Nervous System Overview

What is included in Somatic Nervous System ?

• Motor

• Sensory

(in Peripheral Nervous System)

What is included in Autonomic Nervous System ?

• Parasympathetic Nervous System

  • Involuntary processes

  • Calm state

• Sympathetic Nervous System

  • Involuntary processes

  • Danger state - Fight/Flight

• Enteric Nervous System

  • located in walls of intestines

  • movement of peristalsis

(in Peripheral Nervous System)

Nucleus VS Ganglion

• Nucleus / nuclei

  • cluster of neuron cell bodies in CNS

• Ganglion / ganglia

  • cluster of neuron cell bodies in PNS

Nerve VS Tract

• Tract

  • axons in CNS

• Nerve

  • axons in PNS

Grey Matter VS White Matter

• Grey Matter

  • neuron cell bodies, dendrites, glial cells

  • organized in layers

    — molecular layer (most outer - pale colour)

    — Purkinje layer (middle - contains cell bodies of Purkinje cells)

    — granular layer (inner - darker colour - contains cell bodies of granular cells)

  • (outer part)

• White Matter

  • myelinated axons → white ∵ myelin = ↑ fat

  • (inner part)

Ventricles

• FOUR interconnected fluid-filled cavities (also connect w/ Central Canal of Spinal Cord)

• Spaces filled with Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

  • Functions:

    — transport of nutrients

    — waste removal

    — protection / cushion

Meninges

• THREE membranes surrounding CNS :

  • Outer to Inner

    — dura mater

    — arachnoid mater

    — pia mater

• Area separating DM & AM from PM

  • subarachnoid space => where CSF is in

• Functions : Pain receptors

  • migraine headaches → swollen blood vessels

  • meningitis → inflammation of meninges due to bacterial infection