Bootcamp 1 - introduction Flashcards
What is a neuron?
A neuron is a specialized cell that can send and
receive messages through electrical signals
What about dendrite structure?
Branching projections
receive input signals from
other neurons
What does soma (cell body) contain?
Contain nucleus, organelles
What about axon structure?
Often myelinated
○ Rapidly conduct electrical
signals
What does axon terminal do?
Transfer signals to other
neurons
What do dendrites do?
Provides an increased surface area for receiving stimuli
from other neurons
What are dendritic spines?
Dendritic spines are protrusions from the dendrites that
form the sites for synapses
What is the soma?
Metabolic and regulatory center of the neuron
What does the soma do?
Synthesizes macromolecules which are processed
by the Golgi apparatus and transported
throughout the neuron
Where are the Nissl bodies found?
Nissl bodies are found within the soma, consist of
endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes
What does the myealin sheeth do?
The myelin sheath wraps around an axon
and acts as an insulator
○ The sheath allows for electrical signals
to move faster
What are nodes of ranvier?
And what do they do?
Spaces where the myelin is interrupted are
called nodes of ranvier
○ These nodes regenerate the signal as it
moves down the axon
What is a synapse?
What does it allow?
How does it happen?
Junction between axon terminal of one neuron and a dendrite of
another
Allows for
communication
between neurons
● Neurotransmitters travel
from one neuron to the
other
What is The Neuronal Membrane formed from?
Formed by hydrophobic (water-fearing)
and hydrophilic (water-loving)
interactions of phospholipids
What does The Neuronal Membrane do?
Prevents ions and molecules from
moving freely between the cytosol and
extracellular environment
What are ions?
Ions are molecules that hold an
positive or negative electric
charge
What are ion channels?
Proteins called ion channels
allow ions to flow in and out of
the cell
○ They are selective, allowing
certain ions to enter but
blocking others
What is the most common type of neuron in the human nervous system? What does it consist from?
What does the structure allow?
Multipolar neuron and it posses a single axon and multiple dendrites
○ Structure allows for the integration large amounts
of information from multiple neurons
What does the bipolar neuron consist from?
Has two extensions from the soma: one axon and
one dendrite
Where is the bipolar neuron found?
Found in specialized sensory organs (retina,
olfactory bulbs, cochlea)
What does the pseudo-unipolar neuron consist from?
Has one projection from the cell body that splits
into an axon and a dendrite
All pseudo-unipolar neurons are sensory neurons
What does the unipolar neuron consist from?
one projection from the cell body that contains
both axon and dendrites
where can the unipolar neuron be found?
only in insects
what does the cns consist from?
Consists of the brain and spinal
cord
what does the pns consist from?
Consists of the nerves and ganglia
outside of the brain and spinal cord
what does the cns do?
Integrates sensory information
○ Responds to sensory inputs
what does the pns do?
Connects the CNS to the limbs and
organs.
Nervous system contains
two types of tissue:
Gray Matter (consists of
neuronal cell bodies)
○ White Matter (consists
of axons)
what is the gray matter in brain?
In the brain, cortex and
nuclei are gray matter
what does white matter surround?
In the spinal cord, white
matter surrounds gray
matter
What three subsections can the brain be divided in?
Cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem
Cerebrum
Largest portion;
consists of two
hemispheres
Brain stem
Posterior part
of the brain (continuous
with the spinal cord)
Cerebellum
Located in the
back of the brain
What are the four brain lobes and their tasks?
Frontal (cognition,
personality), parietal (integration of
sensory information), temporal (object
recognition, hearing, and
memory ) and occipital (visual
processing)
What does the cerebellum do?
Involved in motor control (coordination,
precision and timing of movements, motor
learning)
What does the basal ganglia do?
Interact with motor cortex and
cerebellum to coordinate
complex movements
what would happen if there was damage to basal ganglia?
Damage does not cause
paralysis, but may impact
speed, fluidity, and precision of
movement e.g. Parkinson’s
disease
what is the limbic system?
Collection of interconnected
cortical and subcortical
structures
what does the limbic system do?
Mediate memory, emotion, and
autonomic function
what is the spinal cord?
The spinal cord is a long structure
that extends from the brainstem
through the vertebral column
what is the spinal cord composed of?
nervous tissue
what does the spinal cord do?
Provides a pathway to and from
the brain, and is a major reflex
center
what does the spinal cord consist of?
Consists of four parts: cervical,
thoracic, lumbar, and sacral
sections
how do spinal nerves exit the spine?
through each vertebrae
what components does the spinal cord contain?
dorsal and ventral
what are ventral roots?
Ventral roots are nerves going
from brain to body (motor
information)
what are dorsal roots?
Dorsal roots are nerves going
from body to brain (sensory
information)
how is dorsal root ganglia made?
Cell bodies of neurons making up
dorsal root form dorsal root
ganglia
