Nervous system in insects

Suresh R. Jambagi
M.Sc. (Agri) Agril. Entomology
University of Agricultural Sciences
Dharwad, Karnataka-580005
Email: jambagisuru@gmail.com
Presentation: 7
GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY
Topics : Nervous system in insects

NERVOUS SYSTEM
 Insects show co-ordination in behaviour, memory
and possess intelligence due to well distributed
nervous system.
 The nervous system functions as a link between the
sense organs which respond to various external and
internal stimuli and the effector organs such as
muscles, glands etc.
 The sense organs include the structures with
various sensilla that respond to sounds, weather
factors, smell etc.
 Nervous system consists of elongated cells which
form the physiologically functional elements that
are known as neurons.
 These neurons carry the information in the form of
electrical impulses.
Mr. Suresh Jambagi, M.Sc (Agri) Entomology, UAS Dharwad 2

INSECT NERVOUS SYSTEM

Structure of a neuron:
 The nerve cells are called neurons which are
derived from ectoderm.
 Each neuron consists of a prominent nucleated
cell body known as perikaryon (or) soma and
an elongated cytoplasmic thin fibre called the
‘axon’ and group of small branches called the
‘dendrites’.
 The axon gives lateral branches called
collaterals.
 Both the axon and collaterals end in fine fibrils
known as terminal arborizations.
 The neurons get connected with each other by
having a link between the terminal arborizations
of the axon of one neuron and dendrites of the
soma of other neuron through a ‘synapse’.

Classification of neurons
I. Based on their structure:
1. Unipolar / monopolar: Have a single axon without collaterals and dendrites
2. Biopolar: Have either collaterals and dendrites in addition to axon
3. Multipolar: Neurons have an axon with several collaterals and dendrites.
Note:
Most of insect neurons are monopolar

II. Based on function: 3 kinds of neurons.
1. Sensory / afferent neurons:
 Present just beneath the integument and associated with sensory organs.
 Carry impulses from sense organs to the central nervous system.
2. Motor / efferent neurons:
 Always unipolar / monopolar carry impulses from central nervous
system to the organs.
3. Association / internuntial neurons:
 Associated in between sensory and motor neurons, usually present in
ganglia, consists of axons of sensory neurons and soma of motor
neurons.
 The transverse commissures are also formed with these neurons.

The points at which neurons receive information from or convey to
another neuron is known as synapse.
 Synaptic gap is approximately 1000A.
 Nervous system can be grouped in to three
1. Central nervous system (CNS)
2. Visceral or sympathetic nervous system:
3. Peripheral nervous system:

1. Central nervous system:
It consists of brain, sub-oesophageal ganglion and ventral nerve cord.
A. Brain: It is the dorsal ganglionic centre of the head supported by the tentorium.
 It is formed by the union of the ganglia of first 3 segments of the head.
 Brain is divided into protocerebrum, deutocerebrum and tritocerebrum.
• Protocerebrum: It is formed by the union of the ganglia of pre-antennary segment and
forms the greater part of the brain.
 It gives nerve connection to the compound eyes and ocelli.
• Deutocerebrum: It is formed from the ganglia of antennary segment and innervates
antenna.
• Tritocerebrum: It is formed by the union of ganglia of third / intercalary segment and is
relatively small.
 The lobes of it are attached anteriorly to deutocerebrum and posteriorly to
suboesophageal ganglion.

B. Sub-oesophageal ganglion: It is the ventral ganglionic centre of the head
formed by the union of ganglia of the gnathocephalic segments.
 It gives nerves to mandibular, maxillary, labial segment, labrum, salivary
ducts, part of cervical muscles in the neck region and corpora allata.
 Aggregation of neurons is called ganglion.
Mr. Suresh Jambagi, M.Sc (Agri) Entomology, UAS Dharwad
9

C. Ventral nerve card (VNC):
 Ventral nerve card consists of a chain of segmented ganglia connected
by means of longitudinal connectives and transverse commissures.
 In thorax, there are 3 ganglia, with nerve connections for legs, wings
and general muscles.
 In the abdomen, there are about 8 ganglia.
 The first abdominal ganglia remain closed with that of the
metathoracic ganglia and those ganglia from 9th, 10th, & 11th
abdominal segment form a composite ganglion.
 The abdominal ganglia give off nerves to the muscles of its segment.
 The ultimate ganglia also pass nerves to anal cerci and ovipositor.

2. Visceral / sympathetic nervous system: It is divided in to three systems
(i) Oesophageal sympathetic / stomatogastric nervous system- It is
directly connected with the brain which supplies nerves for the anterior
part of the alimentary canal (foregut and midgut), heart and certain
other parts.
 It is dorsal in position.
(ii) Ventral sympathetic nervous system- Consist of a pair of transverse
nerves that are connected with each ganglia of VNC.
 The transverse nerves pass to the spiracles of that particular segment.
(iii) Caudal sympathetic nervous system- Some additional nerves arises
from posterior compound ganglion of VNC which supply nerves for the
posterior part of the gut and the reproductive system.

3. Peripheral nervous system: It includes all
the nerves coming from the ganglia of CNS
and that of the visceral nervous system.
Synapse: The neurons are not continuous
with each other.
 The branched terminations of axon of one
neuron come in intimate association with
dendrites, the cells body or terminal
arborisation of the collateral or the axon of
another neuron to form a synapse.
 The terminal arborisation of sensory axon
ends up into a tiny swelling called synaptic
knob.
 The synaptic gap is around 1000A distance.

Mechanism of impulse conduction
Impulses are conducted by the neurones by two means.
A. Axonic conduction: Ionic composition varies between inside and outside
of axon resulting in excitable conditions, which leads to impulse conduction
as electrical response.
B. Synaptic conduction: Neuro chemical transmitters are involved in the
impulse conduction through the synaptic gap. Neuro transmitters and the
type of reactions helping in the impulse conduction is as follows.
Acetyl CO-A + Choline (choline acetylase)  Acetyl choline
Acetyl choline + Water (Acetyl choline esterase)  Choline + Acetic acid

Nervous system in insects

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Nervous system in insects

Similar to Nervous system in insects (20)

More from Mr. Suresh R. Jambagi

More from Mr. Suresh R. Jambagi (15)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Nervous system in insects