Yuniarti Department of anatomy Faculty of medicine UNISBA

Organization of the nervous system

1.Central Nerve System - Brain - Spinal cord
2. Peripheral Nerve System - Cranial nerve - Spinal nerve

Protect brain cells from harmful substance and pathogens by prevent passage of many substance from blood into brain tissue.

Tight junctions, which provide continuity between the endothelial cells of these capillaries, represent the main structural component of the barrier.

In addition,the processes of many astrocyte press up against the capillaries selectively pass some substances from the blood to neuron but inhibit the passage of other.

Examination of an electron micrograph of the central nervous system shows that the lumen of a blood capillary is separated from the extracellular spaces around the neurons and neuroglia by the following structures: (1) the endothelial cells in the wall of the capillary (2) a continuous basement membrane surrounding the capillary outside the endothelial cells (3) the foot processes of the astrocytes that adhere to the outer surface of the capillary wall

 In molecular terms, the blood-brain barrier is thus a continuous lipid bilayer that encircles the endothelial cells and isolates the brain tissue from the blood. This explains how lipophilic molecules can readily diffuse through the barrier, whereas hydrophilic molecules are excluded.
The structure of the blood-brain barrier is not identical in all regions of the central nervous system. In fact, in those areas where the blood-brain barrier appears to be absent, the capillary endothelium contains fenestrations across which proteins and small organic molecules may pass from the blood to the nervous tissue

 The cranium & the cranial meninges surround & protect the brain The cranial meninges are continous with the spinal meninges, have the same basic structure and bear the same names : ~ the outer dura mater ~ the middle arachnoid mater ~ the inner pia mater

Characteristics of Cranial Meninges

Dura mater:
inner fibrous layer (meningeal layer) outer fibrous layer (endosteal layer)

Arachnoid mater:
contacts epithelial layer of dura mater, Subarachnoid space and pia mater

Pia mater:
attached to brain surface by astrocytes

However, the cranial dura mater has two layers; the spinal dura mater has only one

Three extension of dura mater separate parts of the brain : 1. The falx cerebri Separate the two hemispheres of the cerebrum 2. The falx cerebelli Separate the two hemispheres of the cerebellum 3. The tentorium cerebelli Separate the cerebrum from the cerebellum

Of the three meningeal spaces commonly mentioned in relation to the cranial meninges, only one exists as a space in the absence of pathology

1. The dura -cranium interface (extradural or epidural space) is not a natural space between the cranium and the external periosteal layer of the dura because the dura is attached to the bones.

2. The dura-arachnoid junction or interface (subdural space) is likewise not a natural space between the dura and the arachnoid. A space may develop in the dural border cell layer as the result of trauma, such as after a blow to the head

3. The subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid and pia, is a real space that contains CSF, trabecular cells, cerebral arteries, and bridging superior cerebral veins that drain into the superior sagittal sinus

 The ventricles are four fluid-filled cavities located within the brain, these are : ~ the two lateral ventricles There are two large lateral ventricles, and one is present in each cerebral hemisphere The ventricle is a roughly C-shaped cavity and may be divided into a body, which occupies the parietal lobe and from which anterior, posterior, and inferior horns extend into the frontal, occipital, and temporal lobes

the third ventricle The third ventricle is a slitlike cleft between the two thalami

the fourth ventricle It is situated anterior to the cerebellum and posterior to the pons and the superior half of the medulla oblongata

 CSF is a clear, colorless liquid that protects the brain and spinal cord against chemical and physical injuries The CSF is found in the ventricles of the brain and in the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord CSF has a volume of about 80-150 mL Rate of production 20mL/hour Composition : glucose,protein, lactic acid, urea, cation, anion & some white blood cells The site of CSF production are the choroid plexus, which are network of capillaries in the walls o the ventricle

 The Functions of the CSF

The cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the external and internal surfaces of the brain and spinal cordCushions and protects the central nervous system from trauma

Because the density of the brain is only slightly greater than that of the cerebrospinal fluid it provides mechanical buoyancy and support for the brain

