Neuron – its structure

 Axon, cell body

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Neuron – the nerve cell
1011 nerve cells
uni, bipolar, multipolar
is the structural and functional
unit
consists of the soma or cell
body
two types of processes: the
axon and dendrites
the neuron contains
neurofibrils
neurotubules.
The axon- covering
axolemma
arises from the axon hillock of
the soma
Neuroglia cells- 20 tmes more.
Astrocytes,
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oligodendrocytes,
neuron- Dr. Ashok Solanki 2
ependymal cells.
 NEURON

 CLASSIFICATION- FUNCTIONAL
1) Somatic, autonomic
2) cranial, spinal
3) motor, sensory
4) adrenergic, cholinergic
5) myelinated, non myelinated
6) A ( alpha, beta, gamma, delta), B, C
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neuron- Dr. Ashok Solanki
 NEURON- TYPES
 4. Depending on the neurotransmitter
they secrete at their endings

Cholinergic fibers secreting acetylcholine

Adrenergic fibers secreting adrenaline

Dopaminergic fibers secreting dopamine.

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 Other non-neuronal cells
Microglia
phagocytosis
immune-like function
Ependymal cells
line walls of ventricles
role in cell migration during development ~

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 NERVE CELL BODY
 MITOCHONDRIA, GOLGI
APPARATUS, ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM, MICROFILAMENTS,
MICROTUBULES, NEUROFIBRILLAE,
NUCLEUS WITH NUCLEOLUS,
NISSL’S GRANULES (TIGROID
BODIES), CENTRIOLE ABSENT
hence number of neuron remain
same as that at birth , neuron can grow
in size but cannot divide
 NEUROGLIA

 ASTROCYTES: STAR SHAPED

1) FIBROUS ASTROCYTES
2) PROTOPLASMIC ASTROCYTES
FN.: SUPPORTING NETWORK IN BRAIN
AND SPINAL CORD
FORM BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER
ELECTRICALLY INSULATE SYNAPSES
PRODUCE GROWTH FACTORS FOR NVS

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 Neuroglia
 Neuroglia of CNS
Astrocytes
 Form the blood-brain barrier
 Form a structural framework for the CNS
 Repair damaged neural tissue
 Control the interstitial environment of the CNS
Oligodendrocytes
 Form myelin sheaths CNS
Microglia
 Phagocytose foreign microbes, etc.
Ependymal
 Line ventricles of the brain, secrete cerebrospinal fluid

 Neuroglia of PNS
Schwann cells
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 Form myelin sheaths of PNS
 Neuroglia vs. Neurons
 Neuroglia divide.
 Neurons do not.
 Most brain tumors are “gliomas.”
 Most brain tumors involve the neuroglia
cells, not the neurons.
 Consider the role of cell division in cancer!

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Dr. Ashok Solanki
 Myelin
 Wrap around axon
 Saltatory Conduction
 faster transmission
 CNS: oligodendroglia
or oligodendrocytes
 PNS: Schwann cells ~

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 Myelination
 The dorsal column (sensory tract ) is
first to start myelination
 Pyramidal tract ( motor tract ) is last to
get myelinated
 Myelin sheath is composed of lipids
( sphingomyelin ) and proteins
 Sphingomyelin act as insulator and
prevent flow of ions
 At the node of renvier the axon is in
direct contact with ECF
 MYELINATION
 SCHAWANN CELL IN PERIPHERAL NERVOUS
SYSTEM AND OLIGODENDROCYTES IN CNS.
 NODES OF RANVIER
 STARTS AT 4TH MONTH OF PREGNANCY ,
CONTINUES UPTO 2 YRS OF AGE.
 IMPORTANCE:
- INCREASED SPEED OF CONDUCTION:
SALTATORY CONDUCTION
- REDUCES ENERGY EXPENDITURE
- PROTECTION
- IMP. DURING REGENRATION
- PREVENTS CONDUCTION BET. TWO NEARBY
NEURONS
Dr. Ashok Solanki
 Myelination
 Myelin sheath – around axon – myelinated
nerve fibers
 Schwann cells – protein lipid complex
produced by glial cells
 Nodes of ranvier
 Myelination of axons increase the speed of
conduction , reduce energy expenditure ,
provide protective covering to the axon
 Myelinated and Unmyelinated
Axons
 Myelinated axons
Myelin protects
and insulates axons
from one another
Not continuous
Nodes of Ranvier
 Unmyelinated axons

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 AXON / AXIS CYLINDER / NERVE
FIBER
 AXON HILLOCK
 AXOPLASM
 AXOLEMMA - neurilemma
 AXOPLASMIC FLOW
-ANTEGRADE: NEUROTRANSMITTERS,
PROTEINS, NERVE GROWTH
FACTORS.
-RETROGRADE: VIRUSES, TOXINS,
NGF, NEUROTRANSMITTER
PRODUCTS.
 Saltatory conduction
 Jumping of signals or impulse from one
node of renvier to the next in mylenated
nerve fiber
 Velocity of conduction is more in
myelinated nerve fiber
 All preganglionic fibers of ANS and large
nerve fibers of somatic nervous system
are myelinated
 Nerve injury
 Causes of nerve injury.
1. transection
2. crushing
3. exposure to toxins
4. ischaemia.
5. hyperpyrexia more than 40.5 C
 Grading of nerve injury
 ¡st degree- direct pressure ischemia
 2nd degree- severe pressure death of the
axon.
 3rd degree- endoneurium tubes becomes
disorganised.
 4th degree- fesicles becomes
disorganised.
 5th degree- nerve trunk becomes
disorganised.
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 Changes in the distal stump (Wallerian degeneration):

 The process of degeneration starts within 24 hrs of injury.

