Lecture 4: Neurons and glia

Question 1

what is nissl staining used for

Answer 1

to highlight the structure of neurons in the nervous system

Question 2

what is golgi staining used for

Answer 2

labelling some cells - can be used to label entire neurons - body, dendrites, axon

Question 3

what is a unipolar neuron

Answer 3

a neuron with only one axonal branch - one projection coming out of the cell body

Question 4

what is a bi-polar neuron

Answer 4

two processes coming from the cell body
- only in olfactory epithelium and bipolar retinal cells

Question 5

what is a multi-polar neuron

Answer 5

all the rest of the neurons - most common
one axon extending from cell body with many dendrites

Question 6

what is an astrocyte

Answer 6

star shaped glial cell that branches and touches neurons
it is involved in the formation and maintenance of the blood brain barrier

Question 7

what is the function of oligodendrocytes

Answer 7

to produce myelin sheath - which aids in the propogation of neural signals along myelinated axons

Question 8

what is the function of microglial cells

Answer 8

ingest pathogens and dead cells - removed damaged cells

Question 9

what is the function of ependymal cells

Answer 9

filtering and making CSF
found in the choroid plexus at ventricles - have cilia to move CSF around