chapter 3.3

Question 1

golgi stain

Answer 1

discovered by Golgi. The silver chromate created by potassium dichromate and silver nitrate invaded a few neurons in each slice of the tissue, staining them black. Used when the shape of a neuron is in interest.

Question 2

nissl stain

Answer 2

developed by Nissl. Most common dye used is cresyl violet. Penetrates all cells on the slide, but they bind effectively only to structures in neuron cell bodies. Often used to estimate the number of cell bodies in an area, by counting the number of Nissl-stained dots.

Question 3

electron microscropy

Answer 3

provides details about neuronal structure. First coats thin slices of neural tissue with an electron-absorbing substance that is taken up by different parts of neurons to different degrees, then passing a beam of electrons through the tissue onto a photographic film. Result is an electron micrograph, which captures neuronal structure in great detail. hard to visualize shape.

Question 4

Anterograde (forward) tracing methods (Neuroanatomical)

Answer 4

used when an investigator wants to trace the paths of axons projecting away from cell bodies located in a particular area. Chemicals are taken up by cell bodies and then transported forward along their axons to their terminal buttons. After a few days, brain is removed and sliced and treated to reveal the locations of the chemical.

Question 5

Retrograde (backward) tracing methods (Neuroanatomical)

Answer 5

used when an investigator wants to trace the paths of axons projecting into a particular area. Injects into one area w/ a chemical that is taken up by the terminal buttons and then transported backward along their axons to the cell bodies. Then sliced etc. as above.

Question 6

Vertebrate nervous system has three axes

Answer 6

anterior-posterior, dorsal-ventral, and medial-lateral.

Question 7

anterior

Answer 7

toward the nose end. Rostral.

Question 8

posterior

Answer 8

towards the tail end. Caudal.

Question 9

dorsal

Answer 9

toward the surface of the back/top of the head.

Question 10

ventral

Answer 10

toward the surface of the chest or bottom of the head

Question 11

medial

Answer 11

toward the midline of the body

Question 12

lateral

Answer 12

away from the midline toward the body’s lateral surfaces.

Question 13

superior

Answer 13

top of a primate’s head

Question 14

inferior

Answer 14

bottom of a primate’s head

Question 15

proximal

Answer 15

close; w/ regard to PNS, means closer to the CNS

Question 16

Distal

Answer 16

far; w/ regard to PNS, means further from the CNS

Question 17

Brain is cut in three ways

Answer 17

horizontal sections, frontal sections (coronal sections) and sagittal sections.

Question 18

Midsagittal section

Answer 18

section cut down the center of the brain between the two hemispheres.

Question 19

Cross section

Answer 19

a section cut at a right angle to any long, narrow structure.