Nervous

Tissue
Introduction
It is widely distributed in the body
Consists of tissue which receives stimuli from both internal and external environment
o Receptors
Receiver of various forms of energy
Contains intercommunicating cells known as neurons
Functions
1. It plays an important role in irritability and conductivity
2. Regulation of behavior and personality
3. Some are capable of transporting and secreting hormones
Division
1. Somatic portion
Derived from the embryo
Responsible for voluntary functions
2. Autonomic portion
Has an independent function
Controls involuntary actions
Neurons

Functional unit of the tissue
Usually large and complex in shape
Surrounded by a thin plasma membrane called as nerve cell body or cyton
Found in the gray matter of the CNS
o Nuclei
Cluster or aggregates of neurons in the gray matter
Contains a cell body (perikaryon) and extensions (dendrons and axons)
o Synapses

Nervous Tissue 1
Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)

 Point of contact where they are functionally inter-related

o Function of Perikaryon
It is the portion of the cell surrounding the nucleus and is vital for
the survival of the cell
Can receive stimuli generated by other nerve cells
Supplies nourishment to the nerve cell
a. Reception of various stimuli
Performed by the dendritic zones, of the neuron including the
cell body or axon of another cell
b. Conduction
Performed by the axon
c. Synaptic transmission of signal to subsequent neuron
Occurs in the nerve terminals

Can occur inside or outside in the peripheral nervous system where they are termed as
ganglion cells
Shapes of neurons is determined by the number and arrangement of the dendrites
They can either have long (Golgi type I neuron) or short (Golgi type II neurons)
Types of Neurons
1. Unipolar neurons
Nerve cells having only 1 process
Rare type except during early embryonic stages
2. Bipolar neurons

3.
4.

5.
6.

Contains processes projecting from each end of the fusiform cell body
Found in the retina, olfactory epithelia, and cochlear ganglia
Multipolar neurons
Have more than two processes but only one axon
Stellate or star shape
Includes the motor nerve cells of the ventral gray matter, and motor nuclei of the
brain stem
Pyrimidal neurons
Present in the cerebral cortex
Anaxonic neurons
Small cells in the CNS that does not possess an axon
Contains both receptor and effector regions on their dendrites

Cytoplasmic Organelles
1. Neurofibril and Microfibril
Slender, interlacing threads
It courses through the cytoplasm of the perikaryon from one dendrite to another
Formed by bundles of neuro-filaments
2. Nissl bodies
Chromophilic substances which appears in the cytoplasm when stained with
aniline dyes (toluidine blue, thionin, or cresyl violet)
Contains rich amounts of ribo-nucleoprotein, and RNA in the ribosome
Found in the perikaryon and in the proximal parts of the dendrites
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Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)

 Composed of clusters of endoplasmic reticulum

o Chromatolysis
Term given to the dissolution of Nissl bodies
3. Golgi bodies

4.

5.

6.

7.

Present in al nerve cells and appears as network of irregular, wavy strands that
are coarser than the network of neurofibrils; responsible for protein synthesis
Mitochondria
Numerous, and elongated
The number varies from cell to cell and in different parts of the cell
Numerous in axon endings or terminal areas and in the region of the nodes of
Ranvier
Centrosome
Paired with centrioles, present only in young neurons
It does not have a function (adult)
Lysosome
Located near the Golgi apparatus
Associated with hydrolysis of end products of cellular metabolism, and
degradation of lipids
Nucleus
Large, round and centrally located
Has a single prominent nucleolus
Appears pale and vesicular (owls eye or fish eye)
o Barr bodies
Found in the female

Cytoplasmic Inclusions

Melanin, lipid droplet, and iron in the substancia nigra of the midbrain,
globus pallidus of the nucleus lentiformis
Lipofuschin golden brown pigment which increases with advancing age
Glycogen granules seen only in embryonal neurons and neuroglia
Vasopressin, oxytocin, and neurophysior are found in the neurosecretory
neurons

Nerve cell processes

These are cytoplasmic extension, developed to provide conduction pathways and
provide greater surface area for contact
Two Kinds of Processes
1. Dendrites (dendrons)
Broad base, tapering gradually along its length towards the end
Relatively short and are confined immediate vicinity of the body
Covered with gemmules (dendritic spines)
Contains Nissl bodies, microtubules, and neurofilaments
2. Axon (Axis cylinder)
Only one axon per cell or none at all (amacrine cells of the retina)
The plasma membrane is called Axolemma
Arises from the elevation of the Nissl bodies called the Axon
hillock or Implantation cone attached by an initial segment
Ganglia
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Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)

 Refers to the collection of nerve cells outside the gray matter (if not outside the gray
matter the aggregate is called Nucleus)
Composed of nerve cells, nerve fibers and supporting areolar connective tissue
Each ganglia is covered by a capsule with a single layer of small flattened cells termed as
satellite cells
Classifications of Ganglia
1. Cerebrospinal Ganglia (Cranio-spinal Ganglia)

Fusiform or globular swelling located in the dorsal roots of the spines

True neurons which are unipolar type
Contains small sized Nissl Bodies that are uniformly distributed
Commonly referred as dendraxon
These are often called as pseudo-unipolar
Characterized nucleus as owls eye or fish eye
Supported by areolar connective tissue

