HUMAN ANATOMY

EVALS 3
Lecture 5: Nervous Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

 Irritability: has the ability to

respond to stimuli
INTRODUCTION  Conductivity: has the ability to
transmit stimuli
 Nervous tissue - similar to epithelial tissue
 Terminally differentiated cell (can no
 Has closely packed cells that have very little
longer divide or transform to another
intercellular substance
type)
 Arise from embryonic ectoderm
 Incapable of cell division but are very
 Comprises the body’s nervous system that is
long-lived
divided into Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Its processes (axons and dendrites) can
and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
regenerate if soma (cell body) is intact
 PNS - minimal intercellular material
 There are few neuronal stem cells
 CNS - absent intercellular material
remain in adults
Lecture Content/table of contents

1. Integration and Control Systems of the Body

2. Nervous Tissue

3. Nervous System

INTEGRATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS OF THE BODY

Nervous System
 Comprised of all nervous tissue in the body
 Its response to stimulus is rapid and precise
 Its effects are brief
 Unlike epithelial tissue, it does not possess
intercellular junctions Figure 1. Parts of neuron
 Very little to no intervening connective tissue
elements between cells, except for those
associated with blood vessels  Parts
Two divisions  Body AKA Perikaryon or Soma
 Central Nervous System (CNS):  Composed of a cytoplasm
Composed of the brain and the spinal cord (neuroplasm) that is enclosed
that is found in the cranial cavity and the by cell membrane
vertebral cavity, respectively (plasmalemma/neurolemma)
 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):  Contains nucleus, organelles,
Consists of all other nervous tissue in the inclusion and neurofibrils
body outside the brain and spinal cord (e.g.  Nucleus
nerves)  Large, ovoid, central
Endocrine System  Finely-dispersed chromatin
 All cells and endocrine glands that produce (highly basophilic due to
hormones having numerous RNA since
 Hormone – chemical substance (steroid, neurons produce a lot of
peptide or amine) carried by blood to target protein = neurotransmitters)
organ/s or tissue/s whose cells (target cell) have  More than 1
an appropriate receptor for the hormone  With nucleolus
 Its response to stimulus is slower and more  Organelles
diffuse  Nissl Bodies (Chromophilic
 But the effects last longer substances, can be stained
readily)
o Deeply basophilic
Notes: o A distinct feature in LM
1. The two systems work in parallel, but independent of o Present in soma and
each other dendrites only
2. But overlaps exist between the two (e.g. the o rER for protein synthesis
hypothalamus which is a nervous tissue also elaborates (highly developed rER
hormones)
since Neurons produce a
NERVOUS TISSUE lot of protein for export)
 Smooth ER
 A special type of epithelium to some o May serve as conduit for
 Arises from the embryonic ectoderm distributing protein
 Said to be very cellular throughout cells
 Composed of Cells and Extracellular Material  Golgi Apparatus
o Present in all neurons
A. Cells (Neurons and Neuroglial Cells) o Confined in perikaryon
1. Neurons AKA Nerve Cell o Functions for the production
 Functional unit of the nervous tissue of neurotransmitters and
 Number: 14 billion – 1 trillion lysosomes
 Size: 5-150 um (most are large)  Mitochondria
 Shape: Variable (stellate, pyramidal, o Numerous (especially in
ovoid, flask-shaped, fusiform, etc.) axon endings)
 Properties o Smaller than in other cell
types
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 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 5: Nervous Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

