Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Histology Exam 1 > CNS > Flashcards

CNS Flashcards

1
Q

What are meninges composed of?

A

singular meninx = composed of specialized epithelial cells (meningothelial cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are meninges supported by? What is their function? Where are they confined to?

A

connective tissue
protective function
confined to outer layer of brain and cord in CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what are the layers of the meninges?

A

dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater

(superficial to deep)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is dura mater made up of? Where is dura in the cranium and where it is in spinal cord?

A

thick layer of dense connective tissue, internally lined by mesothelium

cranium = fused with periosteum of skull
spinal cord = surrounded by epidural space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the subarachnoid space lined by? What does it do? What does it contain?

A

flattened mesothelial cells
separates arachnoid from pia mater
contains CSF and is continous with ventricles of brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is pia mater adhered to?

A

surface of brain and cord - highly vascularized

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

pia + arachnoid =

A

leptomeninges (thin/delicate)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are denticulate ligaments? What do they do?

A

support cord, extend from pia, anchor cord to arachnoid, dura, and periosteum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are neurons in the CNS derived from?

A

neuroectodermal cells of neural tube

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The brain and cord contain gray and white matter - where are those located and what do they contain?

A

peripheral gray matter contains neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and axons

central white matter contains mostly myelinated axons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are neuroglia? Features of them?

A

large number of support cells in CNS

highly branched, provide structural and metabolic support for neurons

provide structural and metabolic support and aid in tissue repair following injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are oligodendrocytes?

A

CNS equivalent of Schwann cells, elaborate myelin sheaths
myelinating cells of the central nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are astrocytes?

A

most highly branched; largest neuroglia cells (packaging)
star shape

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are microglia?

A

phagocytic fixed-tissue macrophage
part of monocyte-microphage lineage
smallest neuroglial cells
originally mesodermal, have immune function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the types of neuroglia?

A

oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are ependymal cells?

A

cuboidal epithelium lining ventricles and central canal of spinal cord
frequently ciliated, microvilli for reabsorbtion of CSF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the choroid plexus? What does it do? What does it contain?

A

highly vascularized structure arising from walls of ventricles in brain
CSF secreted by choroid plexus
contains modified ependymal cells which secrete CSF; fluid acts like shock absorber

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the cerebrum? How is it organized? What is it composed of?

A

aka cerebral cortex
in mammals, neocortex evolved to include sensory, motor, and association areas
in humans, 90% of cortex is neocortex
grossly organized into folds = gyro
cerebral cortex composed of gray matter peripherally; contains large # of neuron cell bodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are nuclei?

A

clusters of neuron cell bodies form small islands of gray matter in cerebrum and cerebellum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Neuroglial cells in gray matter include:
Neuroglial cells in white matter include:

A

gray: astrocytes, microglial cells
white: myelinated axons surrounded by oligodendrocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are tracts?

A

axons leading in and out of gray matter grouped in bundles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is white matter? Where is it located?

A

makes up medulla
deep to cortex

23
Q

How are cortical neurons arranged?

A

neurons of neocortex divided into five morphological categories
anatomically, divided into six layers
functionally arranged in vertical columns or units

24
Q

What are the cortical neurons?

A

pyramidal cells, stellate (granule) cells, cells of martinotti, fusiform cells, and horizontal cells of Cajal

