Lecture 2: Basic Neuroanatomy Terms

Question 1

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 1

• brain
• spinal cord

Question 2

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 2

• somatic nervous system (SNS)
• Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Question 3

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

Answer 3

• part of the PNS
• sensorimotor connections via spinal and cranial nerves
• associated with voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles

Question 4

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 4

• balances the internal organs and regulates involuntary processes

Question 5

neurons

Answer 5

• the electrically irritable communicating and commuting cells of the nervous system

Question 6

Glia

Answer 6

• supporting cells
• provide immunological and structural support, aid in transfer of glucose and oxygen from blood to neuron

Question 7

sensory neurons

Answer 7

• carrying information from receptors to the brain

Question 8

motor neurons

Answer 8

• carrying signals from the brain to muscles

Question 9

interneurons

Answer 9

• which convey information between different types of neurons

Question 10

astrocytes

Answer 10

• star shaped glia
• closely associated with neuronal synapses they regulate the transmission of electrical impulses within the brain
• five times more astrocytes than neurons

Question 11

microglia

Answer 11

• resident macrophage cells, they act as the first and main form of active immune defense in the central nervous system (CNS)

Question 12

ependymal cells

Answer 12

• line the CSF
• filled ventricles in the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord
• these are nervous tissue cells with a ciliated simple columnar form much like that of some mucosal epithelial cells
• forms the lining of the fluid filled spaces in the CNS

Question 13

oligodendrocyte and Schwann cells

Answer 13

• provide support and insulation to axons in the CNS of some vertebrates, equivalent to the function of the Schwann cells in the PNS
• they both do this by creating the myelin sheath which is 80% lipid 20% protein

Question 14

neural units

Answer 14

• the brain is made up of individual units that contain specialized features such as dendrites

Question 15

law of dynamic polarization

Answer 15

• there is a preferred direction for transmission from cell to cell

Question 16

nucleus

Answer 16

• center of cell bodies in the CNS

Question 17

ganglion

Answer 17

cluster of cell bodies in the PNS

Question 18

nerve

Answer 18

collection of neuron axons in PNS
- can regrow if cared for properly

Question 19

tract

Answer 19

• collection of neuron axons in CNS
• do not repair themselves

Question 20

grey matter

Answer 20

• nervous tissue that is greyish due to the presence of an unmyelinated neuronal cell bodied and axons
• mostly movement memory and emotions
• use your grey matter (in a be smart context)

Question 21

white matter

Answer 21

• nervous tissue that appears light coloured dur tot he presence of myelinated axons
• learning and brain functions
• use your white matter (in a be more athletic and fast context)

Question 22

neural stem cells

Answer 22

• undifferentiated with a capacity for self-renewal
• give rise to progenitor cells

Question 23

progenitor cells

Answer 23

• develop from stem cells
• can differentiate into a specific cell type

Question 24

blasts

Answer 24

• primitive types of neurons systems
• develop into neurons or glia

Question 25

how do neurons differ

Answer 25

• dendritic tree complexity
• types of synaptic receptors
• axonal length
• degree of myelination
• physical size