HISTOLOGY OF NERVOUS TISSUE

BY DR. MUDASSAR ALI ROOMI

Overview-Nervous system
Anatomically, nervous system is divided into CNS & PNS. CNS includes brain and spinal cord. PNS includes nerves outside of CNS and their associated ganglia (small groups of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS).
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ANATOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL DIVISIONS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

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Cells of nervous tissue

TWO TYPES OF CELLS ARE PRESENT IN THE NERVOUS TISSUE:

Nerve cells or Neurons: which are excitable and conduct electrical impulses Glial (neuroglial) cells or supporting cells: which support, nurture, and protect the neurons.
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The Neuron
A neuron consists of: a) Cell body b) Processes (dendrites and axons)

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Nerve cell body (perikaryon or soma)

It contains nucleus, cytoplasmic organelles, inclusions and cytoskeletal components. Nucleus: it is large spherical and pale staining (vesicular) and centrally placed in most of the cases. It contains abundant euchromatin (chromatin is finely dispersed) and a large nucleolus (owl-eye nucleus).
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Nerve cell body (perikaryon or soma)

(a) Nissl bodies/granules/substance (chromatophilic substance) - basophilic patches, cytoplasmic structures are concentrations of RER. *** The amount of chromatophilic substance varies according to the type and functional state of the neuron and is particularly abundant in large nerve cells such as motor neurons (b) Neurofilaments - a variety of intermediate filament - are aggregated into neurofibrils visible in the cytoplasm after silver impregnations. (c) Surrounding the nucleus are elements of the Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes, and microtubules. (d) Pigment is sometimes present, e.g., melanin in substantia nigra neurons (midbrain), and brown granules of lipofuscin pigment (wear and tear 28 May 2012 pigment) in old neurons. ***

dendrites
(a) Definition: These are the neuronal processes that receive information and transmit it to the cell body. (b) Contain mitochondria, microtubules, and granular ER. (c) Nissl granules are present in the proximal part of the dendrites. (d) Lack Golgi apparatus*** (e) dendrites have spine-like side processes. function: Dendrites integrate the excitatory influences and increase the receptive area of a neuron.

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axon
(a) Contains axoplasm flowing centrifugally from the pyramidal shape starting-point of the axon - the axon hillock. *** initial segment is the site b/w the apex of the axon hillock and the start of the myelin sheath. Action potential is generated here.*** (b) Has mitochondria, neurofilaments, microtubules, travelling vesicles, and, in some neurons, secretion droplets, in the axoplasm. (c) Membrane of the axon is called as axolemma, swelling out into a bag at its ends (synaptic boutons) which holds vesicles.

Axonal transport: Kinesin, are

responsible for anterograde transport. Dynein allows retrograde transport .***
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CLASSIFICATION OF NEURONS
Neurotransmitter Released
Cholinergic GABAergic Adrenergic Sympathatic Noradrenergic Parasympathatic

Cell Processes
Multipolar
Motor, pyramidal, purkinje

Bipolar
Sensory, retina, olfactory mucosa, cochlear, vest. ganglia

Unipolar rods & cones

Pseudo-unipolar
Sensory, dorsal roots & cranial ganglia

Cell Size
Golgi I Motor paramidal cell, Golgi II
Interneuron spinal cord

Function
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Motor

Interneurons

Sensory

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Morphological Classification of neuronsaccording to the number of cell processes

Unipolar neurons : rare in humans. Found in the mesencephalic nucleus of the 5th cranial nerve. probably occur only during development. pseudounipolar neurons, which have a single process that bifurcates close to the perikaryon, with the longer branch extending to a peripheral ending and the other toward the CNS. Examples: found in the dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves, and sensory ganglia of cranial nerves. ** Bipolar neurons, with one dendrite and one axon. These neurons are found in cochlear and vestibular ganglia, retina and olfactory epithelium. Multipolar neurons, which have one axon and two or many dendrites. Most human neurons are of this type. Some examples are: pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex, Purkinje 28 May 2012 cells of cerebellar cortex, and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord.

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Classification of Neurons by Functional Role

Motor neurons Motor neurons control effector organs and muscle fibers. Sensory neurons Sensory neurons receive sensory stimuli from the internal or external environment and relay them to the CNS.

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Classification of Neurons-according to the length of their axons

Golgi type I neurons: possess many dendrites and a very long axon that leaves the grey matter in which its cell body is present. Examples: pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. Golgi type II neurons: possess many dendrites and a relatively short axon that does not leave the part of grey matter in which the cell body of the neuron is present. Example: Interneurons.
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