 Centrosome AKA MTOC -Arises from cell body at axon

(Microtubule-organizing center) hillock, which contains no nissl
o Neurons have centrosomes bodies
despite being unable to -Slenderer than dendrite, but
undergo cellular division longer (up to 100 cm)
o No centrioles because they -Devoid of Nissl granules, but
do not undergo mitosis and with smooth ER, mitochondria
have no cilia, flagella and and neurofibrils
mitotic spindle -Terminologies
o Occupied by and source of
microtubules  Axoplasm= cytoplasm
o Microtubules are for internal  Axolemma= cell
support, strengthens membrane
synapses and has a role  Axon terminal=
in the intracellular termination
transport of organelles *Bouton terminaux
and secretory vesicles (synapse in terminal
 Lysosomes end)
o A large complement *Buoton en passant
o Responsible for abnormal (synapse along the
proteins axon)
 Peroxisomes  Axonal Transport=
o Small (0.25-0.5 um) transports of materials to
membrane bound organelle and from the soma
o With numerous enzymes Axon Coverings
for metabolic processes  Neurolemmal sheath
 Inclusions -Present in all axons
 Fat droplets -Made up of supporting cell
o Probably serves as energy In PNS
reserves -AKA sheath of Schwann
 Lipofuscin granules -formed by Schwann cells
o Many because neurons are  flattened cells with
long-lived flattened nuclei
o End result of lysosomal  enveloped by basal
activity (Coalescence) lamina
o Found in long lived cells  form thin sleeve around
 Pigment Granules axon
o Melanin: found in the  several needed to
substantia nigra of envelop an axon
midbrain, locus coeruleus In CNS
and in the spinal and -no Schwann cells
sympathetic ganglia -formed by oligodendrocyte
o Iron Granules: found in  a neuroglial cell
globus pallidus  capable of enveloping
 Neurofibrils several axons
 Forms the cytoskeleton and  no basal lamina
extends to all processes  Myelin (not always present)
 Types -In larger axons
o Microtubule -Material that is highly refractile
-AKA neurotubules and white in fresh specimens
-Largest in diameter (20-28 but black in osmium tetroxide
nm) -Internal to neurilemmal sheath
-Functions in intracellular -Concentric layers of plasma
transport of organelles and membranes of supporting cells
vesicles In PNS
o Neurofilaments -Formed by Schwann cell
-Intermediate filaments -node of Ranvier
-10 nm in diameter  point of discontinuity
-Abundant in axons between successive
-Consists of filaments that Schwann cells
twist around each other  axon is partially
-Functions in internal uncovered here
support for cell  axon gives off collateral
o Microfilaments branches here
-Thinnest (3-5 nm)  incisures or clefts of
-Structurally same as those Schmidt-Lanterman
in other cells (F-actin) *points of separation in
 Processes myelin layers in fixed
o Contains more than 90% of cytoplasm specimens.
o Has two types: In CNS
a. Axon:  Formed by
-Transmits impulse away from oligodendrocyte
cell body (Afferent)  amount of cytoplasm
-Only one, but with collateral associated with myelin is
branches much less than in PNS

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 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 5: Nervous Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

 nodes of Ranvier and 2. Neuroglial Cells AKA Supporting Cells, Glial Cells,
incisures of Lantermann or Neuroglia
also present  Number: 5-10X more than neurons
 Basal Lamina  Not distinguishable in H&E
-Envelops axons and covering  Can divide via mitosis
externally in PNS, not in CNS  Types
In the CNS
b. Dendrite: o Macroglia
-Transmits impulse toward cell  Astrocytes
body (Efferent) - Largest, star-shaped
-One or more and maybe - Involved in metabolic processes
absent - Form scar tissue in damaged
-With Nissl granules, areas
mitochondria and neurofibrils - Types
but no Golgi  Protoplasmic: many, short
-Provide most of receptive branching processes, found
surface of neuron in gray matter
-Shorter than axon  Fibrous: long and
-Several generation of branches unbranched processes,
-Types of Neurons found in white matter
 According to Number of Processes  Oligodendrocytes
o Unipolar: rare except in early - Resembles astrocyte but smaller
embryonic development and fewer processes
o Pseudounipolar: morphologically - Scanty (insufficient in amount)
axon, found in sensory neurons in cytoplasm
craniospinal ganglia - Small, deeply staining nucleus
o Bipolar: 1 axon & 1 dendrite, found - Forms neurilemmal sheath of
in vestibular and cochlear ganglia axons in CNS (counterpart of
and olfactory epithelium Schwann cells in PNS)
o Multipolar: 1 axon & many dendrites - Forms myelin
most common - Found in both gray and white
matter
o Microglia
 Smaller than macroglia
 Small and elongated nuclei
 Scanty cytoplasm with many
lysosomes
 Scattered all over CNS
 Phagocytic (considered as
macrophages by some authors)
 Probably arise from hemopoietic
stem cells
o Ependymal Cells
 Forms simple cuboidal epithelium
 Lines ventricles of brain and central
canal of spinal cord
 In choroid plexus, secrete
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Figure 2. Types of neurons according to number
of processess. (a) unipolar (b) bipolar (c) In the PNS
pseudounipolar (d) multipolar. o Schwann Cells
 Flattened cells
 Forms neurilemmal sheath and
 According to Function myelin
o Sensory (Afferent): receives stimuli o Satellite Cells AKA Mantle Cells or
and transmits towards CNS Amphicytes
o Motor (Efferent): transmits impulse  Small flattened cells
from CNS to effector cell  Surround cell bodies of neurons in
o Interneurons (Association): most ganglia
numerous, integrate, process, store,
 Counterparts of astrocytes
analyze stimuli (information) and
 Provide support and involved in
decide on appropriate response
metabolic processes of neurons

Notes: B. Extracellular Material

1. A memory is not stored in a single neuron, but in
 Very little
thousands of neurons (especially at axon terminals) that
interact with one another to form an image  There are no CT in the CNS, except for the
2. plasticity of neurons – other neurons could store info meninges (membranous envelopes that
of other neurons surrounds the brain) and those associated with
blood vessels

 Types of Nerve Fibers Synapse

o Myelinated: With myelin sheath,  Point of contact between a neuron and another
faster conduction neuron/ effector cell (e.g. muscle, gland)
o Unmyelinated: Without myelin  Site of transmission of nerve impulse either
sheath inhibitory/ excitatory
o Presynaptic cell- neuron

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 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 5: Nervous Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

o Postsynaptic cell- neuro, muscle or gland 

Dura mater
 A neuron usually forms numerous synapses (in -
Dense, collagenous connective tissue
14
body, a total of 10 ) -
Periosteal dura; outer surface forms
 Types periosteum
o Electrical - Meningeal dura: inner surface lined
- Rare usually in brainstem, retina and by simple squamous epithelium.
cerebral cortex  Subdural space
- Use of gap junctions - Potential space between dura mater
o Chemical and arachnoid membrane
- Most synapses - Contains minimal serous fluid
- Components  Epidural space
 Presynaptic membrane - In spinal cord, dura does not cling to
- Thickened cell membrane of vertebrae
presynaptic neuron - Space between dura and bony wall of
- Usually expanded portion of axon vertebral canal (vertebrae have distinct
(bouton) of presynaptic neuron is periosteum)
involved in synapse - Contains fat and venous plexus.
 bouton terminal – if - Leptomeninges
expanded portion is an axon  Arachnoid membrane
termination - Flat, sheet-like membrane
 bouton en passant – if - CT trabeculae connects it with pia
expanded portion occurs matter
along axon - Subarachnoid space: space between
- bouton contains synaptic vesicles arachnoid and pia.
with chemical neurotransmitters  Pia mater
(e.g., acetylcholine; about 30-50 are - Thin layer of loose connective tissue
known), mitochondria, neurofibrils, - Very vascular
and lysosomes - Adheres to brain tissue
 Synaptic cleft - Separated from nervous tissue by
O
- Small 200-300 A gap neuroglial cells
- Contains polysaccharides and
intersynaptic filaments
 Postsynaptic membrane
- Thickened cell membrane of
postsynaptic cell (neuron, muscle or
gland)
- Mechanism of Impulse Transmission
 Release (exocytosis) of
neurotransmitter via presynaptic
membrane into synaptic cleft
 Neurotransmitter diffuses to receptors
at post synaptic membrane
- Types occurring between neurons
 Axodendritic: axon to dendrites
 Axosomatic: axon to soma
 Axoaxonic: axon to axon
 Rare: dendrodendritic,
somatodendritic, somatosomatic,
somatoaxonic, dendroaxonic, and
axoaxodendritic Figure 3. Components of the meninges -
dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater

