The Nervous System: Essentials
The Nervous System: Essentials
The Nervous System: Essentials
PART A
The Nervous System
ESSENTIALS
OF HUMAN
ANATOMY
& PHYSIOLOGY
EIGHTH EDITION
ELAINE N. MARIEB
Figure 7.1
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Functional Classification of the Peripheral
Nervous System
Motor (efferent) division
Nerve fibers that carry impulses away
from the central nervous system
Figure 7.1
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Functional Classification of the Peripheral
Nervous System
Motor (efferent) division
Two subdivisions
Somatic nervous system = voluntary
Autonomic nervous system = involuntary
Figure 7.1
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Organization of the Nervous System
Figure 7.2
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Nervous Tissue: Support Cells
(Neuroglia)
Astrocytes
Abundant, star-shaped cells
Brace neurons
Form barrier
between capillaries
and neurons
Control the chemical
environment of
the brain
Figure 7.3a
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Nervous Tissue: Support Cells
Microglia
Spider-like phagocytes
Dispose of debris
Ependymal cells
Line cavities of the
brain and spinal cord
Circulate
cerebrospinal
fluid
Figure 7.3b–c
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Nervous Tissue: Support Cells
Oligodendrocytes
Produce myelin sheath around nerve fibers
in the central nervous system
Figure 7.3d
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Nervous Tissue: Support Cells
Satellite cells
Protect neuron cell bodies
Schwann cells
Form myelin sheath in the peripheral
nervous system
Figure 7.3e
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Nervous Tissue: Neurons
Neurons = nerve cells
Cells specialized to transmit messages
Major regions of neurons
Cell body – nucleus and metabolic center of
the cell
Processes – fibers that extend from the cell
body
Figure 7.4a–b
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Neuron Anatomy
Extensions outside
the cell body
Dendrites –
conduct impulses
toward the cell
body
Axons – conduct
impulses away
from the cell
body
Figure 7.4a
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Axons and Nerve Impulses
Axons end in axonal terminals
Axonal terminals contain vesicles with
neurotransmitters
Axonal terminals are separated from the next
neuron by a gap
Synaptic cleft – gap between adjacent
neurons
Synapse – junction between nerves
Figure 7.5
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Neuron Cell Body Location
Most are found in the central nervous system
Gray matter – cell bodies and
unmylenated fibers
Nuclei – clusters of cell bodies within the
white matter of the central nervous system
Ganglia – collections of cell bodies outside
the central nervous system
Figure 7.6
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Structural Classification of Neurons
Multipolar neurons – many extensions from
the cell body
Figure 7.8a
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Structural Classification of Neurons
Bipolar neurons – one axon and one dendrite
Figure 7.8b
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Structural Classification of Neurons
Unipolar neurons – have a short single
process leaving the cell body
Figure 7.8c
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Functional Properties of Neurons
Irritability – ability to respond to stimuli
Conductivity – ability to transmit an impulse
The plasma membrane at rest is polarized
Fewer positive ions are inside the cell than
outside the cell
Figure 7.9a–c
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The Action Potential
If the action potential (nerve impulse) starts,
it is propagated over the entire axon
Potassium ions rush out of the neuron after
sodium ions rush in, which repolarizes the
membrane
The sodium-potassium pump restores the
original configuration
This action requires ATP
Figure 7.9d–f
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Continuation of the Nerve Impulse
between Neurons
Impulses are able to cross the synapse to
another nerve
Neurotransmitter is released from a
nerve’s axon terminal
The dendrite of the next neuron has
receptors that are stimulated by the
neurotransmitter
An action potential is started in the
dendrite
Figure 7.10
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