Ass. Lec. Rafah Saleem Nervous Tissue (system) : The mammalian nervous system is the most complex system in the body. It is divided into two major parts :the central nervous system(CN) w hich consist of the brain and spinal cord ,which are surrounded and protected by the cranium and vertebral bones . And peripheral nervous system (PNS),which is located outside of the CNS and composed of (cranial, spinal ,and peripheral nerve fibers) . Neurons: The nervous system is composed of highly complex intercommunicating networks of nerve cells that receive conduct impulses along their neural pathways or axons to the CNS .And it is the anatomic and functional units ,consist of three parts :1.Dendrites : multiple elongated processes specialized in receiving stimuli from the environment . 2.Cell body : or soma contains the nucleus ,nucleolus,numerous different organelles and the cytoplasm. 3.The axon : single process specialized in generating or conducting nerve impulses to other cells. Neurons are classified on the basis of the number of processes extending from the cell body to :a. Multipolar ,neurons have an axon and two or more dendrites. b. Bipolar ,neurons have one axon and one dendrites . c. Unipolar ,(pseudouipolar) have one process the axon ,that divides close to cell body to two long processes . 1 Ass. Lec. Rafah Saleem Spinal cord: In cross section , the spinal cord is organized in to two discrete parts a butterfly –shaped grayish-tan inner substance ,the gray matter surrounding the central canal, and a whitish peripheral substance ,the white matter which contains only myelinated and unmyyelinated axons traveling to and from other parts of the spinal cord and to from the brain. The gray matter contains neuronal cell bodies and their dendrites , along with axons and neuroglia . 2 Ass. Lec. Rafah Saleem Cerebellum cortex :- consist of : 1. Outer moleculer layer : the nerve cells or neurons have a very small perikaryone (cell body) and also contain unmyelinated fibers. 2. Inner granular layer : prominent nuclei of the granular cell . 3. Single layer of Purkinje cells interposed between them . 3 Ass. Lec. Rafah Saleem Gl: granular cell ,Ml:molecular layer ,Pc: purkinge cell PM:pia matter CEREBRUM Cortex The cerebral cortex is composed of gray matter, mostly subdivided into six layers:1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Molecular Layer: Composed of horizontal cells and cell processes External Granular Layer: Consists mostly of granule (stellate) cells, tightly packed. External Pyramidal Layer: Large pyramidal cells and granule (stellate) cells. Internal Granular Layer: Closely packed granule (stellate) cells Internal Pyramidal Layer: Medium and large pyramidal cells Multiform Layer: Consisting of various cell shapes, many of which are fusiform. 4 Ass. Lec. Rafah Saleem 5