NERVOUS SYSTEM

A SERIES OF NERVOUS ORGANS WITH A SINGLE

FUNCTION: INFORMATION COMMUNICATION
(in electrochemical language:
fast travelling nerve impulses + releasing
neurotransmitter)

NERVOUS SYSTEM
CONSISTS OF
1. CENTRAL NS (CNS):
BRAIN + SPINAL CORD
2. PERIPHERAL NS (PNS):
CRANIAL NERVES (12 prs)
SPINAL NERVES (31 prs)
 NERVOUS SYSTEM (NS)

PERIPHERAL NS CENTRAL NS

AUTONOMIC NS SOMATIC NS BRAIN SPINAL CORD

(ENCEPHALON) (MYELUM/medul-
la spinalis)
SYMPATHETIC NS PARASYMPATHETIC NS

HINDBRAIN
FOREBRAIN MIDBRAIN
RHOMBENCEPHALON
(PROSENCEPHALON) (MESENCEPHALON)

TELENC. DIENC. MESENC. METENC. MYELENC.

Thalamus Hypothalamus Tectum Pons Medulla

Cerebrum (cerebral cortex, Basal gangl. Tegmentum Cerebellum oblongata
Hippocampus Amygdala Medullary body (Medulla)
 DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM

BRAIN (Encephalon)
(within the cranial cavity)
CENTRAL
(CNS)

NERVOUS SPINAL CORD (Medulla spinalis)

(within the vertebral canal)
SYSTEM CRANIAL NERVES (N I - XII)
(from the brain)
PERIPHERAL (anatomical)
(PNS) SPINAL NERVES (31 pairs)
(from the spinal cord)
(functional)

AUTONOMIC (ANS)* (unconscious) SOMATIC (conscious)

(to skeletal muscles)
SYMPATHETIC PARASYMPATHETIC
(to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands)
(* ANS has its cranial component in the brain)
12 pairs of cranial
nerves (NI NXII)

31 pairs of spinal nerves

 AUTONOMIC
NS

SYMPATHETIC
NS (blue)
(Centers:
thoracolumbal:
T2-L3)
PARASYMPATHETIC
NS (red)
(Centers: craniosacral:
Pons, med.obl.,S2,3,4)
 SPINAL CORD
(MEDULLA SPINALIS)
INSIDE THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN
(in the vertebral canal)

31 SEGMENTS

31 PAIRS OF SPINAL NERVES CERVICAL (C) : 8

THORACAL (T) : 12
LUMBAR (L) :5
SACRAL (S) :5
COCCYGEAL (Co) : 1
CONTAINS: - SENSORY FIBERS
- MOTOR NEURONS
- ASCENDING/DESCENDING FIBERS
(PATHWAYS/TRACTS TO AND FROM THE BRAIN)
REFLEX CENTER
 Cervical (8)

Thoracic (12)

Lumbar (5)

Sacral (5)

Coccygeal (1)
 Somatic Autonomic

Sensory Input Special & somatic Interoceptors, special &

senses somatic senses

Motor Output Voluntary Involuntary

Motor Neuron One neuron Two neurons (pre- & post-

ganglionic neurons)
Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine Acetylcholine or
Norepinephrine
Effectors Skeletal muscle Smooth muscle, cardiac
muscle, glands
Responses Contraction Contraction/ Relaxation;
Increased/ Decreased
secretion
ANATOMY OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Thoracolumbar Craniosacral (n III, VII, IX,

(T1 L2) X, S2 S4)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Distribution Widespread (sweat Limited (viscera &
glands, arrector pili some blood vessels)
muscles, blood
vessels)
Outflow from CNS Thoracolumbar (T1- Craniosacral (Nerves
L2) III, VII, IX, X, S2-S4)
Location of ganglia Paravertebral & Terminal ganglia
prevertebral
Close to CNS Close/within viscera

Divergence Pre-ganglionic >20 Pre-ganglionic 4-5

post-ganglionic post-ganglionic
many effectors single effectors
Pre-ganglionic ACh ACh
neurotransmitters
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Post-ganglionic NE (mostly) or ACh ACh
neurotransmitters (sweat glands, blood
vessels to skeletal
muscles)
Deactivation of Slow (by COMT or Rapid (ACh-esterase)
neurotransmitters MAO)

Physiological Fight-or-flight Rest-and-digest

effects
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Glands
Adrenal medulla Secretion of NE/ E ?
(Nicotinic)
Lacrimal Secretion () Secretion

Pancreas Inhibit digestive Secretion of digestive

enzymes & insulin enzymes & insulin
(2); Secretion of
glucagon (2)
Posterior pituitary Secretion of ADH (1) ?
Pineal Secretion of melatonin ?
()
Sweat Increase (muscarinic ?
& 1)
Adipose tissue Lipolysis (1), release ?
(1 & 3)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Glands
Liver Glycogenolysis, Glycogen synthesis,
gluconeogenesis, increased bile secretion
inhibit bile secretion
Kidney, Secretion of renin (1) ?
juxtaglomerular
cell

Cardiac muscle Increased heart rate, Decreased heart rate,

atrial & ventricular atrial contraction
contraction (1)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Iris, radial muscle Dilation of pupil ?

Iris, circular ? Constriction of pupil

muscle
Ciliary muscle Relaxation - distant Contraction close
(eye) vision (2) vision

Lungs, bronchus Dilation (2) Constriction

Gall bladder and Relaxation (2) Contraction/ release of
ducts bile

Stomach, Decreased motility Increased motility;

intestine (1, 2, 2); sphincter sphincter relaxation
contraction (1)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Spleen Contraction, secretion ?
of blood (1)
Ureter Increase motility (1) Increase motility (?)

Urinary bladder Wall relaxation (2); Wall contraction;

sphincter contraction sphincter relaxation
(1)
Uterus Inhibit contraction (non- Minimal effect
pregnant, 2), promote
contraction (pregnant,
1)
Sex organs Smooth muscle Vasodilation, erection
contraction, prostate
ejaculation
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Hair follicles, Erection of hairs ?
arrector pili
muscle
Vascular smooth
muscle-arterioles
Salivary gland Constriction, decrease Dilation, increase K+ &
secretion (1) water
Gastric gland Constriction, decrease Gastric secretion
secretion (1)
Intestinal gland Constriction, decrease Intestinal secretion
secretion (1)
Coronary arteriole Dilation (2), Constriction
Constriction (1, 2,
muscarinic
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Vascular smooth
muscle -arterioles
Skin & mucosa Constriction Dilation

Skeletal muscle Constriction (1), ?

dilation (2 &
muscarinic)
Abdominal Constriction (1, 2) ?
viscera
Brain Constriction (1) ?
Kidney Decreased urine (1) ?

Systemic veins Constriction (1), ?

Dilation (2)
 RECEPTOR AGONISTS & ANTAGONISTS

Agonists
Phenylephrine agonist 1 receptor (decongestan)

Antagonists
Atropine block muscarinic receptors (pupil dilator, GIT relaxant)
Propanolol non-selective blocker (also 2, decrease
glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, bronchoconstriction)
Metoprolol selective 1 blocker (heart)
Parasympathetic (rest & digest) Sympathetic (fight & flight)

SLUDD E situations

Salivation Exercise
Lacrimation Emergency
Urination Excitement
Digestion Embarrassment
Defecation