Chapter 9:
Nervous Tissue
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Nervous Tissue


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Overview of the nervous system
Histology of nervous tissue
Action potentials
Synaptic transmission
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord.
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all nervous tissue
outside the CNS.
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Components of the PNS include the somatic nervous system (SNS),
autonomic nervous system (ANS), and enteric nervous system (ENS).
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The SNS consists of sensory neurons that conduct impulses from somatic
and special sense receptors to the CNS and motor neurons from the CNS
to skeletal muscles.
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The ANS contains sensory neurons from visceral organs and motor neurons
that convey impulses from the CNS to smooth muscle tissue, cardiac
muscle tissue, and glands.
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Overview of the Nervous System

The ENS consists of neurons in enteric plexuses in the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract that function somewhat
independently of the ANS and CNS. The ENS monitors
sensory changes in and controls operation of the GI tract.

Three basic functions of the nervous system are
detecting stimuli (sensory function); analyzing,
integrating, and storing sensory information (integrative
function); and responding to integrative decisions (motor
function).
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Nervous System
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Overview of the Nervous System
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Anatomy Overview:
• Nervous System
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Histology of Nervous Tissue

Nervous tissue consists of two types of cells: neurons and neuroglia.
Neurons are cells specialized for nerve impulse conduction and provide
most of the unique functions of the nervous system, such as sensing,
thinking, remembering, controlling muscle activity, and regulating glandular
secretions. Neuroglia support, nourish, and protect the neurons and
maintain homeostasis in the interstitial fluid that bathes neurons.

Most neurons have three parts. The dendrites are the main receiving or
input region. Integration occurs in the cell body. The output part typically is
a single axon, which conducts nerve impulses toward another neuron, a
muscle fiber, or a gland cell.
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On the basis of their structure, neurons are classified as multipolar,
bipolar, or unipolar.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Histology of Nervous Tissue

Neurons are functionally classified as sensory (afferent) neurons, motor
(efferent) neurons, and interneurons. Sensory neurons carry sensory
information into the CNS. Motor neurons carry information out of the CNS to
effectors (muscles and glands). Interneurons are located within the CNS
between sensory and motor neurons.

Neuroglia support, nurture, and protect neurons and maintain the interstitial
fluid that bathes them. Neuroglia in the CNS include astrocytes,
oligodendrocytes, microglia, and ependymal cells. Neuroglia in the PNS
include Schwann cells and satellite cells.

Two types of neuroglia produce myelin sheaths: Oligodendrocytes
myelinate axons in the CNS, and Schwann cells myelinate axons in the
PNS.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Anatomy Overview:
• Nervous Tissue
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Histology of Nervous Tissue

White matter consists of aggregates of myelinated axons:
gray matter contains cell bodies, dendrites, and axon
terminals of neurons, unmyelinated axons, and neuroglia.

In the spinal cord, gray matter forms an H-shaped inner core
that is surrounded by white matter. In the brain, a thin,
superficial shell of gray matter covers the cerebrum and
cerebellum.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Histology of Nervous Tissue
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Clusters of Neuronal Cell Bodies
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A ganglion (plural is ganglia) refers to a cluster of neuronal cell bodies
located in the PNS. As mentioned earlier, ganglia are closely associated
with cranial and spinal nerves. By contrast, a nucleus is a cluster of
neuronal cell bodies located in the CNS.
Bundles of Axons

A nerve is a bundle of axons that is located in the PNS. Cranial nerves
connect the brain to the periphery; spinal nerves connect the spinal cord
to the periphery. A tract is a bundle of axons that is located in the CNS.
Tracts interconnect neurons in the spinal cord and brain.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Histology
of
Nervous
Tissue
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Animation:
• Introduction to Structure and Function of the
Nervous System
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Histology of Nervous Tissue
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Histology of Nervous Tissue
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Histology of Nervous Tissue
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Action Potentials

Neurons communicate with one another using nerve action potentials, also
called nerve impulses.

Generation of action potentials depends on the existence of a membrane
potential and the presence of voltage-gated channels for Na+ and K+.

A typical value for the resting membrane potential (difference in electrical
charge across the plasma membrane) is –70 mV. A cell that exhibits a
membrane potential is polarized.

The resting membrane potential arises due to an unequal distribution of ions
on either side of the plasma membrane and a higher membrane
permeability to K+ than to Na+. The level of K+ is higher inside and the level
of Na+ is higher outside, a situation that is maintained by sodium–potassium
pumps.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Action Potentials

During an action potential, voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels open in
sequence. Opening of voltage-gated Na+ channels results in
depolarization, the loss and then reversal of membrane polarization (from
–70 mV to +30 mV). Then, opening of voltage-gated K+ channels allows
repolarization, recovery of the membrane potential to the resting level.

According to the all-or-none principle, if a stimulus is strong enough to
generate an action potential, the impulse generated is of a constant size.

During the refractory period, another action potential cannot be generated.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Action Potentials

Nerve impulse conduction that occurs as a step-by-step
process along an unmyelinated axon is called continuous
conduction. In saltatory conduction, a nerve impulse
“leaps” from one node of Ranvier to the next along a
myelinated axon.

Axons with larger diameters conduct impulses faster than
those with smaller diameters; myelinated axons conduct
impulses faster than unmyelinated axons.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Action Potentials
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Action Potentials
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Action Potentials
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Animation:
• Membrane Potentials
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Synaptic Transmission

Neurons communicate with other neurons and with effectors at synapses in
a series of events known as synaptic transmission.

At a synapse, a neurotransmitter is released from a presynaptic neuron
into the synaptic cleft and then binds to receptors on the plasma membrane
of the postsynaptic neuron.

An excitatory neurotransmitter depolarizes the postsynaptic neuron’s
membrane, brings the membrane potential closer to threshold, and
increases the chance that one or more action potentials will arise. An
inhibitory neurotransmitter hyperpolarizes the membrane of the postsynaptic
neuron, thereby inhibiting action potential generation.
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Animation:
• Events at the Synapse
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Synaptic Transmission

Neurotransmitter is removed in three ways: diffusion,
enzymatic destruction, and reuptake by neurons or neuroglia.

Important neurotransmitters include acetylcholine,
glutamate, aspartate, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA),
glycine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin,
neuropeptides, and nitric oxide.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Anatomy Overview:
• Neurotransmitters
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Synaptic Transmission
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End of Chapter 9
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© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.