomic Nervous System
1. Sympathetic division – prepares the body for “fight or flight”
 2. Parasympathetic division – activates the vegetative or “resting and
digesting” functions
3. Dual Innervation Exceptions – most effectors receiving autonomic motor
responses are innervated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic – the
following are exceptions:
a. sweat glands and blood vessels – only sympathetic
b. smooth muscles associated with the lens of the eye – primarily
parasympathetic
D. Preganglionic Neurons of the Sympathetic Division – are located in the lateral
horn of the spinal cord’s gray matter in the thoracolumbar region (T1 thru L1) – their
axons exit through the ventral roots and project to either a sympathetic chain
ganglion or collateral ganglion