NERVOUS SYSTEM  Choroid Plexuses

o Consists of:
1. Definition of Terms
- Small blood vessels and capillaries
 CNS rd th
that line 3 , 4 and lateral ventricles of
o Nucleus: collection of nerve cell brain
bodies with common function - Ependyma (simple cuboidal
o Nuclear areas: no definite nucleus epithelium)
o Tract: collection of myelinated o Produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
nerve fibers with same function - Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Lemniscus: flattened tract  Clear, slightly viscous fluid
- Faniculus: rounded or thick tract  Circulates through ventricles,
 PNS subarachnoid space, perivascular
o Ganglion space and central canal of spinal
- Collection of nerve cell bodies cord
- Other components of ganglion:  Specific gravity = 1.004-1.008
capsule, satellite cells  Total amount = 80-150 ml
o Peripheral Nerve: collection of  Rate of production = 14-36 ml/hr
myelinated nerve fibers  Turnover rate = 3-4x/ day
 Function: Acts as water cushion
2. Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and Spinal for CNS
Cord  Composition
 Meninges - Sugar
o Connective tissue membrane that cover brain - Protein – traces
and spinal cord - Inorganic salts
o Components
- Pachymeninx
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 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 5: Nervous Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

-
Lymphocytes- only cells -Nerve fibers stripped of
present (1-3/ml) neurilemmal sheath and myelin
 Produced mostly by choroid - Sensitive to touch, pain and
plexuses but also by pia mater and temperature
brain substance  Expanded-tip endings
 Drained by Arachnoid villi into - Example: Merkel Disc
venous system - Found underneath the epidermis
- Granular structure - Consists of leak-like expansion of
- Arise from arachnoid naked axon terminal in contact
membrane with Merkel cell
- Penetrates dura and projects - Sensitive to touch and pressure
into superior sagittal sinus  Encapsulated
 Arrangement of Neurons - Consists of
o Gray Matter  Naked nerve axon
- cell bodies  Connective tissue capsule
- dendrites that encloses axon and is
- proximal parts of axons lamellated
- neuroglial cells - Ruffini’s corpuscle (Stretch)
- in brain, located in periphery  Small, spindle-shaped
- in spinal cord, located deep structure
 White Matter  Seen in dermis
- myelinated axons  Composed of a naked axon
- in brain, located deep to and thin CT capsule
gray matter  Sensitive to stretch
- in spinal cord located in - End-bulb of Krause (Touch and
periphery Pressure)
 Types of Neurons According to Length of  Small (50mm), oval
axon in CNS structure
o Golgi Type I: long axons that leave  Present in conjunctiva,
CNS or gray matter and terminate in mucous membrane of lips,
some distance in another part of gray dermis, glans penis and
matter clitoris
o Golgi Type II: short axons  Composed of an axon that
arborizes within a thin
3. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves (12 lamellated capsule
pairs of cranial and 31 pairs of spinal nerves) and
 Sensitive to touch and
Ganglia
pressure
 Peripheral Nerve - Vater-Pacini corpuscle
o Organization (Vibration and Pressure)
- Nerve fiber
 Largest of sensory nerve
 axon, neurilemmal sheath, myelin
endings
sheath and basal lamina
 Up to 0.5 mm diameter and
 enveloped by endoneurium
2 cm long
- Nerve fiber bundle or fascicle
 collection of nerve fibers  Like cut surface of onion
 enveloped by perineurium  Seen in dermis,
- Peripheral nerve (nerve trunk; nerve) hypodermis, pancreas,
 collection of nerve bundles mammary gland,
 enveloped by epineurium mesenteries and external
 eg. sciatic & ulnar nerves genitalia
 Often a mixed nerve--contains both  Composed of a capsule
sensory (afferent) and motor with 30 or more layers of
(efferent) fibers. CT fibers and a single axon
 Peripheral Nerve Endings that loses myelin as it
o Terminations of peripheral nerves in enters capsule
epithelial, connective and muscle tissues  Sensitive to vibration and
o Types according to function pressure
- Sensory nerve endings - Meissner’s corpuscle (Touch)
 collect general sensory stimuli  Composed of an axon that
 terminations of axons of sensory loses myelin sheath as it
neurons of craniospinal ganglia: enters inferior pole; follows
- ganglia on dorsal roots of spinal tortuous route inside and a
nerves lamellated capsule
- ganglia of cranial nerves  Sensitive to touch
responsible for general sensory - Neuromuscular spindle (Stretch)
and taste functions  AKA muscle spindle
- Pseudounipolar - single process  Found in endomysium and
(axon) that bifurcates a short perimysium of all muscles
distance from perikaryon into:  For fine motor movement
 Axon is smaller and poorly  Sensitive to stretch (change
myelinated in muscle length)
 Dendrite is well-myelinated - Golgi tendon organ
therefore structurally an (Contraction)
axon but functionally  Found in tendons
dendrite; often referred to  Sensitive to contraction
as an axon or sensory axon
 Simple - Motor nerve endings

