Introduction

The Central Nervous System (CNS) is composed of the brain and the spinal cord and it is from the CNS that the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is derived. This page is specifically focussed on the histologic appearence of both the brain and spinal cord and therefore the anatomy of both structures will not be provided in depth. Instead, links to the relevant anatomy and physiology pages for each structure will be given below.

Anatomy & Physiology Links

Please use the links below to familiarise yourself with the anatomy and physiology of the different aspects of the CNS as an aid to utilising and understanding the CNS histology images below;
CNS Development
Forebrain
Midbrain
Hindbrain
Cranial Nerves
Spinal Cord

Histology of the Spinal Cord

Rabbit Spinal Cord

Rabbitspinalcord40x
Cerebellum
Choroid Plexus Histology 40x

Spinal cord TS section

The main cell type here is neuroglial cells.

Spinal cord TS section

This section shows well the large multipolar cells within the ventral horn.

Spinal cord TS section

Histology of the Brain

Cerebrum section

Cerebellum section