ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE

NERVOUS SYSTEM
ANATOMY- is the study of the structure and shape of the body and body parts and their
relationship to one another

PHYSIOLOGY- is the study of how the body and it‟s part work or function.

NERVOUS SYSTEM- is the master controlling and communicating system of the body. Every
thought, action, and emotion reflects its activity. Its signaling device, or means of
communicating with body cells, is electrical impulses, which are rapid and specific and cause
almost immediate responses.

STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION

A. Central nervous system- brain and spinal cord which occupy the dorsal body cavity
and act as the integrating and command of the nervous system
B. Peripheral nervous system- nerves that extend from brain and spinal cord

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS)

-consist of nerves that extend from the brain and spinal cord. These nerves serve as
communication lines

>NEURON- „‟nerve cells‟‟, are highly specialized to transmit messages (nerve impulses) from
one part of the body to another.

3 PARTS OF A NEURON:
▪CELL BOBY- the metabolic center of the neuron.
▪DENDRITES- neuron processes that convey incoming messages towards the cell
body
▪AXONS- generate nerve impulses and typically conduct them away from the cell
body
-terminal end of the axon are hundreds of “axon terminals” .these
terminals contain membranous sacs that contain chemicals called
“neurotransmitters”

CRANIAL NERVES
-there are 12 cranial nerves that primarily serve the head and neck
1. Olfactory- a type of sensory nerve that carries impulses for the sense of smell

2. Optic - a type of sensory nerve that carries impulses for vision

3. Oculomotor- a type of motor nerve that controls the lens shape and pupil size
 4. Trochlear- a type of motor nerve that supplies motor fibers for one external eye muscle
(superior oblique)

5. Trigeminal- conducts sensory impulses from the skin of the face and mucosa of the
nose and mouth; also contains motor fibers that activate the chewing muscles

6. Abducens- supplies motor fibers to the lateral rectus muscle, which rolls the eye
laterally glands; carries sensory impulses from the taste buds of anterior tongue

7. Facial- combination of sensory and motor nerves that activates the muscles of facial
expression and the lacrimal and salivary glands; carries sensory impulses from the taste
buds of anterior tongue

8. Vestibular- a type of sensory nerve; vestibular branch transmits impulses for the sense
of balance, and cochlear branch transmits impulses for the sense of hearing

9. Glossopharyngeal- both motor and sensory nerves that assist in swallowing, taste
perception from the posterior third of the tongue, cutaneous sensation from the external
ear

10. Vagus- fibers carry sensory impulses from and motor impulses to the pharynx, larynx
and the abdominal and thoracic viscera; most motor fibers are parasympathetic fibers that
promote digestive activity and help regulate heart activity

11. Accessory- type of motor nerve that activate the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
muscles

12. Hypoglossal- type of motor nerve that control tongue movements; and it also carry
impulses from the tongue

CLASSIFICATION OF PNS:

A. SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

-voluntary nervous system
-allow us to consciously , voluntarily. Control our skeletal muscles

B. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

-regulates events that are automatic or involuntary

●Sympathetic
-„‟fight and flight response‟‟
-mobilizes the body during extreme situations such as fear, exercise or rage
-releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, increases heart rate and blood pressure

●Parasympathetic
-„‟rest and digest system‟‟
 -is most active when the body is at rest and not threatened in any way
-calms the body and maintain energy

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)

-brain and the spinal cord

BRAIN
-is discussed in four regions:
>cerebral hemispheres
>diencephalon
>brain stem
>cerebellum

●Cerebral Hemispheres
-collectively called the cerebrum, which is the superior part of the brain, and
associated with higher brain function such as thought and action. This cortex is
divided into four (4) lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe.

A. Frontal lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech,

movements, emotions, and problem solving.
B. Parietal lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition,
perception of stimuli.
C. Occipital lobe- associated with visual processing
D. Temporal lobe- associated with perception and recognition of
auditory stimuli, memory, and speech.
E.
 The cerebrum is divided into two halves: the right and left hemisphere. The right
hemisphere corpus callosum is a bundle of axons which connects these two
hemisphere.

DIENCEPHALON
-or interbrain, sits atop the brain stem and is enclosed by the cerebral hemisphere. It‟s
major structures include the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

●Thalamus- is a relay station for sensory impulses passing upward to sensory cortex.

●Hypothalamus- (literally, “under the thalamus”)makes up the floor of diencephalon.

It plays a role in the regulation of body temperature, water balance, and metabolism. It is
so-called the limbic system, or the “emotional visceral brain.”

●Epithalamus- the two important part of epithalamus are pineal body which is part of
the endocrine system, and the choroid plexus, knots of capillaries within each
ventricle, form the cerebrospinal fluid.
BRAIN STEM
 -about a size of a thumb in diameter and approximately 3 inches long. It provides a
pathway or for ascending and descending tracts. It structures are midbrain, pons and medulla
oblongata.

>Midbrain- relatively small part of the brain stem. Anteriorly, the midbrain is composed
primarily of the protrusions of the corpora quadregemina that involve vision and hearing.

>Pons- is the rounded structure that protrudes just below the midbrain. It somehow controls
the breathing.

>Medulla Oblongata- the most inferior part of the brain stem. It is an important fiber tract
because it controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, swallowing and vomiting.

CEREBELLUM
-large, cauliflower like that projects dorsally from under the occipital lobe of the
cerebrum. It provides the precise timing for skeletal muscles activity and controls our
balance and equilibrium.

SPINAL CORD
-a glistening white continuation of the brain stem that is about 17 inches (42 cm) long
- extends from the foramen magnum of the skull to the first or second lumbar vertebra,
where it ends just below the ribs.
-there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise from the cord that controls the upper and lower
limb

PROTECTION OF THE CNS

a. Meninges
b. Cerebrospinal Fluid
c. The Blood-Brain Barrier

●Meninges- these are three connective tissue membranes covering and protecting the CNS
structures. These are composed of three layers:

1. Dura Mater- outermost double-layered membrane that is attached to the inner surface
of the skull

2. Arachnoid Mater- a weblike middle meningeal layer that contains the blood vessels

3. Pia Mater- the innermost membrane that covers the brain

●Cerebrospinal Fluid- a watery “broth” similar in its make up to blood plasma, from
which it forms. This protects the fragile nervous tissue from blows and other trauma.
 - It contains less protein, more vitamin C.
-its volume is 150ml

●The Blood-Brain Barrier- this is composed of the least permeable capillaries in the whole
body that kept the neuron separated from blood borne substances.
- only the water, glucose, and essential amino acids pass easily
through the walls of these capillaries
-metabolic wastes, such as urea, toxins, proteins, and most drugs are
prevented from entering the brain tissue.