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Human Anatomy. Nervous System Introduction. Functions. Communication and control between various organs of the body To detect changes in the environment and respond to them To maintain homeostasis
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Human Anatomy Nervous System Introduction
Functions • Communication and control between various organs of the body • To detect changes in the environment and respond to them • To maintain homeostasis • Homeostasis is the condition by which internal physiological conditions remain constant despite changes in the environment.
Overview of the Nervous System • Two anatomical subdivisions • Central nervous system (CNS) • Brain • Spinal cord • Peripheral nervous system (PNS) • 12 pair of cranial nerves • 31 pair of spinal nerves • Autonomic nervous system (ANS) • Runs with the CNS and PNS
A. The Neuron • The nerve cell • Basic functional unit of the nervous system • Capable of generating and transmitting electrical activity
Structure of the Neuron 1 2 4 3
Structure of the Neuron • Dendrites – numerous and short, conveys electrical impulse to rest of neuron
Structure of the Neuron 2. Cell Body – contains typical organelles of most cells
Structure of the Neuron 3. Axon – single and long, conveys electrical impulses away from cell body
Structure of the Neuron • Synapse – a communication junction between a neuron and another cell
Chemical Synapse • When electrical impulse reaches terminal part of axon, chemicals called neurotransmitters are released into synaptic cleft (space between the 2 cells) • Neurotransmitter causes second cell to become active i.e., muscle contraction, gland secretion, neuron activation
Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) Muscle fiber
B. Neuroglia • Support cells of the nervous system
Neuroglia -- CNS • Microglia – small, mobile, remove cell debris, wastes and pathogens • Astrocytes – maintain blood-brain barrier • Oligodendrocytes – myelinate CNS axons
Astrocytes • The astrocytes help to form the blood-brain barrier • Prevents harmful materials in the blood from reaching the brain
Oligodendrocytes • Associated with axons of neurons found in CNS (brain and spinal cord) • Wrap themselves around axon in “jellyroll” fashion • Produce myelin which is a lipid that serves as an insulator to electrical currents (see saltatory conduction)
Oligodendrocyte Node of Ranvier
Saltatory Conduction • Occurs only on myelinated axons • Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates from electrical activity • Electrical activity jumps from node to node rather than traveling the entire length of the axon • Faster than non-myelinated axons • 100m/sec vs 1m/sec
Saltatory Conduction Electrical current jumps from node to node
Neuroglia -- PNS • Schwann cell • Same structure and function as oligodendrocyte except in PNS
Summary of Neuroglia • CNS – microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes • PNS – Schwann cells (neurolemma cells)
Nerve and Axon Regeneration • Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)Lou Gehrig disease • Affects neurons in CNS • Causes weakened skeletal muscles • Does not affect sensory abilities • Fatal • Steven Hawking
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) • Progressive demyelination of CNS neurons • This causes scarring (sclerosis) of neurons • Disrupts conduction of nerve impulses • Affects both muscles and sensory • Occurs mainly 18-40 yo • Progression is slow • Read entirety of p.435