ASU HLTH 1020 Health
Anatomy Week 3 Lecture Notes
and Tutorials (Nervous System)
University of South Australia
,WEEK 3 – NERVOUS SYSTEM
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Explain the role of the nervous system as the control system of the body and
describe a basic neural circuit
• Have an understanding of the structural and functional divisions of the nervous
system
• Discuss the levels of organisation in the nervous system
• Name and know the functions of glial cells
• Describe the mechanisms of action potential generation including the
transmembrane potential, movement of ions and changes in transmembrane
potential, and propagation of action potentials.
• What is a synapse? Understand the process of synaptic transmission and be able to
detail the general activity of some common neurotransmitters.
• Define terms: grey matter, white matter, nucleus, ganglia, nerve and tract.
• Identify key structures (subdivisions) of the brain and give functions for each.
• Identify anatomical and functional areas of the brain important in motor control and
sensation including ascending and descending pathways.
• Identify the major blood vessels that supply the brain.
• Describe the gross structure of the spinal cord
• Have an appreciation of the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system
• Have a functional knowledge of the eye and ear special senses in how they detect
information and we interpret than information
NERVOUS SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION:
The sum total of the tissues that record and distribute information within a person, and does
so by electrical and chemical means.
FUNCTION:
- maintain homeostasis by controlling organ systems and behavioural drives (e.g.
hunger, thirst)
- cognition and memory
- provides and interprets sensory information about external conditions
- control of skeletal muscle (movement)
- electrical signals and chemical signals
MAJOR ORGANS:
- Brain & spinal cord
- peripheral nerves
- sense organs
TWO SYSTEMS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM:
DESCRIPTION: Brain and spinal cord
FUNCTION:
- integrating and processing information
- sensory information → commands
Interpreting info and making decisions
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYTEM:
, DESCRIPTION: Everything else
FUNCTION:
- Commands from CNS → body
- Body sensory information → CNS
- Message transport system
CELL TYPES IN THE NERVOUS SYTEM
NEURONS (carry messages):
DESCRIPTION:
- Neurons: ~100 billion
- Neuron distribution is not equal throughout the body
- e.g. cerebellum is smaller than cerebrum but contains a similar number of
neurons
- Certain regions have a high density of axons. White in colour (white matter)
- Certain regions have a high density of neuronal cell bodies Gray in colour
(gray matter)
(Typical neurons cannot undergo cell division)
i.e. they cannot be replaced if lost due to lack centrioles
- Neural stem cells are present in the adult nervous system but are typically
inactive
active in the nose (regeneration of olfactory receptors) and hippocampus
(memory)
FUNCTION:
- process information (e.g. sense changes, communicate changes, command a
response)
- Communication & bringing information together
NEUROGLIA/ GLIA (supporting cells):
DESCRIPTION:
- Neuroglia: human brain: ~1,000 billion
- They outnumber neurons
- They monitor cerebrospinal fluid
-
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