25
What are pyramid cells?
pyramid-shaped neurons with long, slender axons, varying in size from small to large largest include upper motor neurons in motor cortex called Betz cells
26
What are stellate cells?
(granule) small star-shaped neurons with short axons and dendrites
27
What are cells of Martinotti?
small neurons with long, horizontal axons
28
What are fusiform cells?
vertically oriented, spindle-shaped neurons with vertical axons
29
What are horizontal cells of Cajal?
horizontally oriented, spindle-shaped neurons with horizontal axons least common type of neuron, found only in superficial layer
30
What is the cerebellum? What does it do? How is it organized?
coordinates muscular activity, posture, and equilibrium grossly organized into folds, or folia, with central medulla of white matter, contains mostly oligodendrocytes and myelinated axons
31
What are the outer cerebellar cortex layers?
Outer molecular layer = contains few neurons and large numbers of unmyelinated axons inner granular layer = highly cellular, very basophilic - contains large number of neuroglial cells and small neurons called granule cells
32
What are purkinje cells? What do they separate? What do they specialize in?
a nerve cell of a large, branched type found in the cortex of the cerebellum separate molecular and granular layers function in coordination and equilibrium
33
What is the structure of the spinal cord?
similar structure throughout; prominent ventral median fissure
34
What does the central canal contain? What is it lined with?
contains CSF, lined by ependymal cells, continous with ventricles of brain
35
How is the gray and white matter arranged in the spinal cord?
Unlike the brain, gray matter is located centrally, and white matter peripherally
36
What does the gray matter of the spinal cord contain?
neuron cell bodies and axons 2 dorsal horns and 2 ventral horns connected by thin central commissure
37
What do dorsal horns contain? What do ventral horns contain?
afferent (sensory) nerve tracts dorsal n roots form lateral extensions of dorsal horns of gray matter cell bodies of somatic sensory neurons lie in dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves efferent (motor) nerve cell bodies - innervate skeletal muscles
38
What does the white matter of the spinal cord contain?
ascending and descending fiber tracts called columns mostly myelinated axons, carry sensory and motor data
39
What is the PNS response to injury?
connective tissue scar and schwann cells form bridge between severed ends of nerve
40
If the gap of injuried nerve is not too big, regeneration of axon is possible. What are the steps?
1 = Schwann cells multiply to physically bridge gap 2 = nerve axon sprouts neurites from proximal stump 3 = neurites grow into distal stump; contact reestablishes function if too damaged = axon may need to regrow its entire length - may take weeks to months
41
What is anterograde (Wallerian) degeneration?
portion of axon distal to point of injury degenerated due to interruption of axonal transport (nutrient synthesis occurs in cell body, transport down axon)
42
What is chromatolysis?
cell body of an injured neuron also swells, becomes brightly eosinophilicm loses Nissl substance
43
What is retrograde degeneration?
when injury is too severe and death of cell body
44
What is the CNS response to injury?
oligodendrocytes less efficient than Schwann cells; instead, neuroglial cells multiply scar tissue proliferation from glial cells prevents regeneration, physically blocks contact between cell body and axon neurons terminally differentiated; unable to be replaced ex: ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease = also due to death of motor neurons controlling voluntary muscles
45
What is meningitis?
inflammation of meninges; may be bacterial or viral
46
What is encephalitis? What is myelitis?
inflammation of the brain inflammation of spinal cord
47
What are examples of mixed involvements of inflammation? What are the symptoms?
encephalomyelitis (brain and cord) meningoencephalitis (meninges and brain) vary - from mild headaches to paralysis, debilitation and death
48
What are the two types of meningitis?
viral and bacterial viral = transient lymphocytic infiltrate bacterial = neutrophilic infiltrate and may be life-threatening
49
What is polio?
poliovirus affects alpha-motor neurons of ventral horn of spinal cord = poliomyelitis lower motor neuron paralysis and subsequent muscle atrophy eradicated due to invention of salk vaccine
50
What is parkinson's disease?
neurodegenerative disease characterized by muscular tremor due to death of neurons in substantia nigra decrease production of dopamine in brain adminstration of L-dopa for cure
51
What is alzheimer's disease?
form of dementia characterized by neural plaques and fibrillary tangles within cortex
52
What is multiple sclerosis?
(MS) an autoimmune, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of CNS antibodies destroy myelin sheaths around axons = plaque formation usually affects women betwern ages of 20-40 years old symptoms vary with location of affected neurons and degree of demyelination often multiple episodes, with partial resolution in between
53
What is Guillan-Barre syndrome?
immune-mediated demyelination in PNS often initiated by infection = progressive weakness in peripheral muscles

Histology Exam 1 (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions