6: Nervous System
- Page ID
- 100006
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 6.3: Nervous Tissue - The Wiring of the Body
- Nervous tissue is the main component of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
- 6.5: Signal Speed — How Myelin Turns Nerves into Racetracks
- Neurons are responsible for the computation and communication that the nervous system provides and they can be classified by structure (unipolar, bipolar, multipolar) or function (sensory, motor, interneuron). In the CNS, glial cells, or glia, are astrocytes (support and contribution to BBB barrier), oligodendrocyte (myelination), microglia (defense), and ependymal cells (production of CSF). In the PNS, glial cells are Schwann cells (myelination) and satellite cells (support).
- 6.8: Nerve and Ganglion Structure
- Within the Peripheral Nervous System, the white matter is composed of axons transmitting signals that are bundled into structures called nerves. The grey matter is consists primarily of nuclei and satellite cells contained within structures called ganglia. In this section we will look at the structure of the nerves and ganglia that we will name and discuss in later sections.
- 6.9: Inside the Control Tower- Your Brain
- The brain is divided into four major regions: cerebrum, diencephalon, brainstem, and cerebellum. The cerebrum is divided into different regions called lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal and insula. Each lobe performs a specialized function through their cerebral cortex. Overall, the functions of the cerebrum are motor initiation and coordination, processing of general and special senses, and high level functions such as judgment, reasoning, problem solving, and learning.
- 6.10: More Brain Highlights- Diencephalon and Brainstem
- Deep and inferior to the cerebrum, the diencephalon, brainstem and cerebellum compose the rest of the brain. These regions are responsible for various functions including maintaining homeostasis, relaying sensory information, carrying vital functions through the autonomic system. Most of the cranial nerves originate from these regions. The limbic system comprehends structures from the cerebrum and diencephalon that are associated with emotions.
- 6.13: Synapses
- Neurons communicate with each other and with muscles and glands through electrical changes in their cell membrane. The electrical change that is carried down the axon is called an action potential. In electrical synapses, the action potential can be carried from one neuron to another through gap junctions. In chemical synapses, the action potential can be converted into chemical signals called neurotransmitters.
- 6.15: Meninges- Support and Protection of the Brain
- The CNS is crucial to the operation of the body and any compromise of function in the brain and spinal cord can lead to severe difficulties. The CNS is protected by the skeletal system (skull and vertebral column), and underneath by membranes of connective tissue, called meninges. In addition, the CNS has a privileged blood supply, as suggested by the blood-brain barrier. Because of this privilege, the CNS needs specialized structures for the maintenance of circulation.