Histology of Cerebrum and Cerebellum
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Uloko ChristopherHistology of Cerebrum and Cerebellum
Uploaded by
Uloko ChristopherHistology of Brain Stem, Cerebrum and
Cerebellum
Brain stem
Brain stem is structurally continuous with the spinal cord.
It consists of;
medulla oblangata
pons
mesencephalon
The regions of gray and white matter are not clearly separated
The nuclei of the cranial nerves appear as islands surrounded by
white matter
Meninges
Connective tissue coverings of the brain and spinal cord
Dura Mater
Dense, collagenous connective tissue
Dura of the brain is composed of two layers;
periosteal dura mater (outer);
attached to the inner surface of the skull
serves as the periosteum
osteoprogenitor cells, fibroblasts, collagen bundles, blood vessels
meningeal dura mater (inner);
fibroblasts, fine collagen fibers, small blood vessels
Dura of the spinal cord
forms a continuous tube around the spinal cord
does not adhere to the walls of the vertebral canal
pierced by the spinal nerves
epidural space;
between the dura mater and the periosteum of the vertebral canal
filled with epidural fat and a venous plexus.
Arachnoid Mater
Connective tissue without blood vessels,
blood vessels course through it
Composed of two regions:
1) sheet-like membrane in contact with dura
2) arachnoid trabeculae
loosely arranged cells (modified fibroblasts)
with collagen fibers
contact the underlying pia
Subarachnoid space;
cavities between the trabeculae
filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Arachnoid villi;
regions where arachnoid perforates the dura
for the passage of CSF into the dural venous
sinuses
Clinical significance: Subdural space is a potential space, it appears
only after subdural hemorrhage, when blood forces two layers apart
Pia Mater
Innermost layer of the meninges
Follows all the surface irregularities of
CNS
Composed of a thin layer of flattened,
modified fibroblasts and abundant
blood vessels surrounded by fine
connective tissue fibers
Completely separated from the
underlying neural tissue by basement
membrane and neuroglial processes
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Bathes, nourishes and protects the brain and spinal cord
Produced by the choroid plexus
%90 water, low protein and low density, rich in ions, few
desquamated cells, 2-5 lymphocytes/ ml
Reabsorbed through the thin cells of the arachnoid villi
into the superior sagittal venous sinus
Clinical correlations;
Hydrochephalus; reason is a decrease in absorption of the
fluid or a blockage within the ventricles which increases
intracranial pressure.
Congenital hydrocephalus; leads to enlargement of the
head, followed by impairment of mental and muscular
functions and death if left untreated.
Choroid Plexus
Fenestrated capillaries covered by the modified ependymal cells
Modified ependymal cells
tight junction
infolding of the basal plasma membrane,
microvilli
mitochondrion
Extend into the ventricles of the brain
Produces CSF
Ventricles
Cavities in the brain (4th, 3rd, lateral)
Contain CSF
Ependymal cells
Tanycytes;
special ependymal cells located in the floor of the 3rd ventricle.
processes extend deep into the hypothalamus.
Transfer chemical signals from CSF to CNS.
Cerebrum
Cortex
gray matter (peripheral)
Medulla
white matter
Layers of the Cerebral Cortex
I. Molecular layer; parallel nerve fibers, horizontal
cells of Cajal, neuroglia
II. External granular layer; small pyramidal cells,
granule (stellate) cells, neuroglia
III. External pyramidal layer; large pyramidal cells,
neuroglia
IV. Internal granular layer; thin layer composed of
closely arranged small granule (stellate) cells,
neuroglia.
V. Internal pyramidal layer; largest pyramidal cells
(Betz cells), neuroglia. This layer has the lowest
cell density of the cerebral cortex
VI. Multiform layer; cells of various shapes
(Martinotti cells, fusiform cells, pyramidal etc.),
neuroglia
Isocortex (neocortex) is the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres made
up of typical six layers
Anisocortex (archicortex) (e.g. hippocampus)
Hippocampus (sea horse)
hippocampus, dentate gyrus, temporal lobe gyrus
polymorphic layer; nerve fibers, small cell bodies of interneurons
pyramidal cell layer; pyramidal cells
molecular layer; dendrites of the pyramidal cells
Dentate gyrus
polymorphic layer; nerve fibers, interneurons
granule cell layer; granule cells
molecular layer; dendrites of the granule cells
Hilus
region where the head of hippocampus join the dentate gyrus
contains multipolar neurons
Cerebellum
Outer gray matter cortex
Molecular layer- Purkinje cell layer
Granular layer
Inner white matter medulla
Surrounded by piamater
Molecular layer
lies directly below the pia mater
contains
superficially located stellate cells
basket cells
Purkinje cells and their dendrites
unmyelinated axons from the granular layer (parallel fibers)
Purkinje cells
large pear-shaped cells
arborized dendrites projecting into the molecular layer
myelinated axons project into the white matter
only cell of the cerebellar cortex that sends information
(always inhibitory) to the outside
Granular layer
Contains
small granule cells
Golgi type II cells
glomeruli; synaptic regions between axons entering the cerebellum and the
granule cells.
Axons of the granule cells extend to the molecular layer and synapse with
the dendrites of Purkinje cells and basket cells (parallel fibers).
Parallel fibers extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folium in the
molecular layer.
Barriers in the CNS
Glia limitans externa- interna
Blood- brain barrier
Blood- CSF barrier
Blood-Brain Barrier
1) endothelial cells lining the continuous capillaries linked by tight junctions
2) basal lamina
3) end-feet of astrocytes
This barrier prevents the free passage of selective blood-borne
substances into the neural tissue.
O2, CO2, water, small lipid soluble materials can penetrate the barrier.
Transfer of glucose, amino acids, vitamins, nucleosides and ions require
transmembrane proteins.
References
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6th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia. ISBN: 978-0-7817-
7200-6
2. Basic Histology: Text & Atlas by Luiz Junqueira, Jose Carneiro (2005). 11th
ed. McGraw-Hill, New York. ISBN: 0-07-111888-8
3. Color Textbook of Histology by Leslie P. Gartner, James L. Hiatt (2001). 2nd
ed. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia. ISBN: 0-7216-8806-3
4. Histology and Cell Biology: An Introduction to Pathology by Abraham L
Kierszenbaum, Laura Tres (2011). 3rd ed. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia.
ISBN: 978-0-323-07842-9
5. Netters Essential Histology by William K. Ovalle, Patrick C. Nahirney
(2007). 1st ed. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia. ISBN: 978-1-929007-86-8