Cells and Tissue of the nervous system Flashcards
what comprises the central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
what comprises the peripheral nervous system
cranial and spinal nerves
what two divisions can the peripheral nervous system be further split into
sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) divisions
what are the two types of nervous cells
neurons and glial cells
what are neurons
excitable cells - made up of a structural and functional unit - carry impulses as action potentials
what are glial cells
non-excitable supporting cells - much smaller than neurons
what is the structure of a typical neuron
multiple dendrites, one axon
what describes the travel of impulse transmission by action potential in a neuron
impulse travles in only one direction from cell body to synaptic terminal
what is the neuron nucleus made from
loose chromatin, prominent nucleolus
what cell organelles are contained within the cell body of a neuron
mitochondria, rEr, diffuse golgi apparatus
what are the different cytoplasms in the cell body and axon respectively
cell body - perikaryon
axon - axoplasm
what are the long term consequences of injury to the neuron
if the axon is damaged - can grow back
if cell body is damaged - damage is irreversible
what is the role of the myelin sheath
to increase conduction speed in axons
what 2 classes are axons divided into
myelinated or non-myelinated - depends on presence of the myelin sheath
what forms the myelin sheath in the CNS
oligodendrocytes
what forms the myelin sheath in the PNS
schwann cells
what are the gaps between myelin sheath called
nodes of ranvier
what is the result of patch loss/scarring of the myelin sheath
DEMYELINATION - nerve conduction across affected axons is abnormal
what are the causes of demyelination
causes unknown - ?viral, ?autoimmune
what are the three types of neurons
multipolar, bipolar, pseudopolar
what determines how axons are bundled together
determined by what information they carry
(in the CNS) what forms grey matter
DIFFUSE collection of cell bodies and NON-MYELINATED axons
(in the CNS) what forms nucleii
LOCALISED collection of cell bodies and NON-MYELINATED axons
(in the CNS) what forms white matter
DIFFUSE collection of MYELINATED axons
(in the CNS) what are tracts
bundles of MYELINATED axons carrying specific information within the white matter
(in the PNS) what forms nerves
MYELINATED axons