Central nervous system internal organization

Postmortem findings include changes in the central nervous system and possibly necrotic foci in internal organs such as pancreas, liver, and heart. There are no characteristic gross lesions. 

The nervous system is conventionally divided into the central nervous system (CNS the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS neuronal tissues outside the CNS). The motor (efferent) portion of the nervous system can be divided into two major subdivisions autonomic and somatic. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is largely independent (autonomous) in that its activities are not under direct conscious control. It is concerned primarily with visceral functions such as cardiac output, blood flow to various organs, and digestion, which are necessary for life. The somatic subdivision is largely concerned with consciously controlled functions such as movement, respiration, and posture. Both systems have important afferent (sensory) inputs that provide information regarding the internal and external environments and modify motor output through reflex arcs of varying size and complexity. 

Whether or not dietary quercetin and other flavonols can accumulate in internal organs is controversial. It is unclear if they accumulate in the human body, but dietary quercetin was found to be distributed in each organ in experimental animals [de Boer et al., 2005]. In rats fed 0.1% quercetin for 11 weeks, the highest accumulation was in the lungs. Low amounts of quercetin metabolites were detected in the brain. This indicates that quercetin metabolites can access the central nervous system by passing the blood-brain barrier, although the mechanism of this passage is incompletely understood. 

Khanin, AC. 1969. [Histopathological changes in the central nervous system and internal organs of experimental animals after chronic 24-hour inhalation of toxic substances.] Tr Tsent Inst Vsoversh Vrachei 135 97-106 (Russian). 

SAFETY PROFILE Poison by ingestion. Moderately toxic by skin contact. A skin and eye irritant. Exposure causes blue coloration of internal organs and central nervous system effects, e.g., hyperexcitability, tremors, lack of coordination, hunched back, and loss of weight. It is slowly metabolized and excreted via feces. Symptoms persist for 90 days after exposure. Severity of symptoms seems proportional to length of exposure. It is freely absorbed via human skin. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. 

Central nervous system—The brain and spinal cord components of the nervous system that control the activities of internal organs, movements, perceptions, thoughts, and emotions. 

One aspect of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines that confuses some people is the tier system, or the division of organ systems into sequential groups to be evaluated. Core Tier I, which must be performed prior to first studies in man, includes evaluations of central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and respiratory/... 

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