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MD1 Neuroscience > Histology > Flashcards

Histology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the key cell of the nervous system?

A

The neuron

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2
Q

What are neurons supported by?

A

Glial cells

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3
Q

What are the 5 different glial cells of the nervous system?

A

Astrocytes

Oligodendrocytes

Schwann cells

Ependymal cells

Satellite cells of ganglia

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4
Q

What are the immune cells of the nervous system?

A

Microglia

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5
Q

True or false: Microglia are a type of glial cell?

A

False!

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6
Q

How many layers of neurons are there in the neocortex?

A

6

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7
Q

What are the 2 specialised regions of the CNS?

A

Ventricular system and choroid plexus

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8
Q

What is the role of the ventricular system?

A

Formation and passage of CSF

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9
Q

What is the choroid plexus?

A

Vascular structure arising from the wall of each ventricle.

Forms the CSF

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10
Q

What are ependymal cells?

A

Low columnar or cuboidal cells that line the central canal of the spinal cord and the ventricles within the brain.

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11
Q

What do ependymal cells have in some places?

A

Cilia on apical surface to aid CSF flow.

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12
Q

How are ependymal cells different to epithelial cells?

A

They are non basal laminar

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13
Q

How are neurons specialised for signalling?

A
  • Morphologically distinct
  • Electrically active
  • Rapid communication
  • Long distance projections (axons)
  • Specialised (e.g. transduction mechanisms for the various senses)
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14
Q

How do neurons differ from other cells?

A

Specialised for signalling

High level of protein synthesis

Metabolically active

Terminally differentiated

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15
Q

What will neurons that are morphologically distinct from one another have?

A

Different functions

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16
Q

What are the 3 components of the neuron responsible for its morphology?

A

Actin

Intermediate filaments

Microtubules

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17
Q

What role does actin play in regulating neuromorphology?

A

Dynamic assembly/disassembly, allowing for shape changes and movement (e.g. spines and growth cones).

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18
Q

Which component of the neuron underpins the changes in spines and growth cones seen in plasticity?

A

Actin

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19
Q

What are the properties of intermediate filaments found in neurons?

A

In all neuronal processes

Permanent

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20
Q

What are the properties of microtubules found in neurons?

A

Dynamic

Composed of tubulin

Axon transport

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21
Q

Which component of the neuronal cytoskeleton plays a role in axonal transport?

A

Microtubules

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22
Q

What are the 3 different functional divisions to the neuron?

A

Dendrites - Inputs

Soma - Maintenance (also inputs, too)

Axon & axon terminal - Output

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23
Q

Where is a high proportion of the total cell volume of the neuron found?

A

In the axons and dendrites.

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24
Q

What is axonal transport critical in the supply of?

A

Cell-body derived elements

The axon terminal requires so many components but can’t synthesise them

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25
Q

Which part of the neuron is often involved in damage?

A

The axon - because it is so long and often traverses long distances.

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26
Q

What type of potentials does the membrane carry?

A

Graded potentials

27
Q

What must be present within and on either side of the neuronal membrane for graded potentials to be conducted?

A

Unequal distribution of positively charged ions on either side of the membrane.

Membrane must contain Na+/K+-ATPase pumps and ion channels

28
Q

Which part of the neuron is specialised for inputs?

A

Dendrites

29
Q

What type of signal is that which travels along the dendrites?

A

Graded potential - passive electrotonic current

30
Q

What type of signal is that which travels along the axon?

A

Action potential

31
Q

What is the difference between graded potentials and action potentials in terms of signal conductance?

A

Action potentials propagate much further than graded potentials.

32
Q

What is the output signal of the axon?

A

Exocytosis of chemical neurotransmitter at the synapse.

33
Q

Which components of the neuron are visualised with a Nissl stain?

A

Organelles, e.g. free ribosomes and organelles

34
Q

Where are all proteins of the neuron synthesised? Why is this a problem?

A

In the soma.

A problem because the axon terminal is a great distance from the soma.

35
Q

What are the passive support functions of astrocytes?

A

Neurotransmitter uptake and regulation

K+ homeostasis

Neuronal energy supply

Maintenance of the blood brain barrier

Aid in myelination

Injury response and recovery

36
Q

What are the active support functions of astrocytes?

A

Modulation of neuronal function and blood flow

37
Q

How do glial cells regulate neurotransmitter uptake and degradation?

A

They express glutamate and GABA transporters used to shunt neurotransmitter out of the synapse.

38
Q

What happens to neuronal excitability when glutamate transporters in glial cells are inhibited?

A

Neurons become more depolarised, increasing excitability.

39
Q

Glia show modulations in which intracellular ion?

A

Calcium

40
Q

What is the calcium wave?

A

A propagating wave of calcium influx throughout the astrocyte, used as the signal both in and between glia when an external stimulus is applied.

41
Q

What can calcium waves in astrocytes be initiated by?

A

Neurotransmitters (e.g. ATP, Glutamate)

Trauma

Spontaneous

Inflammatory mediators

42
Q

How can astrocytes modulate neuronal function?

A

Via vesicular excretion of glutamate or ATP onto neuronal membrane.

43
Q

What effect does the calcium wave have on the neuron? How?

A

Neurons are inhibited by calcium wave.

ATP is released from the astrocyte onto the neuron

44
Q

How do astrocytes regulate the vasculature?

A

Calcium waves initiated within an astrocyte cause vasoconstriction or vasodilation via the release of ATP.

45
Q

What do oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells do?

A

Myelinate axons

46
Q

Where in the nervous system are oligodendrocytes found?

A

In the CNS

47
Q

Where in the nervous system are Schwann cells found?

A

In the peripheral nervous system

48
Q

What effect does myelination have on the neuron?

A

Provides electrical insulation for neurons.

Increases conduction velocity.

49
Q

Other than their location, what is a major difference between oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

A

Oligodendrocytes extend processes that wrap around parts of several neurons, whereas Schwann cells wrap around one axon only.

50
Q

What are the small gaps between the myelin sheathings of an axon?

A

Nodes of Ranvier

51
Q

Of what origin are the microglia?

A

Haematopoietic origin

Mesodermal derivative

52
Q

What percentage of cells in the mouse brain are microglia?

A

5-20%

53
Q

Which immune cell do microglia resemble?

A

Macrophages - they are phagocytic

54
Q

What do microglia do?

A

Constantly survey they CNS and change rapidly in response to inflammation or injury

Upregulate cytokines/growth factors.

55
Q

What are peripheral nerves composed of?

A

One or more bundles (fascicles) of nerve fibres.

56
Q

What is each fascicle of a peripheral nerve fibre surrounded by?

A

Perineurium - collagenous tissue

57
Q

What is generally present in a peripheral nerve fibre if there is more than one fascicle present?

A

A further layer of collagenous tissue - the epineurium

58
Q

What is the endoneurium?

A

The loose vascular supporting tissue surrounded each nerve fibre and Schwann cell within each individual fascicle.

59
Q

What are ganglia?

A

Aggregations of cell bodies of neurons outside the CNS

60
Q

What are the 2 types of ganglia?

A

Sensory and autonomic ganglia

61
Q

What do the sensory ganglia house?

A

The somata of sensory neurons

62
Q

Where are the sensory ganglia found?

A

In the dorsal root of the spinal cord (dorsal root ganglia)

63
Q

What do the autonomic ganglia house?

A

The somata of post-ganglionic neurons

64
Q

What do ganglia contain?

A

Cell bodies, nerve fibres and satellite cells (supporting cells in ganglia)

MD1 Neuroscience (23 decks)

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