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The Nervous System Organization: Jennifer Carbrey Ph.D. Department of Cell Biology

The nervous system is composed of neurons and glial cells that communicate through the central nervous system (CNS; brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (PNS; cranial and spinal nerves). The CNS integrates sensory input from the PNS and directs motor output through efferent neurons of the PNS. The PNS is divided into the somatic system, which innervates skeletal muscle, and the autonomic system, consisting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems that work in opposition to regulate organ function.

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42 views8 pages

The Nervous System Organization: Jennifer Carbrey Ph.D. Department of Cell Biology

The nervous system is composed of neurons and glial cells that communicate through the central nervous system (CNS; brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (PNS; cranial and spinal nerves). The CNS integrates sensory input from the PNS and directs motor output through efferent neurons of the PNS. The PNS is divided into the somatic system, which innervates skeletal muscle, and the autonomic system, consisting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems that work in opposition to regulate organ function.

Uploaded by

Sherida Gibbs
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Nervous System

Organization

Jennifer Carbrey Ph.D.


Department of Cell Biology
Nervous System

Cell types
neurons
glial cells
Methods of communication in
nervous system – between cells
How the nervous system is organized
Nervous System Organization

CNS: spinal cord, PNS: cranial nerves, spinal nerves


brain
afferent neurons are sensory (transmit information to the CNS)
efferent neurons “cause” change (transmit information away from the CNS).
image by Ruth Lawson Otago Polytechnic (modified), Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anatomy_and_physiology_of_animals_Relation_btw_sensory,_relay_%26_motor_neurons.jpg,
PNS Sensory Input

Types of sensory input:


Sensory systems: Vision, Hearing, Taste,
Equilibrium, Olfaction, Somatosensation,
(also visceral stimiuli like pH and O2 content of
blood, osmolarity, blood glucose)

Somatosensation receptors in skin, muscle


and bones & visceral receptors (in organs)
detect pain, temperature, touch, pressure,
and proprioception
(joint capsule, tendon, and muscle stretch).
PNS Input & Output
PNS Output
sympathetic NS
CNS organs
acetylcholine, norepi,
nicotinic AChR adrenergic

adrenal gland
CNS epinephrine released into blood organs
acetylcholine, epinephrine,
nicotinic AChR adrenergic

parasympathetic NS
CNS organs
acetylcholine, acetylcholine,
nicotinic AChR muscarinic AChR

somatic NS skeletal
CNS muscle
acetylcholine,
nicotinic AChR
Sympathetic &
Parasympathetic
Nervous systems

image from: Gray, Henry. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918;
Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray839.png,
public domain
Key Concepts
The nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal
cord, cranial nerves and spinal nerves. The first two make
up the CNS, the latter two constitute the PNS.

The CNS and PNS constitute a reflex arc. The CNS (brain
& spinal cord) integrates sensory input (PNS) and
provides appropriate output to effectors (PNS).

The efferent portion of the PNS is divided into somatic


and autonomic nervous systems. Somatic innervates
skeletal muscle to cause contraction. Autonomic nervous
system (ANS) is divided into sympathetic,
parasympathetic and enteric. Sympathetic (SNS) and
parasympathetic act reciprocally and in opposition
(accelerator & brake). Enteric division acts independently
in the gut but can be modulated by the other divisions of
the ANS. SNS is “fight or flight”; ParaSNS is “rest or
digestion”.

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