Lecture Two, the Neuron

Question 1

What are the three main types of glial cells?

Answer 1

microglia, macroglia (Oligodendrocytes and astrocytes), schwann cells

Question 2

What are microglia used for?

Answer 2

immunic defense; removal dead cells

Question 3

Oligodendrocytes

Answer 3

myelin sheath in CNS

Question 4

astrocytes

Answer 4

isolate synaptic clefts

support: structure and solidity (glia: glue)

Question 5

How are neurons nourished through astrocytes?

Answer 5

Astrocytes receive glucose from capillaries and break it down to lactate, the chemical produced during the first step of glucose metabolism. They then release lactate into the extracellular fluid that surrounds neurons, and neurons take up the lactate, transport it to their mitochondria, and use it for energy

Question 6

What is phagocytosis?

Answer 6

A process. When these
astrocytes contact a piece of debris from a dead neuron, they push themselves against it, finally engulfing and digesting it

Question 7

What is thefunction of Oligodendrocytes ?

Answer 7

The principal function of oligodendrocytes is to provide support to axons and to produce the
myelin sheath, which insulates most axons from one another

Question 8

What are Schwann cells?

Answer 8

myelin sheath in PNS

Question 9

What is/are the main difference(s) between Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

Answer 9

1. Oligodendrocytes provide physical support for neurons, for Schwann cells this is not a main function.
2. Oligodendrocytes form myelin around axons in the central nervous system (CNS), while Schwann cells form myelin around axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) .
3. Oligodendrocytes have multiple extensions such that they can form myeline around the axons of multiple neurons, while Schwann cells can only form one layer of myelin around a single axon.

Question 10

What is the endoplasmatic reticulum?

Answer 10

a network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, continuous with the nuclear membrane. It usually has ribosomes attached and is involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

production, storage and transport proteins

Question 11

Golgi Aparatus

Answer 11

a complex of vesicles and folded membranes within the cytoplasm of most eukaryotic cells, involved in secretion and intracellular transport.

Question 12

Mitochondria

Answer 12

is producing ATP :Adenosine Tri-Phosphate

Question 13

What are lysosomes doing?

Answer 13

waste processing

Question 14

Microtubuli, what is it?

Answer 14

road system for transportation neurotransmitter through axon

Question 15

dynein and kinesin

Answer 15

Kinesin: anterograde transport from the cell body (soma) to terminal buttons
Dynein: retrograde transport from terminal buttons to soma

Question 16

Transcription of genes:

Answer 16

: genes are read from the DNA and converted to messenger RNA (mRNA)

mRNA leaves the nucleus through the pores, and is read out by ribosomes (complex of proteins), to form a new protein

Question 17

Two main forces of membrane potential

Answer 17

the membrane potential is caused by a balance between two forces:
1. Diffusion: Due to random motion, particles will move from regions with high concentration to regions with low concentration
2. Electrostatics: Positively charged particles repel each other
Negatively charged particles repel each other
Oppositely charged particles (+,-) attract each other

Question 18

What is the all or non property of action potential?

Answer 18

The magnitude of the action potential is always the same!!