Chapter 1 Introduction and Organization of the Nervous System

CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS

Divisions of the Nervous System
- Central nervous system
o Consists of:
Brain
Spinal cord
o Main centers where correlation and integration of nervous info occur
- Peripheral nervous system:
o Consists of
Cranial nerves 12 pairs
Spinal Nerves and associated neuroglia 31 pairs
o Conduct information to and from the CNS
o Nerves are relatively unprotected, hence common to damage d/t trauma
o Encompasses anything outside the skull and the vertebral canal which are still part of
the nervous system
o
Meninges- system of membranes; covers the brain and SC
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bathes the brain to protect it and keep it floating
The cells in the nervous system
- Neurons- composes the CNS; excitable nerve cells; gives out and receives (senses) impulses
- Neuroglia-specialized tissue which supports the neurons; have a greater Number compared to
Neurons
o Types:
Astrocytes
Microglia
Oligodendrocytes
Ependymal cells
Axons or nerve fibers- long processes of a nerve cell
Neurotransmitters what the Nervous system uses in order to control the body
Neurons gives out and receives impulses
*Your nervous system could associate a particular stimulus to a memory, which would make a person do
a specified response to the stimulus based on his previous experiences

CNS interior
- Gray matter
o consists of nerve cells (neurons) embedded in neuroglia
- White matter
o consists of nerve fibers embedded in neuroglia
o white color due to presence of lipid material in the myelin sheaths

Autonomic Nervous System

- concerned with the innervations of involuntary structures
- distributed throughout CNS and PNS
- divisions:
o Sympathetic
Prepare the body for emergency (Catabolic response because when you rush,
you destroy some tissues)
Fight or Flight
Thoracolumbar Nervous System comes from the Thoracic and Lumbar nerves
o Parasympathetic
Conserves and restores energy for the body (anabolic response)
Really active during rest
Originates from 4 cranial nerves (oculomotor, Facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus)
and sacral nerves (S2, 3, 4) or the Craniosacral nervous system
MAJOR DIVISIONS OF THE CNS
Spinal Cord
- Situated within vertebral canal
- Surrounded by Meninges (from outer to inner):
o Dura mater
o Arachnoid mater
o Pia mater
- Spaces:
o Epidural Space between bone and dura
o Subdural Space between dura and arachnoid
o Subarachnoid Space between the arachnoid and the pia; stores CSF
o *there is no space between Pia and Spinal Cord
- Begins superiorly at the foramen magnum
- Continuous with medulla oblongata
- Terminates inferiorly at the lower border of L1 (adult) or upper border of L3 (infant) because
bones grow faster than the SC as people grow
- The Cervical area and Lumbar area are enlarged d/t the presence of the nerve plexuses (brachial
and lumbosacral plexuses)
- Conus medullaris
o Conical shape at the inferior part of SC
o Where SC tapers off
- Filum Terminale
o From the apex of the Conus medullaris
o Ligament which attaches the Conus Medullaris to the back of the coccyx
o Originates from the Pia mater
- Denticulate ligament
o Attachments of the SC at the sides of the vertebra
o Originates from the Pia Mater
- 31 pairs of Spinal nerves
o Bell-Magendie Law states that
Anterior motor roots
Posterior Sensory roots
Possesses a posterior root ganglion

Gives rise to peripheral and central nerve fibers

Structure of the Spinal Cord

- Composed of:
o Gray matter inner
H-shaped
Has anterior and posterior gray horns
Gray commissure
Contains the central canal also contains CSF
Unites the horns
Contains Neurons
o White matter outer
Divided into:
Anterior white column /Anterior Funiculus
Posterior white column/ Dorsal Funiculus
Lateral white column / Lateral Funiculus
Contains Nerve Fibers

Brain
-

Surrounded by meninges; continuous with that of the SC

o Dura mater (outer)
o Arachnoid Mater
o Pia Mater (innermost)
Subarachnoid space where CSF surrounds the brain
Divided into
o Forebrain
Cerebrum
Diencephalon central part of forebrain; between brain
o Midbrain
o Hindbran
Medulla oblongata
Pons
Cerebellum
Brainstem collective term for medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain

Hindbrain
Medulla Oblongata
- Conical
- Connects pons (superiorly) to SC (inferiorly)
- Contains nuclei collections of neurons
- Conduit for ascending and descending n. fibers
Pons
-

