Histology Of The CNS Flashcards
What does the cell body of a typical neuron have?
Well developed nucleolus and Nissl substance
What are Nissl Substances?
Basically rER of neurons
Where do dendrites of a typical neuron extend from?
From perikaryon
What increases the receptive area of a typical neuron?
Numerous dendritic spines that are plastic
What is a neuropil?
Dense network of nerve fiber and their branches and synapses, together with glial filaments
What is a multipolar neuron?
Many dendrites
One axon
What is a bipolar neuron?
One dendrite
One axon
What is a pseudo-unipolar neuron?
One cell process w/ branches, single axon, single dendrite
Where would you find a multipolar axons?
Spinal motor neurons in cns and autonomic ganglia
Where would you find bipolar neurons?
Sensory neurons in olfactory epithelium, retina, ganglia of vestibulocochlear n.
Where would you find pseudo-unipolar neurons?
Sensory neurons in the PNS
Dorsal root ganglia
How are neurons in the PNS myelinated?
Satellite cells surround soma
Schwann cells wraps itself around the axons and form myelin
How does a Schwann cell myelinate?
1 cell to 1 neuron?
What is a myelin sheath in the PNS made of?
Mostly made of phospholipids
How are axons myelinated in the CNS?
Oligodendrocytes myelinates and warps a cell process around the axon
1 cell to many neurons
How do synapses communicate?
Unidirectional
Coverts electrical signal (nerve impulses) from presynaptic cell
To chemical signal
To postsynaptic cell
And most release NTRs
What comprises a chemical syanpse?
Presynaptic bouton/terminal
Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic membrane
What does the presynaptic bouton contain?
What does it do?
Mitochondria
Synaptic vesicles
Release NTRs via exocytosis
What is the synaptic cleft
A 20-30 NK wide intercellular space that separates pre and post synaptic membranes
What does the postsynaptic membrane contain?
Receptors for NTRs
Ion channels to initiate a new impulse
What is an electrical synapse
Direct, passive flow of electrical current between neurons using gap junctions
What is contained in the electrical synapse?
Connexon proteins
What do connexon proteins do?
Link pre and post synaptic membranes and allow for ions to flow thru
Where are electrical synapses found?
Retina
Olfactory bulb
Inferior Olivary nucleus
What do the different axon connections allow for?
I.e. axon to cell body, axon to axon, axon to dendrite
Allows for modulation of different signals coming in at same time
What is anterograde transport in axons?
Transport from nerve cell body to axon
How does anterograde transport happen?
Utilizes kinesiology, microtubule-associated motor protein
What is retrograde transport in axons?
Transport from axon terminal to cell body/dendrites
How does retrograde transport occur?
Uses dynein- a microtubule associated motor protein
What uses retrograde transport?
Example?
Endocytosed toxins and viruses
-shingles
What uses slow transport?
Speed of slow?
Anterograde movement of substances usually cytoskeleton elements
.2-4.0 mm/day
What uses fast transport?
Speed?
Both retrograde and anterograde (bidirectional) movement of organelles
20-400 mm/day
What are astrocytes
Type of glial cells with large number of long,branching processes
What are the proximal regions of astrocytes reinforced with?
What are these made of?
Reinforced with intermediate filaments
Made of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)
What do the intermediate filaments of astrocytes do?
Forms network of terminals connecting synapses and other structures
How many synaptic sites do the terminal processes of a single astrocytes typically associate with?
Over 1 million synaptic sites
What is the function of Astrocytes
Establish BBB with their endfeet
Regulate immediate microenvironment around cell in terms of ion concentration
Reuptake NTRs
Assists with neuronal development
Replicates to occupy space of dying neurons
What are oligodendrocytes?
Glial cells that extend processes to wrap nearby axons in myelin in the CNS
Histologically, how do oligodendrocytes appear?
Small cells with rounded, condensed nuclei and unstained cytoplasm
What are microglia?
Migratory glial cell that removes damaged or inactive synapses or other fibrous components
Which glial cell is a major mechanism of immune defense in the CSF?
Microglia - remove any microbial invaders