Intro to NS I + II

Question 1

What does a nerve cell do?

Answer 1

• Generate electrical signals

- Form complex circuits

Question 2

What is a nerve cell made up of?

Answer 2

• Dendrites
• Cell body (nucleus, soma, perikaryon)
• Axon (hillock, terminal)
• Synapse

Question 3

What are protective barriers for the brain/spinal cord?

Answer 3

3 layers of membrane (meninges) + CSF

Question 4

What is the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 4

Semi-permeable membrane separating blood from CSF, allows some cells to go past

Question 5

What are the immune cells of the CNS?

Answer 5

Microglia

Question 6

What are astrocytes?

Answer 6

• Star shaped glial cells
• Create blanket around nerve cells and capillaries - form BBB
• Maintain ECF environment for nerve cells
• Control waste / nutrients / ion content

Question 7

What are the two types of myelinating cells?

Answer 7

Oligodendrocytes = CNS myelin sheath

Neurolemmocytes/Schwann Cells = PNS Myelin sheath

Question 8

How do glial cells form a sheath around each axon?

Answer 8

Wrap around axon and deposit multiple layers of external membrane, membrane is lipid so it’s a thick fatty sheath. Impermeable to aqueous substances.

Question 9

What is the difference between white and grey matter?

Answer 9

White matter consists of bundles of myelinated axons linking grey matter regions. Grey matter contains cell bodies and dendrites