The close relationship of the fluid to the nervous tissue and the blood enables it to serve as a reservoir and assist in the regulation of the contents of the skull. For example, if the brain volume or the blood volume increases, the cerebrospinal fluid volume decreases

 The Functions of the CSF

cerebrospinal fluid is an ideal physiologic substrate, t probably plays an active part in the nourishment of the nervous tissue

removal of products of neuronal metabolism

Serves as a pathway for pineal secretions to reach the pituitary gland by circulating through the cerebrospinal fluid in the third ventricle

The sites of CSF production are the choroid plexuses , networks of blood capillaries (microscopic blood vessels) in the walls of the ventricles The capillaries are covered by ependymal cells that form cerebrospinal fluid from blood plasma by filtration and secretion. Because the ependymal cells are joined by tight junctions, materials entering CSF from choroid capillaries cannot leak between these cells; instead, they must pass through the ependymal cells.

There is free passage of water, gases, and lipid-soluble substances from the blood to the cerebrospinal fluid. Macromolecules such as proteins and most hexoses other than glucose are unable to enter the cerebrospinal fluid. It has been suggested that a barrier similar to the blood-brain barrier exists in the choroid plexuses

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Electron-microscopic examination of a villus of a choroid plexus shows that the lumen of a blood capillary is separated from the lumen of the ventricle by the following structures: the endothelial cells, which are fenestrated and have very thin walls (the fenestrations are not true perforations but are filled by a thin diaphragm); a continuous basement membrane surrounding the capillary outside the endothelial cells; scattered pale cells with flattened processes a continuous basement membrane, on which rest the choroidal epithelial cells

The brain is supplied by the two internal carotid and the two vertebral arteries. The internal carotid artery begins at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery Enters the subarachnoid space by piercing the arachnoid mater and turns posteriorly to the region of the medial end of the lateral cerebral sulcus. Here, it divides into the anterior and middle cerebral arteries

The vertebral artery

a branch of the first part of the subclavian artery ascends the neck by passing through the foramina in the trasverse processes of the upper six cervical vertebrae.

It enters the skull through the foramen magnum

The basilar artery

formed by the union of the two vertebral arteries, ascends in a groove on the anterior surface of the pons.
At the upper border of the pons, it divides into the two posterior cerebral arteries.

Circle of Willis The circle of Willis lies in the interpeduncular fossa at the base of the brain.

It is formed by the anastomosis between the two internal carotid arteries and the two vertebral arteries .
The anterior communicating, anterior cerebral, internal carotid, posterior communicating, posterior cerebral, and basilar arteries all contribute to the circle.

 The veins of the brain have no muscular tissue in their very thin walls, and they possess no valves. They emerge from the brain and lie in the subarachnoid space. They pierce the arachnoid mater and the meningeal layer of the dura and drain into the cranial venous sinuses

External Cerebral Veins

The superior cerebral veins empty into the superior sagittal sinus The superficial middle cerebral vein empties into the cavernous sinus The deep middle cerebral vein drains into the straight sinus

Internal Cerebral Veins

empties into the straight sinus.

 The midbrain is drained by veins that open into the basal or great cerebral veins.

The pons is drained by veins that open into the basal vein, cerebellar veins, or neighboring venous sinuses. The medulla oblongata is drained by veins that open into the spinal veins and neighboring venous sinuses. The cerebellum is drained by veins that empty into the great cerebral vein or adjacent venous sinuses.

ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES Artery Origin Distribution

Internal carotid

Common carotid artery at superior border of thyroid cartilage

Gives branches to walls of cavernous sinus, pituitary gland, and trigeminal ganglion; provides primary supply to brain Cerebral hemispheres, except for occipital lobes

Anterior cerebral Anterior communicating Middle cerebral

Internal carotid artery

Anterior cerebral artery

Cerebral arterial circle (of Willis)

Continuation of internal carotid artery distal to

Most of lateral surface of cerebral hemispheres

anterior cerebral artery

Vertebral Subclavian artery Cranial meninges and cerebellum

Basilar

Formed by union of
vertebral arteries

Brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebrum