Notes
Anja Nel (Physio)
INDEX
Nerve Physiology pg. 2
Introduction to lower limb pg. 14
Anterior & Medial thigh pg. 18
Gluteal Region pg. 30
Muscle Physiology pg. 46
Posterior Thigh, Leg & Knee pg. 61
Integumentary System pg. 90
Anterior & Lateral Leg pg. 97
Foot pg. 102
Embryology pg. 111
Page | 1
,GENERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS:
1. Sensory function
- To sense change in the internal and external environment through sensory receptors
- Sensory (afferent) neurons serve this function
2. Integrative function
- To analyse the sensory information, store some aspects, and make decisions regarding
appropriate behaviours
- Association or interneurons serve this function
3. Motor function
- Is to respond to stimuli by initiating action
- Motor (efferent) neurons serve this function
Integrative function
Collection of Central Nervous System
information integrates and compares Elicits responses
• Homeostatic ranges
Sensory/afferent Motor/efferent output
inputs • Previous or learned
experiences
TWO MAJOR ANATOMICAL SUB-DIVISIONS:
1. The central nervous system (CNS)
i. Brain
ii. Spinal Cord
- Protected by surrounding bone
- Brain and spinal column are continuous
with each other
2. Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
i. Cranial nerves
Arising from the brain – 12 pairs
of nerves
ii. Spinal nerves
Arising from the spinal cord – 31
pairs of spinal nerves
Page | 2
,TWO TYPES OF CELLS
1. Neurons
2. Supporting cells
NEURONS
Basic structural and functional units of
nervous systems
Specialised to respond to (1) physical and
chemical stimuli, (2) conduct
electrochemical impulses and (3) release
chemical regulators
Through these mechanisms, neurons can
have sensory perception, learning,
memory and the controls of muscle and
glands
THE CELL BODY
- Enlarged portion of the neuron that contains the nucleus
- “Nutritional centre” where molecules are produced
- In CNS: Cell bodies are clustered in groups called nuclei (do not confuse it with nucleus)
- In PNS: cell bodies clustered called ganglia
DENDRITES:
- From Greek “dendron” = “tree branch”
- Thin branch processes that extend from the cytoplasm of the cell body
- Receptive area that transmits electrochemical impulses – nerve impulses away from the cell body
AXON
- Arises from expanded region from the cell body – AXON HILLOCK
- Can remain a single structure or can branch out to form collateral axons
- Each axon has constant diameter, but length can vary in size from 1 mm to 1m
- Axon terminate/end by branching to form small extensions with enlarged ends – terminal
buttons/boutons/presynaptic terminals
- Presynaptic terminals: has vesicles that contain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers)
- Axon has cytoplasm – AXOPLASM
- Functionally: axons conduct electrical impulse from neuron cell body to presynaptic terminals
- Axon transport mechanisms can move proteins, organelles, and vesicles down the axon to the
presynaptic terminals
- Damaged organelles, recycled plasma membrane and other substances can be transported up the
axon to the cell body
CLASSIFICATION OF NEURONS
1. Multipolar
- Most abundant in body
- Major neuron type in the CNS
- Multipolar neurons have multiple dendrites and a single axon.
2. Bipolar
- Rare
Page | 3
, - Found in special sensory organs (olfactory, mucosa, eye, ear)
- Bipolar neurons have an axon and one dendrite extending from the cell body toward
opposite poles
3. Unipolar
- Found mainly in the PNS
- Unipolar neurons have one axon.
- Common only in dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and sensory ganglia of the cranial
nerves
SUPPORTING CELLS:
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUPPORTING CELLS:
*Neuroglial cells support cells of CNS & PNS
SATELLITE CELLS (PNS)
- Supports neuron cell bodies within the ganglia of the PNS
SCHWANN CELLS (PNS)
- Forms myelin sheaths around peripheral axons
MICROGLIA CELLS
- Migrate through CNS, phagocytose, and degenerated material
OLIGODENDROCYTES
- Forms myelin sheaths around peripheral axons (CNS)
EPENDYMAL CELLS
- Epithelial cells that line the ventricles (cavities) of the brain and central canal of spinal cord
ASTROCYTES
- Star shaped
Page | 4
Anja Nel (Physio)
INDEX
Nerve Physiology pg. 2
Introduction to lower limb pg. 14
Anterior & Medial thigh pg. 18
Gluteal Region pg. 30
Muscle Physiology pg. 46
Posterior Thigh, Leg & Knee pg. 61
Integumentary System pg. 90
Anterior & Lateral Leg pg. 97
Foot pg. 102
Embryology pg. 111
Page | 1
,GENERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS:
1. Sensory function
- To sense change in the internal and external environment through sensory receptors
- Sensory (afferent) neurons serve this function
2. Integrative function
- To analyse the sensory information, store some aspects, and make decisions regarding
appropriate behaviours
- Association or interneurons serve this function
3. Motor function
- Is to respond to stimuli by initiating action
- Motor (efferent) neurons serve this function
Integrative function
Collection of Central Nervous System
information integrates and compares Elicits responses
• Homeostatic ranges
Sensory/afferent Motor/efferent output
inputs • Previous or learned
experiences
TWO MAJOR ANATOMICAL SUB-DIVISIONS:
1. The central nervous system (CNS)
i. Brain
ii. Spinal Cord
- Protected by surrounding bone
- Brain and spinal column are continuous
with each other
2. Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
i. Cranial nerves
Arising from the brain – 12 pairs
of nerves
ii. Spinal nerves
Arising from the spinal cord – 31
pairs of spinal nerves
Page | 2
,TWO TYPES OF CELLS
1. Neurons
2. Supporting cells
NEURONS
Basic structural and functional units of
nervous systems
Specialised to respond to (1) physical and
chemical stimuli, (2) conduct
electrochemical impulses and (3) release
chemical regulators
Through these mechanisms, neurons can
have sensory perception, learning,
memory and the controls of muscle and
glands
THE CELL BODY
- Enlarged portion of the neuron that contains the nucleus
- “Nutritional centre” where molecules are produced
- In CNS: Cell bodies are clustered in groups called nuclei (do not confuse it with nucleus)
- In PNS: cell bodies clustered called ganglia
DENDRITES:
- From Greek “dendron” = “tree branch”
- Thin branch processes that extend from the cytoplasm of the cell body
- Receptive area that transmits electrochemical impulses – nerve impulses away from the cell body
AXON
- Arises from expanded region from the cell body – AXON HILLOCK
- Can remain a single structure or can branch out to form collateral axons
- Each axon has constant diameter, but length can vary in size from 1 mm to 1m
- Axon terminate/end by branching to form small extensions with enlarged ends – terminal
buttons/boutons/presynaptic terminals
- Presynaptic terminals: has vesicles that contain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers)
- Axon has cytoplasm – AXOPLASM
- Functionally: axons conduct electrical impulse from neuron cell body to presynaptic terminals
- Axon transport mechanisms can move proteins, organelles, and vesicles down the axon to the
presynaptic terminals
- Damaged organelles, recycled plasma membrane and other substances can be transported up the
axon to the cell body
CLASSIFICATION OF NEURONS
1. Multipolar
- Most abundant in body
- Major neuron type in the CNS
- Multipolar neurons have multiple dendrites and a single axon.
2. Bipolar
- Rare
Page | 3
, - Found in special sensory organs (olfactory, mucosa, eye, ear)
- Bipolar neurons have an axon and one dendrite extending from the cell body toward
opposite poles
3. Unipolar
- Found mainly in the PNS
- Unipolar neurons have one axon.
- Common only in dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and sensory ganglia of the cranial
nerves
SUPPORTING CELLS:
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUPPORTING CELLS:
*Neuroglial cells support cells of CNS & PNS
SATELLITE CELLS (PNS)
- Supports neuron cell bodies within the ganglia of the PNS
SCHWANN CELLS (PNS)
- Forms myelin sheaths around peripheral axons
MICROGLIA CELLS
- Migrate through CNS, phagocytose, and degenerated material
OLIGODENDROCYTES
- Forms myelin sheaths around peripheral axons (CNS)
EPENDYMAL CELLS
- Epithelial cells that line the ventricles (cavities) of the brain and central canal of spinal cord
ASTROCYTES
- Star shaped
Page | 4