Within 3 days of injury, the ability of the axon to conduct
impulse decreases and after 5 days complete stoppage of
conduction takes place.

• The degenerative changes taking place in the distal part

of the axon is called as Wallerian degeneration.

 Axis cylinder breaks into smaller pieces and finally the

place formerly occupied by axon contains dust like particles
(debris of axon).

Myelin sheath breaks down into small oily droplets. But

the myelinating cells remain alive – Schwann cells in
peripheral nervous system
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Ashok Solanki

nervous system.
 Degeneration:
 Changes in the nerve cell body (retrograde
degeneration).
 Changes begin within 48 hours of injury.
 First change in the cell body is chromatolysis- Nissl’s granules
disintegrate and disappear (become colorless). Nissl’s
granules contain RNA and their disintegration provides
proteins to the injured nerve.
 Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, neurofibrils swell and finally
disappear.
 Cell draws in fluid, swells and becomes rounded.
 Nucleus becomes larger in size and is pushed to the periphery
of the cell. If nucleus is thrown out of the cell, the neuron dies
because nucleus is required for the survival of the neuron.

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 Wallerian degeneration
( anterograde degeneration)
 If a nerve fiber is cut or crushed, the part distal to the injury will
degenerate.

 occurs at the distal stump of the site of injury

 usually begins within 24 hours of a lesion

 injury, the axonal skeleton disintegrates and the axonal membrane

breaks apart

 followed by degradation of the myelin sheath

 myelin sheaths are produced by oligodendrocytes and not by

Schwann cells
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PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS:
 Excitability
 Conductivity

 All or none law

 Refractory period

 Accommodation

 Adaptation

 Summation

 Indefatigability

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 Applied
 Multiple sclerosis – patchy destruction of
myelin sheath leading to demyelination
 Hypothyroidism – cretinism – mental
retardation – thyroid hormone required for
myelination
 Gullian barre syndrome – demyelination –
abnormal conduction
2) Numerical classification for sensory neurons:
Numerical Origin Type

Ia Muscle spindle, A alpha

annulospiral ending
Ib Golgi tendon organ A alpha

II Muscle spindle, touch, A beta

pressure
III Pain and temperature A delta
receptor
IV Pain Dorsal root C
fibers
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 -1) Erlanger Gasser’ s classi fication: most important
classifi cation

TYPE FUNCTION DIAMETER CONDUCTION

(MICRO VELOCITY
METERS ) (MTS /S EC)

Myelinated A alpha Proprioception, 12-20 70-120

fibers of spinal A beta somatic motor 5-12 30-70
nerves (motor & A gamma Touch, pressure, 3-6 15-30
sensory) A delta motor 2-5 12-30
Motor to muscle
spindle
Pain, touch,
temperature
Myelinated B Preganglionic <3 3-15
efferent autonomic nerve
preganglionic fibers
unmyelinated C Pain, touch, 0.4-1.2 0.5-2
1) Dorsal root temperature 0.3-1.3 0.7-2.3
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2) sympathetic Postganglionic
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sympathetic
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 Classification of nerve fiber
Diameter & velocity of nerve fibers- classified as

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 DEGENERATION AND REGENERATION OF NERVE
FIBERS:
Grades on injuries:
 First degree injury
 Second degree injury: It is due to direct pressure over
the nerve fiber for a long time
 Third degree injury: Injury leading to damage to the
endoneurial tube.
 Fourth degree injury: There is injury leading to
endoneurial damage and disorganization of the fascicles.
 Fifth degree injury: Through and through cut injury
(complete transection) of the nerve in which the nerve
fiber is cut into two halves

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 -1) Erlanger Gasser’ s classi fication: most important
classifi cation

TYPE FUNCTION DIAMET ER CONDUCTION

(MICRO VELOCITY
MET ERS ) (MTS /S EC)

Myelinated A alpha Proprioception, 12-20 70-120

fibers of spinal A beta somatic motor 5-12 30-70
nerves (motor & A gamma Touch, pressure, 3-6 15-30
sensory) A delta motor 2-5 12-30
Motor to muscle
spindle
Pain, touch,
temperature
Myelinated B Preganglionic <3 3-15
efferent autonomic nerve
preganglionic fibers
unmyelinated C Pain, touch, 0.4-1.2 0.5-2
1) Dorsal root temperature 0.3-1.3 0.7-2.3
2) sympathetic Postganglionic
sympathetic

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 PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBERS;

 EXCITABLILTY
 CONDUCTIVITY
 ONE WAY CONDUCTION
 REFRACTORY PERIOD
 ALL OR NONE LAW
 ACCOMODATION
 SUMMATION
 Unfatigability
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