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MD1 Neuroscience > Histology of the Nervous System > Flashcards

Histology of the Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the key cell of the nervous system?

A

Neuron

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2
Q

What are the types of glial cells?

A 
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Schwann cells
Ependymal cells
Satellite cells of ganglia
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3
Q

What are the immune cells of the CNS?

A

Microglia

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4
Q

How many glial cells are there?

A

Almost as many as neurons

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5
Q

How many layers of neurons are there in grey matter?

A

6

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6
Q

What colour does the cell body stain with H&E?

A

Pink

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7
Q

What colour do the processes stain with H&E?

A

Pink

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8
Q

What is highlighted with a silver stain?

A

Processes

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9
Q

What does the ventricular system do?

A

Form and provide passage for CSF

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10
Q

What is the choroid plexus?

A

Vascular structure arising from ventricles

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11
Q

What does the choroid plexus do?

A

Form CSF

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12
Q

What cell type are ependymal cells?

A

Low columnar or cuboidal

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13
Q

Where are ependymal cells found?

A

Line central canal of spinal cord and ventricles in brain

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14
Q

T/F: Ependymal cells in some areas have cilia. If true, why?

A

True, to help CSF flow

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15
Q

Are ependymal cells epithelial or glial?

A

Neither, but they’re more glial than epithelial

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16
Q

How are ependymal cells attached to underlying tissue?

A

Via long processes anchoring cell in tissue

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17
Q

What are some characteristics of neurons?

A 
Morphologically distinct
Electrically active
Rapid communication
Long distance
Specialised; eg:
- Retina
- Cochlea
High level of protein synthesis
Metabolically limited
Terminally differentiated
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18
Q

Where are Purkinje cells found?

A

Cerebellar cortex

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19
Q

Where are pyramidal cells found?

A

Cerebral cortex

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20
Q

What are the three components of a neuron’s cytoskeleton?

A

Actin
Intermediate filaments
Microtubules

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21
Q

What is the role of actin in a neuron’s cytoskeleton?

A

Dynamic assembly/disassembly
Allows shape changes and movement; eg:
- Spines grow during learning
- Growth cones

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22
Q

What is the role of intermediate filaments in a neuron’s cytoskeleton?

A

In all processes

Permanent

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23
Q

What is the role of microtubules in a neuron’s cytoskeleton?

A

Dynamic
Made of tubulin
Axon transport

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24
Q

What does the soma do?

A

Metabolic centre of cell

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25
Q

What are the two types of neuronal processes?

A

Dendrite

Axon

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26
Q

What does a dendrite do?

A

Receive information from other neurons

= Input

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27
Q

What does an axon do?

A

Main conducting unit for carrying signals to other neurons

= Output

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28
Q

Where is a high proportion of total cell volume?

A

Axons (and dendrites)

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29
Q

Why is axonal transport critical?

A

To supply cell-body derived elements to long axon

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30
Q

Which part of the neuron does random damage often involve?

A

Axon, not cell body

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31
Q

Describe graded membrane potentials

A

Unequal distribution of positively charged ions on either side of membrane
Membrane has Na-K-ATPase pumps and ion channels - sets up charge distribution across membrane

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32
Q

What type of signal is sent via dendrites?

A

Passive spread of current - local signal

33
Q

What type of signal is sent via axons?

A

Action potential - travels long distances

34
Q

Describe the synapse

A

Pre-synaptic cell talks to something
- Synaptic vessels contain neurotransmitters
Synaptic cleft = space between communicating processes
Post-synaptic cell receives information > change in membrane potential > responds to information

35
Q

What is the high level of protein production in neurons needed for?

A

Ion channels
Receptors
Cytoskeleton

36
Q

How do you identify a highly synthetic cell in cytology?

A

Large pale nucleus

Nissl bodies

37
Q

What are Nissl bodies?

A

Organelles that make proteins

  • Rough ER
  • Free ribosomes
38
Q

Where is protein made in a neuron?

A

Cell body only

39
Q

What is another name for glia?

A

Macroglia

40
Q

Where are glia derived from?

A

Neuroectoderm, like neurons

41
Q

Where are microglia derived from?

A

Bone marrow, like other immune cells

42
Q

What are the passive support functions of astrocytes?