Found at:
o anterior of cerebellum
o Inferior to midbrain

o Superior to medulla oblongata

Has large number of transverse fibers on its ant. Aspect
Connects the two cerebellar hemispheres
Also contains nuclei and ascending and descending fibers

Cerebellum
- Lies within the posterior cranial fossa )posterior to pons and medulla oblongata
- Has two hemispheres
- Vermis median portion connecting the hemispheres
- Connected to:
o Superior cerebellar peduncles to the midbrain
o Middle cerebellar peduncles to the pons
o Inferior cerebellar peduncles to the medulla
- Cortex surface layer of each hemisphere; composed of gray matter
- Folia folds of the cerebellar cortex
- Transverse fissures separates the folia
- Dentate Nucleus largest mass of gray matter in the interior of the cerebellum
- Fourth Ventricle
o Cavity with CSF
o Surrounded by medulla oblongata, pons, cerebellum
o Connected superiorly to third ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct
o Inferiorly continuous with central canal of SC
o Connects to the subarachnoid space where CSF enters through
Midbrain
- Connects forebrain to hindbrain
- Cerebral Aqueduct narrow cavity of the midbrain; connects third and fourth ventricles
Diencephalon
- Consists of:
o Thalamus (dorsally)
Mass of gray matter on either side of third ventricle
Anterior end forms posterior border of interventricular foramen
o Hypothalamus (ventrally)
Forms lower part of lateral wall and floor of third ventricle

Cerebrum
- Largest part of the brain
- Consists of two cerebral hemispheres
- Corpus callosum mass of white matter which connects the hemispheres
- Longitudinal fissure deep cleft which separates the hemispheres
- Falx cerebri projects from the longitudinal fissure
- Cortex surface layer of each hemisphere; composed of gray matter
- Gyri folds in the cerebral cortex
- Sulci fissures that separate gyri in the cerebral cortex
- White Matter is now the inner core instead of the gray matter
- Basal Nuclei or ganglia central core of white matter containing masses of gray matter

Corona Radiata
o fan-shaped collection of nerve fibers which passes in the white matter to and from the
cerebral cortex to the brainstem
o Internal capsule when the corona radiate converges in the basal nuclei
o Caudate nucleus tailed nucleus situated on the medial side of the internal capsule
o Lentiform nucleus lens-shaped nucleus on lateral side of internal capsule
Lateral Ventricle cavity in each ventricle; communicates with the third ventricle through the
interventricular foramina

MAJOR DIVISIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

- Consists of cranial and spinal nerves and associated ganglia
Cranial and Spinal nerves
- Cranial nerves
o 12 pairs
o Passes through foramina in the skull
o Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens,
Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Accessorry, Hypoglossal
-

Facial,

Spinal nerves
o 31 pairs
o Exits through the intervertebral foramina
o Divisions:
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
o Bell-Magendie Law states that nerve roots going:
anteriorly are motor (Efferent-carry nerve impulses away from CNS)
origin situated in the anterior horn
posteriorly are sensory (Afferent-carry nerve impulses towards CNS)
origin situated in the posterior root ganglion an enlargement of the
posterior nerves
o Cauda Equina vertical leash of lower nerve roots around the filum terminale; only
nerves inside the vertebral foramen which are part of the PNS
o From the intervertebral foramen, spinal nerves divide into:
Posterior Ramus
Supplies mm and skin of the back
Anterior Ramus
Supplies mm and skin over anterolateral body wall and all mm an skin of
limbs
Nerve plexuses formed when anterior rami join together
o Cervical Plexus
o Brachial Plexus
o Lumbar Plexus
o Sacral Plexus

CLINICAL NOTES
Relationship of Spinal Cord Segments to Vertebral Numbers
Vertebrae
Spinal Segment
Cervical Vertebrae
Add 1
Upper Thoracic Vertebrae
Add 2
Lower Thoracic (T7-9)
Add 3
th
10 Thoracic Vertebra
L1-2 cord segments
11th Thoracic Vertebra
L3-4 cord segments
th
12 Thoracic Vertebra
L5 cord segment
1st Lumbar Vertebra
Sacral and Coccygeal cord segments
To use this table:
- Ex. Given a case that your C7 vertebra was fractured, the corresponding Spinal Segment affected
would be C8.
- With your T7 vertebra fractured, T10 Spinal Segment would be affected
- Beyond L1 fractures, peripheral nerves (Cauda Equina) are affected
Naming Spinal Nerves
- Cervical Nerves are named after the vertebra below them
o Ex. The nerve exiting between the foramen magnum is named C1
o Ex. The nerve exiting between C1 and C2 is C1
o Ex. The nerve exiting between C7 and T1 is C8
- Nerves from Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral are name after the vertebra above
o Ex. The nerve exiting between T2 and T1 is T1
o Ex. The nerve exiting between T3 and T4 is T3
o Ex. The nerve exiting between T12 and L1 is T12

