Cellular Neuroscience Flashcards
Definition: Functional unit of the nervous system
Neurons
The input part of a neuron?
The dendrites
The output part of a neuron?
The axon
The part of the neuron that holds the nucleus, DNA, and life support?
The cell body
What does the axon exit on the cell body?
The axon hillock
Where presynaptic axon terminals and postsynaptic dendrites meet
The synapse
What are the finger-like projections dendrites sometimes have?
Dendritic spins
the highly plastic structure (during development) that acts as a highway for molecular motors inside neurons?
The cytoskeleton
Who invented and used the cell staining method.
Camillo Golgi invented it
S. Ramon Y Cajal used the technique
The two theories Cajal and Golgi had on neurons?
Reticulum theory (physically connected) - Golgi Cell Theory (individual cells communicating) - Cajal
The ratio of glia to neurons?
3:1
What is special about glial cells
they can divide throughout their entire lifetime
Name the three types of glial cells:
Astroglia
Oligodendroglia
Microglia
Describe some functions of astroglial cells:
Prevents leaking of chemical activity by insulating and isolating neurons from each other
- Blood-brain barrier
- A border that protects the brain from parasites from blood
- Surround blood vessels, and absorb nutrients to give to brain
- Can act as stem cells
Describe some functions of oligodendroglial cells:
- Produces myelin in the CNS
- Wraps neurons to speed up conduction
- Can also supply neurons with fuel (LACTATE) after forming myelin by absorbing nutrients from blood vessels and releasing it to the neurons.
- Can act as stem cells
Describe some functions of microglial cells:
- Immune cell, because CNS is immunologically privileged due to BBB, fewer immunological defenses than other body areas as normal immune cells are unable to move freely around NS
What type of glial cell is star-shaped?
astroglial cells
What is one theory of ALS relating to oligodendroglial cells?
The oligodendroglial cells malfunction and cannot provide enough nutrients to motor neurons with long axons. Results in loss of voluntary movement
How many synapses are astrocytes capable of interacting with at once?
Around 2 million
Where are the glial cells astrocytes located in the brain?
Located near ventricles in the subventricular zone, next to ventricular zone blood vessels
How many myelin wrappings can one oliogodendroglia cell provide?
30-50 myelin internodes
What is the difference between oliogodendrocytes and schwaan cells?
Schwaan cells can only provide one myelin wrapping per cell, however, oliogodendrocytes can provide 30-50 myeline internodes per cell
What type of matter are oliogodendrocutes usually found in? What state are they in in this matter?
White matter as oliogodendrocyte precursors, polydendrocytes
What do polydendrocytes produce?
mostly oliogodendrocytes, some astrocytes
What causes chromic inflammation diseases?
too much inflammation
the electrical difference between the outside and the inside compartments; the electrical potential generated across the membrane at electrochemical equilibrium
The equilibrium potential
he exact balance between the concentration gradient and the opposing electrical gradient
the electrochemical equilibrium
_________ discovered the large neurons squids have after opening one up at University College London
John Young
The Na+ channels are an example of a _______ feedback circuit that is ________
positive feedback circuit that is fast and self-limiting
The K+ channels are an example of a ____ feedback circuit that is ______
negative feedback circuit that is slow and gradual
A measurable rate of propagation
conduction velocity
2 ways to increase conduction velocity
1) Make the diameter of the axon bigger
2) Insulate the axon so the message doesn’t leak out, then leave gaps for the message to jump across,