2. Visceral motor ganglia

Cell bodies are small and multipolar
Capsule is less distinct than those of the cerebrospinal ganglia and are
absent when located at certain organs
Nissl bodies are intermediate in size
Presence of fish eye nucleus
No definite grouping of cells
Do not show regular arrangement of large bundles of myelinated fibers
transversing the ganglion
Nerve Fibers
Applied term to a long axon but includes all nerve cell processes
Contains one or more cellular sheath (glia or myelin = CNS and sheath of Schwann =
PNS)
Myelin Sheath
It is a white, lipid glistening substance that imparts a whitish color of the
white matter
Stained by osmium tetroxide
It is a series of concentric layers of Schwann cell plasma membrane
Formed by surrounding the developing axon
Part of the Schwann cell
Ectodermal in origin and is essential in the vitality of the
peripheral nerve fibers
Necessary for the regeneration of axons
Not present in the CNS making the oligodendrocytes to
replace their function in the CNS
Sheath of Schwannn or neurilemma
Sheath of flattened cells called as neurolemmal
Forms a thin sheet around the myelin which in turn surrounds the axon
Most superficial lamella containing the nucleus



4 Nervous Tissue
Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)

Classification of Nerve Fibers

1. Medullated nerve fiber with Neurolemma
Both covering of myelin sheath and neurilemma
Biggest among the different nerve fibers
Made up of a central core of neurofibril which originated from the
cell body (embedded in the axoplasm)
Covered by a thin membrane known as the Axolemma of Kuhne
Nodes of Ranvier (will branch the collateral a right angle)
o Internodal Segment
Portion in between two successive nodes of
Ranvier
Appears shorter towards the end of a nerve due to
the diminution of the neurofibril
o Schmidt Lantermans Lines or incisures of Schmidt
Black staining (Osmic oxide)
Oblique radial lines in the myelin sheath within
each intermodal segments
Neuro-keratin framework supporting the myelin
Myelin segment
Between two Schmidts
Covered by nucleated sheath of
Schwann
o Sheath of Key and Retzius or the Sheath of Henle
Delicate fibrous connective tissue sheath outside
the neurolemma
Carries blood vessels to the individual nerve fibers
2. Medullated nerve fibers without Neurolemma
Found only in the white matter
Composed of the axis cylinder surrounded by the axolemma and
which is covered by the myelin sheath
Does not have a node of Ranvier
3. Non-medullated nerve fiber Neurolemma
Contains sympathetic nerves termed as Remak fibers
Composed of the axis cylinder surrounded by the axolemma and
which is covered by the myelin sheath
Does not have a node of Ranvier
The Schwann cell membrane envelopes the fibers
4. Non-medullated nerve fiber without neurolemma
Contains only an axis cylinder without any covering
Found in the cyto-proximal and cyto-distal portions of all nerve
fibers

Classification of Nerve fibers according to Diameter
1. Group A fibers
Large fibers (1-22um in diameter)
Can conduct 15-100 meters per second
Includes motor and sensory fibers
2. Group B fibers
Fibers (1-3um in diameter) can conduct 3-14 meters per second
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Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)

 Includes visceral sensory fibers

3. Group C fibers
Small unmyelinated fibers (0.3-1.3 um in diameter) conducting
0.5-2 m/s
Carries autonomic and some sensory impulse
Cerebrospinal Nerve
Constitute the cranial and spinal nerve which are composed of medullated or
myelinated fibers with neurilemma
Continuations of the processes outside the brain and the spinal cord
Autonomic Nerves
Sympathetic nerves
Composed of preganglionic myelinated fibers (spinal cord to the
peripheral ganglion) and post-ganglionic unmyelinated fibers (nerve cells
from the ganglia to some organs of non-medullated nerve fibers with
neurolemma)
Parasympathetic nerves
Composed of long pre-ganglionic myelinated fibers coming from the
brain
Peripheral Nerve Endings
Telodendrion (end)
o Dendrites (sensory receptor)
o Axons (motor or secretory endings)
Found in almost all tissues except in cartilage, mucous tissue, enamel of teeth and in the
calcareous matrix of bones
o Afferent fibers receptor portions are located throughout the body
o Efferent fibers attached in tissue and responsible for releasing acetylcholine
Receptor endings
Receiver of impression from the outside world
a. Mechanoreceptor respond to mechanical
deformation
b. Thermoreceptor respond to changes in
temperature
c. Nociceptors respond to any stimulus that
bring about damage to the tissue
d. Electromagnetic receptor refers to the rods
and cones of the eyes sensitive to light
intensity
e. Chemoreceptor respond to chemical
changes associated with taste and smell and
oxygen and CO2
f. Free nerve ending widely distributed
throughout the body
Found in between
epithelial cells of the
epidermis of the skin,
cornea, alimentary tract,
periosteum
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Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)

 Detection of pain
g. Merkels Discs
Found in hairless skin and in hair
follicles
An aggregate of Merkel discs is called
tactile domes
h. Meissners Corpuscles
Located in the dermal papillae of the
skin (sole and palm), and nipples of
the breast
Very sensitive to touch
i. Pacinian Corpuscle
Resembles a sliced onion
Sensitive to deformation and
pressure
j. Golgi Mazzoni Corpuscle
Resembles the Pacinian with a thin
lamella capsule
k. Ruffinis Corpuscle

External Sources: You are required to watch the video clip, by simply clicking the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1bDqMpKa_g

Note: The coverage of your exam will be cover to cover, however, the bulk of it will be on the
following topics:

Blood and Hematopoiesis

Bones and Ossification
Muscle Tissue
Connective Tissue

Nervous Tissue 7
Olibrian P. Mallari, RMT, IMT, MLS(ASCPi), CPT(IMET)