A 
Neurotransmitter uptake and degradation
K homeostasis
Neuronal energy supply
Maintenance of BBB
Injury response and recovery
43
Q

Why is neurotransmitter uptake and degradation important?

A

Otherwise signal continuous

44
Q

What does too much K in the ECF mean for the neuron?

A

Overstimulation

45
Q

How is glucose transported across the BBB?

A

Blood > astrocytes > neurons

46
Q

How do astrocytes contribute to the BBB?

A

Wrap around blood vessels

47
Q

What are the active functions of astrocytes?

A

Modulation of neuronal function

Modulation of blood flow

48
Q

Why can astrocytes carry out their active functions?

A

Electrically coupled

Send signals

49
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is glutamate?

A

Excitatory

50
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is GABA?

A

Inhibitory

51
Q

Describe the cycling of glutamate across the synapse

A
  1. Glutamate released into synapse
  2. Glutamate detected by glutamate receptor on glial cell
  3. Glutamate enters glial cell
  4. Converted to glutamine - toxic otherwise
  5. Glutamine shunted back to neuron
52
Q

Describe the cycling of GABA across the synapse

A
  1. GABA released into synapse
  2. GABA detected by GABA receptors on glial cell
  3. GABA enters cell
  4. GABA shunted into Krebs cycle
  5. Glutamine also shunted to neuron for GABA synthesis
53
Q

What happens when glutamate transporters on glial cells are inhibited?

A

Neurons depolarise more

Increase in signal strength and duration > too metabolically active > neuronal death

54
Q

What is the intracellular ion that changes in concentration in astrocytes?

A

Ca

55
Q

What does modulation in IC Ca allow a glial cell to do?

A

Release of neuronal modulatory substances

56
Q

What initiates Ca modulation in astrocytes?

A 
Neurotransmitters like:
- ATP
- Glutamate
Trauma
Spontaneous
Inflammatory mediators
57
Q

T/F: Glial cells have synaptic vesicles and show exocytosis

A

True

58
Q

How does an increase in IC Ca in glial cells affect neurons?

A

Inhibited by Ca wave

Mechanism involves release of ATP from glia

59
Q

How do astrocytes regulate vascular tone?

A

Ca wave in astrocyte causes vasoconstriction/vasodilation

60
Q

What is the predominant glial cell of white matter?

A

Oligodendrocyte

61
Q

What do oligodendrocytes do?

A

Myelinate axons in CNS

62
Q

What do Schwann cells do?

A

Myelinate axons in PNS

63
Q

Why is myelination important?

A

Provide electrical insulation

Speeds up conduction

64
Q

What else other than myelination speeds up conduction?

A

Increased axon diameter

65
Q

How many axons do oligodendrocytes myelinate?

A

Several

66
Q

How many axons do Schwann cells myelinate?

A

One

67
Q

What breaks up the myelin sheath?

A

Nodes of Ranvier

68
Q

What is the role of the nodes of Ranvier in signal transduction?

A

Signal jumps from node to node

Rapid propagation of signal

69
Q

T/F: CNS is immune priveleged

A

True

70
Q

What is the role of microglia

A

Surveillance
Local defence
Brain development
Disease

71
Q

What happens to microglia during inflammation or injury?

A

Change rapidly

Resemble macrophages

72
Q

Describe the histological structure of a peripheral nerve

A

Made up of nerve fibres
Each nerve fibre and Schwann cell surrounded by loose vascular supporting tissue = endoneurium
Fascicles = one or more bundles of nerve fibres
Each fascicle surrounded by collagenous tissue = perineurium
Bundles of fascicles wrapped in epineurium

73
Q

What are ganglia?

A

Aggregations of cell bodies outside of CNS

74
Q

What are the types of ganglia?

A

Sensory

Autonomic

75
Q

What are sensory ganglia?

A

House cell bodies of sensory neurons

Eg: dorsal root ganglia

76
Q

What are autonomic ganglia?

A

House cell bodies of post-ganglionic neurons

77
Q

What makes up ganglia?

A

Cell bodies
Nerve fibres
Satellite cells

78
Q

What are satellite cells?

A

Supporting cells in ganglia

MD1 Neuroscience (55 decks)

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