Histology of Nervous Tissue: Dr. Marwa Gaffar Faki Ali M.B.B.S, M.Sc. Clinical Anatomy

Histology of nervous tissue
Dr. Marwa Gaffar Faki Ali

M.B.B.S, M.Sc. clinical anatomy
By the end of this session the student is able to:
• Identify the nervous tissue.

• Identify the different parts of the nervous tissue.
• Identify the neurons, their functions, different parts,
and types.
• Identify the synapses and its different types.
• Identify the supporting cells of the nervous tissue.
Introduction:
• The most complex system in the body.
• Nerve tissue is distributed throughout the body as an
integrated communications net work.
• Network of nerve cells (neurons) assisted by supporting
cells (glial cells).
Introduction:
Anatomically:
• CNS.
• PNS.
Functionally:
• Somatic NS.
• Visceral (autonomic) NS.
Neurons:
• The functional unit in both the CNS and PNS.
• Specialized for:
- Reception.
- Integration.
- Transformation.
- Transmission of information.
Neurons:
Components of Neuron:
• Cell body.
• Dendrites.
• Axon.
Neurons:
Cell body (perikaryon):
• Synthetic or trophic center for the entire neuron.
• Has large, euchromatic nucleus with a well-developed nucleolus.
Neurons:
Cell body (perikaryon):
• Contains Nissl bodies (large masses of free polysomes and RER).
• Golgi complex only in the cell body.
• Mitochondria scattered in cell body but are abundant in the axon
terminals.
• Neurofilaments (intermediate filaments) abundant in perikaryons
and cell processes.
Neurons:
Dendrites:
• short and divided like tree
branches.
• The principal signal reception and
processing sites on neurons.
• covered with many synapses.
• Dendritic spines are short blunt
structures projecting at points
along dendrites that serve as the
initial processing sites for synaptic
signals.
Neurons:
Axons:
• Fine cylindrical usually very long
process.
• Originate from the axon hillock
(pyramid- shaped region of the
perikaryon).
• The initial segment, is the site
of summation of excitatory and
inhibitory stimuli.
• Ends as terminal arborization
(distal end).
Neurons:
Types of neurons:
1. Unipolar (Pseudounipolar) Neurons:
• One single process.
• Sensory neurons of the PNS (spinal and cranial nerve
ganglia).
Neurons:
Types of neurons:
2. Bipolar Neurons:
• Two processes.
• Sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium, the retina, and the inner
ear.
Neurons:
Types of neurons:
3. Multipolar Neurons:
• most common in the CNS.
• More than two processes.
• Numerous dendrites and one axon.
• Motor cells in anterior and lateral horns of the spinal cord,
autonomic ganglion cells).
Synapses:
• The sites of functional contact of a neuron with another
neuron, an effector cell (muscle, gland), or a sensory
receptor cell.
Supporting (glial) cells of the nervous tissue:
• Neuroglia in the CNS (oligodendrocytes, astrocytes,
ependymal cells & microglia).
• Schwann cells and satellite cells in the PNS.
Glial cells:
Oligodendrocytes:
• Predominant glial cells in CNS white matter.
• Wrap around parts of several axons, producing myelin
sheaths.
• Function: Myelin production, electrical Insulation.
Glial cells:
Astrocytes:
• most numerous, diverse structurally and functionally.
• Bind neurons to capillaries and to the pia mater .
- fibrous astrocytes (long processes) in white matter.
- Protoplasmic astrocytes (short branched processes) in gray matter.
• Function: Structural and metabolic support of neurons,BBB& repair
processes
Glial cells:
Ependymal cells:
• epithelial-like cells (columnar or cuboidal).
• Line the ventricles of the brain and central canal of
the spinal cord.
• Function: Aid production and movement of CSF.
Glial cells:
Microglial cells:
• Small cells with short irregular processes.
• In both gray and white matter.
• Phagocytic cells.
• Function: Defense and immune-related activities.
Glial cells:
• Schwann cells:
• Also called neurolemmocytes.
• Form myelin sheath around axons of PNS.
• Function: Myelin production, electrical
insulation.
Glial cells:
Satellite cells:
• Restricted to peripheral ganglia.
• Covering layer over the large neuronal cell bodies in
the ganglia of the PNS.
• Function: Structural and metabolic support for
neuronal cell bodies.

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Histology of nervous tissue

Dr. Marwa Gaffar Faki Ali

• Identify the nervous tissue.

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