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1 results

  • 1 - Structural Organisation of the Nervous System

  • Christopher L.-H. Huang, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Keynes & Aidley's Nerve and Muscle
    Published online:
    07 November 2020
    Print publication:
    19 November 2020, pp 1-9

  • Summary

    Nervous systems are a characteristic feature of higher animals. Their sensory components convey incoming information from the internal and external environment; their motor components convey instructions for reactions to such stimuli to their effector organs. Vertebrates possess both central and peripheral nervous systems, including an autonomic division concerned with homeostasis of the internal environment. The nerve cell is the anatomical, functional and trophic unit of nervous system function. Its cell body radiates dendritic and axonal nerve fibres that respectively transmit incoming information and the departing results of its processing. In contrast to non-myelinated nerve fibres, myelinated nerve fibres are ensheathed by glial cells in the central and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous systems. Peripheral but not central nerves show a capacity for regeneration along their basement membranes thereby regaining their peripheral attachments. This property has attracted significant interest in connection with clinical repair following nerve injury.