BARRIERS OF THE CNS
Intracellular compartment
Extracellular compartment
Compartment of CSF
Intravascular compartment
Meningeal barrier
Blood – CSF barrier
Blood – brain barrier

ØA barrier separating the circulating blood from the
    extracellular space of the CNS
ØFunctions
•protects the brain from "foreign substances" in the
 blood that may injure the brain
•protects the brain from hormones and neurotransmitters
 released from other parts of the body
•maintains a constant environment for the brain
BLOOD – BRAIN BARRIER

•Endothelial cells connected by tight junctions
•Foot processes of astrocytes
•Basement membrane
Structural
components
of BBB

http://www.weirdlyodd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/104.jpg












Øareas of the human brain without the BBB:
•
•Pineal body (epiphysis)
•Neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) - releases
neurohormones (oxytocin and vasopressin) into blood
•Median eminence: regulates anterior pituitary through
  release of neurohormones
•Organum vasculosum of lamina terminalis: a chemo-
   sensory area that detects peptides and other molecules
•Subfornical organ: important for the regulation
   of body fluids
•Subcommissural organ:
•Area postrema: "vomiting center"
Circumventricular organs




•Illustrations were copied from:
•Atlas der Anatomie des Menschen/ Sobotta. Putz,R., und Pabst,R. 20. Auflage. München: Urban &
Schwarzenberg, 1993 •Netter: Interactive Atlas of Human Anatomy. Windows Version 2.0
•