top of page
Writer's pictureinsight whizz

BASICS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

Updated: Nov 1, 2021


Introduction


Nervous system controls all the activities of the body. It is quicker than other control system in the body, namely endocrine system.

group of nerves travelling in CNS are called pathway or tracks


a group of cell bodies of neuron in PNS are called ganglia




Primarily, nervous system is divided into two parts:


1. Central nervous system

-consist of brain and spinal cord


2. Peripheral nervous system.

- 12 pair of cranial nerves

- 31 pair of spinal nerves


3.Autonomic nervous system

-sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions


Central nervous system

Central nervous system (CNS) includes brain and spinal cord.


Anatomy of brain:


it is divided into 3 main divisions:

1. forebrain or prosencephalon

2. midbrain or mesencephalon

3.hindbrain or rhombencephalon



Prosencephalon or forebrain


developed into telencephalon and diencephalon

telencephalon gives rise to

  1. cerebral hemispheres

  2. basal ganglia

  3. hippocampus

  4. amygdaloid nucleus

diencephalon gives rise to

  1. thalamus

  2. hypo thalamus

  3. metathalamic

  4. subthalamus.

Midbrain or mesencephalon

Gives rise to

  1. tectum tegmentum

  2. cerebral aqueduct

  3. cerebral peduncles

Hind brain or rhombencephalon


developed into metencephalon and myelencephalon

metencephalon gives rise to


pons

  1. cerebellum

  2. the upper part of the fourth ventricle

myelencephalon gives rise to

  1. the lower part of the fourth ventricle

  2. medulla oblongata



Spinal cord


the spinal cord is an extension of the medulla oblongata

it runs in the bony vertebral column

it has outer white matter and inner grey matter

white matter contains all the nerve fibers

grey matter contains cell body of nerve cells


cell bodies and fibers collectively form the nerve track

inputs reach the brain through sensory tracks of the spinal cord


spinal cord gives out segmental nerves

there are 31 spinal segments with 31 pairs of nerves

  • cervical 8

  • thoracic 12

  • lumbar 5

  • sacral 5

  • coccygeal 1


A typical spinal nerve is a mixed nerve with a sensory division located in the dorsal root ganglion. the ventral division is motor and carries somatic efferent to muscles Anterior root of the spinal cord from T 1 to L2 carries sympathetic efferent.


spinal nerves from s2 to s4 carries parasympathetic fibers


Peripheral nervous system



The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is formed by neurons and their processes present in all regions of the body.


It consists of cranial nerves, arising from brain and spinal nerves, arising from the spinal cord.

It is again divided into two subdivisions:

1. Somatic nervous system

2. Autonomic nervous system.


1. Somatic Nervous System


It includes the nerves supplying the skeletal muscles.

The somatic nervous system is responsible for muscular activities and movements of the body.

postganglionic fibers are short

postganglionic neurotransmitters are noradrenaline


2. Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system is concerned with the regulation of visceral or vegetative functions.

Autonomic nervous system consists of two divisions, sympathetic division and parasympathetic division.

Postganglionic fibers are long

postganglionic neurotransmitters are acetylcholine



4 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Physiology of hypothalamus

INTRODUCTION hypothalamus is a group of nuclei located in the subcortical region regulating various body functions. It is situated below...

Comments


Post: Blog2 Post
bottom of page