Spinal Tap
- Performed to withdraw a sample of CSF
- Subarachnoid space extends inferiorly up to lower border of S2 which has CSF
- Safest place to do spinal tap is at L3-4 or L5-5
o Only PNS is found here. It is better to slightly damage the PNS because it regenerates,
while the CNS doesnt. Hence Spinal Tap is done below L1 because only Peripheral
nerves are found there
- To determine location of L4, palpate for the superior border of ASIS, and median to that is L2,
then palpate downwards
- Spinal Anesthesia performing a lumbar tap to insert the Anesthetic
- Spinal tap could also relieve inc. ICP
- Normal pressure of the needle is 60-150mm of water
Vocabulary Words
- 1. Afferent pathway towards the CNS.
- 2. Efferent pathway away the CNS.
- 3. Anastomosis joining of branches of arteries
- 4. CaudalPertaining to the tail or the hind part; Inferior to another structure, in the sense of
being below it.

5. Cephalic/Cephalad/Rostral Relating to the head or the head end of the body; Situated on, in,
or near the head
6. Chiasm part where the two optic nerves cross.
7. Column a rigid, relatively slender, upright support, composed of relatively few pieces (as in
vertebral column).
8. Commissure connecting band of nerve fiber that crosses the midline of the CNS, esp. one
joining the right and left sides of the brain or spinal cord
9. Contralateral/Ipsilateral affecting the opposite/same side of the body
10. Decussation crossing over to the opposite side.
11. Dorsal/Ventral relating to or situated at or close to the back/front of the body or to the
posterior/anterior part of an organ.
12. Fasciculus/Peduncle/Brachium slender bundle of fibers; stalk; branch.
13. Fissure cleft or groove.
14. Folia folds (as in folds in the cerebellar cortex); A broad, thin, leaf like structure (lamellae),
on the surface of the cerebellar cortex
15. Ganglia A ganglion is a sac-like swelling or cyst formed from the tissue that lines a joint or
tendon.
16. Gyrus/Gyri folds (as in folds in the cerebral cortex); A convolution on the surface of a
cerebral hemisphere caused by the in folding of the cerebral cortex. The gyri are bounded by
crevices in the cortex called sulci
17. Lamina A thin plate or layer of tissues. For example, the lamina arcus vertebrae, usually
just called the lamina, are plates of bone in each vertebral body.
18. Lemniscus a band of fibers, esp. of white nerve fibers in the brain, conveying information
from the spinal cord and brainstems upwards through the midbrain to the higher centers.
19. Nucleus a group of nerve cells.
20. Plexus In medicine, a network or tangle of lymphatic vessels, nerves, or veins.
21. Somatic Relating to the body wall; somatikos = body.
22. Somatotopic maintenance of spatial organization within the CNS.
23. Tract a bundle of nerve fibers having a common original and destination
24. Cerebro pertaining to cerebrum/cerebral hemisphere.
25. Cerebellum The portion of the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum and the
brain stem. The cerebellum controls balance for walking and standing and other complex motor
functions.
26. Meningo prefix pertaining to meningeal membranes.
27. Myelo prefix pertaining to spinal cord
.28. Encephalo Gk. enkephalon; prefix meaning brain.
29. Neuro prefix pertaining to nerve, nerves, nervous system.
30. Ponto Pertaining to the pons, a structure in the brain
31. Mesen medial.
32. Myo denoting a relationship to muscle.
33. Vestibulo prefix pertaining to vestibular system.
34. Olivoprefix pertaining to the olive, a structure in the brain.
35. Reticulo prefix meaning net; network; netsite.
36. Tecto prefix meaning roof -like.
37. Axo prefix pertaining to axon.
38. Somato prefix pertaining to body.
39. Rubro prefix pertaining to red nucleus, midbrain area.
40. Spino prefix pertaining to spine, spinous