Histology of Nervous System

Question 1

What are the three layers of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 1

Outer hypocellular molecular layer
Middle purkinje layer
Inner densely populated granular cell layer

Question 2

What are the types of glial cells?

Answer 2

Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
Microglia
Ependymal

Question 3

What is the appearance of astrocytes?

Answer 3

‘star cells’ round oval nuclei with evenly dispersed pale chromatin with foot processes often in contact with a blood vessel

Question 4

What is the role of astrocytes?

Answer 4

Provide physical and metabolic support to cells of the CNS

Question 5

What is the appearance of oligodendrocytes?

Answer 5

Small round nucleus with dense homogenous chromatin. Few short cytoplasmic processes which wrap around axons of neurons to form myelin

Question 6

What is the role of oligodendrocytes?

Answer 6

Insulation to axons (equivalent to schwann cells in PNS) - create the myelin sheath

Question 7

What is the role of ependymal cells?

Answer 7

Lines the ventricles of the brain and central canal of spinal cord and produces CSF

Question 8

What is the role of microglia?

Answer 8

macrophage of the CNS