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==Introduction==

==Introduction==

The '''Peripheral Nervous System''' is made up of cranial and spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are named after the vertebra immediately above it, except for '''cervical vertebra'''. There are '''7''' cervical vertebrae and '''8''' cervical spinal nerves. The peripheral nervous system can be divided into the '''somatic nervous system''' and '''autonomic nervous system'''. The somatic nervous system co-ordinates body movements and also receives external stimuli. It basically regulates activities that are under conscious control. The autonomic nervous system is then split into the '''sympathetic nervous system''', '''parasympathetic nervous system''', and enteric division. The sympathetic nervous system is the '''‘fight or flight’''' system which comes into role when an animal is under threat, its main neurotransmitter is adrenaline. The parasympathetic nervous system is the '''‘rest and digest’''' system which is responsible for digestion. Its main neurotransmitter is '''acetylcholine'''.

The '''Peripheral Nervous System''' is made up of cranial and spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are named after the vertebra immediately above it, except for '''cervical vertebra'''. There are '''7''' cervical vertebrae and '''8''' cervical spinal nerves. The peripheral nervous system can be divided into the '''somatic nervous system''' and '''autonomic nervous system'''. The somatic nervous system co-ordinates body movements and also receives external stimuli. It basically regulates activities that are under conscious control. The autonomic nervous system is then split into the '''sympathetic nervous system''', '''parasympathetic nervous system''', and enteric division. The sympathetic nervous system is the '''‘fight or flight’''' system which comes into role when an animal is under threat, its main neurotransmitter is '''adrenaline'''. The parasympathetic nervous system is the '''‘rest and digest’''' system which is responsible for digestion. Its main neurotransmitter is '''acetylcholine'''.

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===The Axon===

===Axon===

Axons have an outer membrane called the '''axolemma''' and within this there is the '''axoplasm''' which is continuous with the cytoplasm of the [[Neurons - Anatomy & Physiology|neuron]]. There are no ribosomes, either free or attached to endoplasmic reticulum in axons and therefore, no protein synthesis.  

Axons have an outer membrane called the '''axolemma''' and within this there is the '''axoplasm''' which is continuous with the cytoplasm of the [[Neurons - Anatomy & Physiology|neuron]]. There are no ribosomes, either free or attached to endoplasmic reticulum in axons and therefore, no protein synthesis.  

Protein synthesis takes place within the cell body and some dendrites and all protein replacement required for the maintenance of the axon depends on proteins being imported from the cell body. A critical feature of the axon is its '''cytoskeleton''', which consists of two key elements; '''neurofilaments''' and '''microtubules'''. '''Neurofilaments''' are intermediate filaments of about 10 nm diameter, and belong to the same class as other cytoskeletal proteins such as keratin, desmin, vimentin, or GFAP of astrocytes.  Neurofilaments are formed from a triplet of polypeptide subunits of heavy (~ 200 kD), medium (~ 150 kD) and low (~ 60 kD) molecular weights. Typically, these subunits are heavily phosphorylated and are more numerous than microtubules, especially in large diameter axons, having a pivotal role in determining axon diameter. They are formed in the cell body, transported down the axon by axoplasmic transport and degraded in the terminals by Ca²⁺ activated proteases. In other words, there is a constant turnover of neurofilament within the healthy axon. '''Microtubules''' within axons are similar to microtubules elsewhere, consisting of polymerised dimers of alpha and beta tubulin arranged as a hollow tube of about 28 nm. They are relatively abundant in smaller diameter axons, and are also synthesised in the cell body. An important component of the cytoskeleton are the '''microtubule associated proteins''' or MAP's and the tau proteins. These proteins are important in microtubule assembly and stability. Different classes of MAP's occur in the dendrites and the axons, and to some extent account for the different ultrastructural features that distinguish these two types of neuronal process. They form cross links between adjacent microtubules but also connect to neurofilaments and actin microfilaments, implying complex interactions between the various components of the axon skeleton.

Protein synthesis takes place within the cell body and some dendrites and all protein replacement required for the maintenance of the axon depends on proteins being imported from the cell body. A critical feature of the axon is its '''cytoskeleton''', which consists of two key elements; '''neurofilaments''' and '''microtubules'''. '''Neurofilaments''' are intermediate filaments of about 10 nm diameter, and belong to the same class as other cytoskeletal proteins such as keratin, desmin, vimentin, or GFAP of astrocytes.  Neurofilaments are formed from a triplet of polypeptide subunits of heavy (~ 200 kD), medium (~ 150 kD) and low (~ 60 kD) molecular weights. Typically, these subunits are heavily phosphorylated and are more numerous than microtubules, especially in large diameter axons, having a pivotal role in determining axon diameter. They are formed in the cell body, transported down the axon by axoplasmic transport and degraded in the terminals by Ca²⁺ activated proteases. In other words, there is a constant turnover of neurofilament within the healthy axon. '''Microtubules''' within axons are similar to microtubules elsewhere, consisting of polymerised dimers of alpha and beta tubulin arranged as a hollow tube of about 28 nm. They are relatively abundant in smaller diameter axons, and are also synthesised in the cell body. An important component of the cytoskeleton are the '''microtubule associated proteins''' or MAP's and the tau proteins. These proteins are important in microtubule assembly and stability. Different classes of MAP's occur in the dendrites and the axons, and to some extent account for the different ultrastructural features that distinguish these two types of neuronal process. They form cross links between adjacent microtubules but also connect to neurofilaments and actin microfilaments, implying complex interactions between the various components of the axon skeleton.

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===The Schwann Cell===

===Schwann Cell===

Myelination in the PNS is achieved by the '''Schwann cell''', a derivative of neural crest cells, which bud off from the neuroepithelium at a very early stage of neurogenesis. During development, Schwann cells engage many small axons and as axonal diameter increases, Schwann cells eventually relate with only a single axon c.f [[Neurons - Anatomy & Physiology#Oligodendrocytes|oligodendrocytes]]. This single axon is enveloped in a trough by the Schwann cell processes that engulf it and as the processes come together, an inner '''mesaxon''' is formed. The leading-edge process continues to move over the axon forming a spiral. Myelination, an extremely complex molecular process, occurs when the cytoplasm within the process is extruded allowing the internal surfaces of the membrane to come together as the '''major dense line''', the outer membrane apposition constituting the intraperiod line. The alternating pattern of these two form the lamellae of compacted myelin. The myelin sheath is attached to, and is an integral part of the Schwann cell on which it is dependent for its maintenance.

Myelination in the PNS is achieved by the '''Schwann cell''', a derivative of neural crest cells, which bud off from the neuroepithelium at a very early stage of neurogenesis. During development, Schwann cells engage many small axons and as axonal diameter increases, Schwann cells eventually relate with only a single axon c.f [[Neurons - Anatomy & Physiology#Oligodendrocytes|oligodendrocytes]]. This single axon is enveloped in a trough by the Schwann cell processes that engulf it and as the processes come together, an inner '''mesaxon''' is formed. The leading-edge process continues to move over the axon forming a spiral. Myelination, an extremely complex molecular process, occurs when the cytoplasm within the process is extruded allowing the internal surfaces of the membrane to come together as the '''major dense line''', the outer membrane apposition constituting the intraperiod line. The alternating pattern of these two form the lamellae of compacted myelin. The myelin sheath is attached to, and is an integral part of the Schwann cell on which it is dependent for its maintenance.

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[[Category:Nervous System - Anatomy & Physiology]][[Category:A&P Done]]

[[Category:Nervous System - Anatomy & Physiology]][[Category:A&P Done]]