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 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 5: Nervous Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

 Responsible for contraction of Table 1. Terminology Differences between the CNS

muscles/secretion of glands and PNS
 Somatic motor neurons
- Skeletal muscles
CNS PNS
- Axon terminals of fibers form
Nucleus – collection of Ganglion – collection of
specialized junctions with muscle
nerve cell bodies with a nerve cell bodies
fibers called motor endplates
common function; (enveloped by capsule,
(myoneural junctions)
contained in the gray with satellite supporting
 Visceral motor neurons
matter cells)
- Smooth and cardiac muscles
Nuclear area – no definite Peripheral nerve (nerve
 Do not form specialized
nucleus or nerve trunk) –
junctional complexes
collection of myelinated
 Terminate a short distance nerve fibers
from muscle fiber
Tract – collection of
- Glands
myelinated nerve fibers
with same functions;
4. Functional Division of the Nervous System
contained in the white
 Somatic Nervous System matter
o Neurons in CNS & PNS that are lemniscus – flattened
concerned with skeletal muscles, funiculus – rounded or
bones & skin thick tract
o Somatic afferent (sensory) neurons
- Reception of sensory stimuli from
external environment and REFERENCES:
proprioceptive stimuli from muscles,
tendons and joints
1. Lecture Notes
o Somatic efferent (motor) neurons)
2. PPT
- Innervate skeletal muscles
3. Book (Textbook of Histology 5th edition by
- Endings form motor endplates
Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.)
 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
o Neurons in CNS & PNS that are
concerned with smooth and cardiac
muscle, and glands
o Visceral afferent (sensory) neurons
- Receptors similar to those in SMS
but in smooth muscles and glands
o Visceral efferent (motor) neurons
- Sympathetic
 Fibers of preganglionic
neurons exit CNS via thoracic
and lumbar spinal nerves
 Postganglionic neurons in
vertebral (sympatheic trunk)
and prevertebral ganglia
- Parasympathetic
 Fibers of preganglionic
neurons exit CNS via cranial
and spinal nerves.
 Postganglionic neurons are in
ganglia near or within wall of
structures they innervate
- Enteric
 Cell bodies and fibers form
ganglionated plexuses in
digestive tract.
 Components of both:
o Afferent (sensory) neurons
o Efferent (motor/secretory) neurons
o Association neurons (interneurons)

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