Cells of the Nervous System/Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What are the convoluted surfaces of ridges residing within the cerebral hemispheres?
Gyri
What are the impression in the cerebral hemispheres?
Sulci
What are the four cerebral lobes?
Temporal, parietal, occipital, and frontal
What does the brainstem consist of?
Midbrain, pons and medulla
In descending order
What is the cerebellum?
Hind brain structure, attached to brainstem
Coordinates voluntary movements including posture, balance, coordination and speech
What is the role of the spinal cord?
Extends down from the medulla, conduit for neural transmission and coordinate reflex action
What are unipolar neurones?
Consists of one extension from cell body (considered as single axonal projection)
What are pseudo-unipolar neurones?
Single axonal protection that divides into two segments
What are bipolar neurones?
Two projections from the cell body- 1 axon + 1 dendrite
What are multipolar neurones?
Neurones with multiple projections from the cell body, most prevalent neuronal type
What are pyramidal cells?
Neurones with a pyramidal shape soma, two distinct dendritic trees.
Basal dendrites emerge from the base and the apical dendrites from the apex of the pyramidal cell body
What are Purkinje and Golgi cells?
GABA neurones
Where are Purkinje and Golgi cell located?
Cerebellum
What are neurones?
Excitable cells fo the CNS, generate action potentials. Non-dividing cells contemporary elements suggestive of potential division
What does heterogeneous morphology mean?
Variation in structural morphology of neurones.
What is the soma and what is its function
Connects to dendrites, transmits electrical signals to the neurone, and their axon sends information to adjacent neurones
What does the soma contain?
Nucleus, Nissl granules and neurofilaments.
What are Nissl granules?
Composed of rough endoplasmic reticulum and are polyribosomes
What is the function of neurofilaments?
Express structural and transportation properties.
What do axons contain?
Axoplasm
Where do axons originate from?
Originate from the soma at the axon hillock
What are projections from the axon called?
Collaterals
What is the function of axons?
Transmitting electrical signals to adjacent neurones/ effector cells
What protein encapsulates axons?
Myelin
Why is myelin useful?
Enhances electrical trnsmission through electrical insulation that stimulates saltatory conduction.
What is present at the axon terminal?
Telodendria
What are dendrites?
Highly branched cell body, that unmyelinated, receives signals from other neurones, and transmits electrical signals to the soma to the axon
Which cells connect neuronal signalling and CNS vasculature?
Astrocytes
What projections extend from the astrocyte soma and attach to the basement membrane?
Astrocyte end feet
How do astrocytes enable bidirectional signalling between neurones and vasculature?
Processes extend from the cell bodies towards the neurones, and to the vasculature
What are the three functions of astrocytes?
Maintenance of blood brain barrier
Cell repair
homeostasis
How do astrocytes maintain the blood brain barrier?
Paracrine interaction with the endothelial cells. Secrete classes of factors with either barrier promoting or barrier disrupting effects.
How are astrocytes involved in cell repair?
Synthesis of neurotrophic factors (endogenous soluble proteins that support growth, survival and differentiation of neurones).
CNS damage = astrocytes occupy space to form glial scar
How do astrocytes form glial scars?
Proliferate and migrate to injury site, undergo hypertrophy to develop thicker processes that aim to isolate the area
What is the process of forming glial scars referred as?
Astrocytosis
How are astrocytes involved in homeostasis?
Neurotransmitter removal and re-uptake. Express plasma membrane transporters (glutamate transporters for neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate)
How do astrocytes maintain interstitial fluid?
Release lactate into fluid, neurones have limited energy stores.
Potassium ion concentration
Which cells myelinated cells of the CNS?
Oligodendrocytes