BASIC ORGANIZATION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (Dr. Sarfati) Aug.

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Nervous System
-unique and complex
-neurological disease are non palpable
-subserves language, comprehension, memory, intellect, personality, movement
A.) Central N.S
Brain has 2 hemispheres
Subcortical structures:
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Brain stem- links cerebral hemisphere to the spinal cord
-composed of the midbrain,pons, medulla
Cerebellum- for balance and coordination
Spinal cord

Hypothalamus and pituitary gland- central component of the

autonomic N.S

B.) Peripheral N.S -nerve, neuromuscular junction, muscle

**Autonomic N.S
Cerebral hemisphere
A. Cerebral cortex
-outer
-gray in color because it contains neurons
Has convolutions (gyrus) and invaginations (sulcus)
B. Subcortex-inner
-axons of the neurons from the cortex which are myelinated thats why they appear
white in color (white matter)
Nuclei in the subcortex: internal capsule & Basal nuclei
Central sulcus- divides frontal from the parietal lobe
Parieto-occipital lobe-divides parietal lobe and occipital lobe
Frontal lobe
-movement, judgement, gaze center, micturition
Pre-central gyrus
-motor strip
Parietal lobe
-sensation
Occipital
-vision
Temporal
-hearing, language, comprehension & memory
Subcortex is composed of:
a. Thalamus- relay center for sensation except smell
b. Hypothalamus-visceromotor function, sexual behavior, hormonal control,
temperature control

c. Internal capsule- contains axons of the motor neurons

d. Basal nuclei
Brain stem:
-midbrain, pons, medulla
-cranial nerves except I & II
-descending (motor) tracts to spinal cord, ascending (sensory) tracts to cortex
Midbrain
-contain nuclei for visual and auditory reflexes
Pons
-wakefulness
Medulla
-respiration, heart rate and visceral functions
Cerebellum
-coordination of movement
-balance for smooth movement
Spinal cord
-links brain with the peripheral NS through pathways and tracts
-motor and sensory fiber
**from the foramen magnum, the brain continues to the spinal cord
**there are lumbar and cervical enlargements because youll need more motor
neurons in your upper and lower extremities
**The spinal cord is shorter than the vertebral column; ends at the higher level of
lumbar 1
** the white matter of the spinal cord is on the outer portion
-neurons inside, axons outside
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
-nerves (31 spinal nerves, 12 cranial nerves)
-neuromuscular junction
-muscle
7 cervical bones
8 cervical nerves
5 thoracic bones
12 thoracic nerve
Posterior nerve root - sensory
Anterior nerve root-motor
-join together to form spinal nerve
**cranial nerves
I Olfactory- smell
-onLy nerve that doesnt go through thalamus

Neuron
-dendrite- receiving part of the neuron
-axon
-cell body
-nucleus
Neuroglial cells- supporting cells
Oligodendrocyte-responsible for myelination in the CNS
**PNS- Schwann cell that myelinates axons
Astrocyte- support
Microglial cells- immune cells in the brain; only glial cell that comes from the
ectoderm. It comes from the mesoderm