Histology of the Nervous System

Question 1

study of tissues

Answer 1

histology

Question 2

viewing tissue on a slide, light beam (colorless) through specimen - stains added to highlight different elements

Answer 2

light microscopy

Question 3

beams of electrons shot through tissue, an image of what is deep inside the cell

Answer 3

electron microscopy (TEM)

Question 4

components of a neuron

Answer 4

dendrite, axon, soma, axon terminals

Question 5

receives information from other neurons via synapse, carry towards soma

Answer 5

dendrite

Question 6

supports metabolic and synthetic needs of the neuron; integrates electrical signals down axon

Answer 6

cell body (soma)

Question 7

transmits information away from the cell body via action potential

Answer 7

axon

Question 8

branching at the end of the axon that makes multiple communications, stores neurotransmitter until released to next neuron

Answer 8

axon terminals

Question 9

cell body and axon only

Answer 9

unipolar neuron

Question 10

single axon and single dendrite

Answer 10

bipolar neuron

Question 11

process emerging from cell body into two different structures

Answer 11

pseudo unipolar neuron

Question 12

multiple dendrites coming in, single axon (most common neuron)

Answer 12

multipolar neuron

Question 13

bind to cell membrane (along CM) and maintain its shape (outer shape maintenance)

Answer 13

microfilaments

Question 14

maintain structural support within the cell

Answer 14

neurofilaments

Question 15

in place for transport of elements toward/away from cell body, largest in diameter

Answer 15

microtubules

Question 16

specialized for receiving signals to bring into soma, extensive branching allows for input from many neurons

Answer 16

dendrites

Question 17

receives input from dendrites, location of metabolic activity

Answer 17

soma

Question 18

used to stain neuron to highlight tissue (dark substance)

Answer 18

Nissl bodies

Question 19

aggregates of rough ER found in neurons; present in soma, absent in axon (no metabolic activity)

Answer 19

Nissl bodies

Question 20

arises from the soma as a single process, conducts info away from the soma

Answer 20

axon

Question 21

fatty coating around axon; insulates axon and speeds up conduction

Answer 21

myelin

Question 22

branching at the end of axon, stores neurotransmitter before released to dendrites of the next neuron for communication

Answer 22

axon terminals

Question 23

not myelinated, gap between myelinated segments of the axon

Answer 23

Node of Ranvier

Question 24

myelinated segments of the axon, needed for signal transmission

Answer 24

internodal segment

Question 25

collection of cell bodies outside of the CNS (outside spinal cord)

Answer 25

ganglion

Question 26

collection of cell bodies within CNS (within brainstem)

Answer 26

nucleus

Question 27

collection of nerve fibers (axons) that carries information to and away from the CNS

Answer 27

nerve

Question 28

collection of nerve fibers (axons) ONLY within the CNS - in brain stem and SC

Answer 28

tract

Question 29

bundles of nerve fibers (axons) that carry information to (sensory) and away from (motor) the CNS

Answer 29

peripheral nerves

Question 30

critical for peripheral nerve regeneration in the PNS

Answer 30

connective tissue sheaths

Question 31

loose connective tissue that surrounds individual axons; innermost layer

Answer 31

endoneurium

Question 32

dense collagenous connective tissue layer that surrounds a bindle of axons (fascicle) within the nerve; middle layer

Answer 32

perineurium

Question 33

composed of dense connective tissue that binds fascicles together (outermost, thickest layer)

Answer 33

epineurium

Question 34

non-neuronal cells within the nervous system that perform a wide variety of support functions to maintain environment; produce myelin

Answer 34

glial cells

Question 35

examples of glial cells

Answer 35

astrocytes, microglia, myelinating cells

Question 36

myelinating glial cells

Answer 36

oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells

Question 37

form myelin (bundles) in the CNS

Answer 37

oligodendrocytes

Question 38

form myelin (single bundle) in the PNS

Answer 38

Schwann cells

Question 39

represents cell bodies, not myelinated

Answer 39

gray matter

Question 40

represents axons (traveling); myelinated

Answer 40

white matter

Question 41

employed by neurons to relay info from one part of the neuron to another

Answer 41

electrical signals

Question 42

neuron converts electrical signal to this to pass info to another neuron

Answer 42

chemical signal

Question 43

target neuron converts message to this to continue process of signal transmission

Answer 43

electrical impulse

Question 44

location of synapse between neurons

Answer 44

between axon terminal (contains neurotransmitter) and dendrite (receptors)

Question 45

contains neurotransmitter in membrane-bound synaptic vesicles

Answer 45

presynaptic element (axon terminal)

Question 46

where neurotransmitter binds, electrical signal located in this neuron

Answer 46

postsynaptic element (dendrite)