English in Anatomy

Text 1. General Structure of the Nervous System

The nervous system can be classified into two major divisions: the central nervous system [CNS] and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.

In addition to the spinal and cranial nerves, the peripheral nervous system consists of a large group of nerves of the autonomic nervous system. These nerves are called efferent, since they carry impulses away from the central nervous system.

Some of the autonomic nerves are called sympathetic nerves and others are called parasympathetic nerves.

Ganglia, which are collections of nerve tissue outside the brain and spinal glands, and plexuses, which are larger networks of nerves, are prevalent in the autonomic nervous system.

NB! sing. ganglion – plur. ganglia [from Latin]

NB! sing. plexus – plur. plexuses [from Latin]

Developing Questions: Something to Think about

– What do cranial nerves carry impulses between?

– What do spinal nerves carry messages between?

– What nerves carry impulses from the CNS to the glands, heart, blood vessels, and the involuntary muscles?

– What nerves are involved with sensations of smell, taste, sight, hearing?

– What nerves are involved with muscle movements?

– What nerves stimulate the body in times of stress and crisis, i.e. increase heart rate and blood pressure, dilate airways, stimulate the adrenal glands?

– What nerves normally act as a balance for the sympathetic nerves?

Task. Compare the following Latin terms with the corresponding English ones

systema nervosum; encephalon; medulla spinalis; nervus; nervi spinales; nervi craniales

Text 2. Neurons and Nerves

A neuron is an individual nerve cell, a microscopic structure. Impulses are passed along the parts of a nerve cell in a definite manner and direction.

A stimulus begins a wave of excitability in the receptive branching fibers of the neuron which are called dendrites.

NB! sing. stimulus – plur. stimuli [from Latin]

The nervous impulse wave, traveling in only one direction, next reaches the cell body. Extending from the cell body is the axon which carries the impulse away from the cell body. Axons may be covered with a fatty tissue sheath called a myelin sheath.

The nervous impulse passes through the axon to leave the cell via the terminal end fibers of the neuron. The space where the nervous impulse jumps from one neuron to another is called the synapse.

Peripheral nerves which carry impulses to the brain and spinal cord from stimulus receptors are called afferent nerves; those which carry impulses from the CNS to organs which produce responses are called efferent nerves.

The interstitial tissue of the nervous system consists of cells called neuroglia. These cells are supportive and connective in function, as well as phagocytic. There are three types of neuroglial cells: astrocytes, microglia, oligodendroglia.

Task. 1. Compare the following Latin terms with the corresponding English ones:

nervi afferentes; nervi efferentes

2. Form the singular number form from the following plural nouns:

neuroglia; astroglia; microglia; oligodendroglia

Developing Questions: Something to Think about

– Why are some parts of the spinal cord, the brain, and most peripheral nerves called white matter? [clues: myelin sheath; white appearance]

– What is the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord referrred to as gray? [clues: collections of cell bodies and dendrites; gray appearance; myelin sheath; not to cover]

– Is a neuron a microscopic structure or a macroscopic one?

– Is a nerve able to be seen with the naked eye?

– What stimulus receptors do you know?

– What organs which produce responses do you know?

– Do neuroglial cells transmit impulses?

– Which neuroglial cells are starlike?

– Which neuroglial cells are very small?

– Find out what is the function of each of the neuroglial cell type. [clues: transporting; phagocytes; function is unknown]

Text 3. The Brain

The brain is the primary center for regulating and coordinating body activities. It has many different parts, all of which control different aspects of body functions.

The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum. The outer nervous tissue of the cerebrum, known as the cerebral cortex