Histology - Nervous Tissue Flashcards
End bulbs (terminal boutons)
Axon terminal
Perikaryon
Cell body of a neuron
Nissles bodies
= RER + polyribosomes
Basophilic material
Axon hillock
- RER is absent
- Highest concentration of sodium (Na+) gates/ channels
- Pyramidal-shaped region of the soma
Hypolemma cisterna
- SER extending from the axons to the dendrites
- Continous with RER of the cell body and weave between nissls bodies
Golgi complex
Responsible for the packaging of neurotransmitter substances or enzymes essential for their production in the axon
Mitochondria
- Most abundant at the axon terminals
- More slender in neurons
Centriole
- Most adult neuron display one centriole associated with a basal body of a cilium
- Possesses the 9+0 arrangement in microtubules
- Believed to be vestigial structures
Melanin granules
- CNS: > Substantia nigra > Locus ceruleus > Dorsal motor nucelus of the vagus and the spinal cord - PNS: > Sympathetic ganglia
What is the precusor of the melanin granules?
Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)/methyldopa
Inclucions
- Melanin
- Lipofuscin pigments
- Lipid droplets
Lipofuscin
- Irregulary shaped, yellowish brown pigment granule
- Remant of lysosomal activity
- Increase in number with age
- May crowd the organelles and the nucleus to one side, possibly affecting cellular funtion
- Purkinjie cellsof the cerebellar cortex do not accumulate lipofuscin
Give an example of a cell that does not accumulate lipofuscin?
Purkinjie cells of cerebellar cortex
Lipid droplets
- Observed in neuronal cytoplasm
- May be the result of faulty metanolism or from energy reserves
- Secretory granules are observed in neurosecretory cells; many of them containing signaling molecules.
Secretory granules
Observed in neurosecretory cells; many of them containing signaling molecules
Neuronal cytoskeletal components;
- Exhibit neurofibrils
- 3 filamentous structures:
- Microtubules (MAP-2 and MAP-3)
- Neurofilaments (clumped bundles of neurofilaments)
- Microfilaments (actin filaments)
Dendrites
- Do not contain golgi complex
- Neurofilaments are reduced to small bundles or single filaments, which may be cross-linked to microtubules.
- Mitochondria is abundant
- Some dendrites have spines which permit them to form synapses with other neurons
- Sometimes the dendrites contain vesicles and transmit impulses to other dendrites.
Spines
- Located on the surface of some dendrites
- Permit them to form synapses with other neurons
- Diminish woth age and poor nutrition
Collateral branches
Arise at right angles from the axon trunk.
Terminal arbor
Small branches of the axon terminals
Initial segment =
Spine trigger zone
Axolemma
- Plasmalemma of the axon
- Lacks RER
- Houses abundant microtubules and neurofilaments
Myelin sheath
Surround some axons in poth CNS and PNS
What is the precusor of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline?
Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)/methyldopa