Mammalian Nervous Tissue Flashcards
What is the nervous system? What are its two principal purposes?
The nervous system:
- enables the body to respond to changes in its external environment,
- controls the functions of the internal organs and systems
What two principal types of cells does the nervous system consist of?
1) neurons
2) supporting cells
What are neurons?
Specialized cells that generate and conduct electrical impulses.
What are supporting cells?
Nonconducting cells in close proximity to nerve cells and their processes.
Supporting cells support neurons in multiple ways such as:
- nutrition
- myelin sheath production
What is a neuron?
The structural and functional unit of the nervous system.
What is the brain composed of?
Nervous tissue
What does the nervous system control?
internal organs and systems
What does the nervous system not control?
The heart.
The heart is myogenic, and controls itself.
What is a different name for neurons?
nerve cells
How is the nervous system divided?
1) Central Nervous System (CNS)
2) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What does the CNS consist of?
the brain and the spinal chord
What does the CNS contain? (which principal type of the nervous system?)
gray and white matter made up of neurons and supporting cells
What does the PNS consist of?
All tissues outside the CNS such as:
- cranial nerves
- spinal nerves
- ganglia
What is the structure of a neuron? What is it composed of? What is its shape?
A neuron has a very irregular shape.
Each neuron consists of:
- a cell body
- an axon
- several dendrites
What is an axon? What is its function?
The longest process of the neuron’s cell body. It transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body.
What is a dendrite? What is its function?
The shorter process of the neuron’s cell body. It transmits impulses towards the cell body.
Which direction are neural signals transported through neurons?
From the dendrites to the axons (through the cell body).
How do neurons communicate with each other and effector cells?
Through specialised junctions called “synapses”.
How can one count the number of dendrites?
look at the cell body and how many dendrites originate from it. One dendrite can have many branches.
How can neurons be grouped?
1) Motor Neurons
2) Sensory Neurons
3) Interneurons
What are motor neurons? What are their functions?
Neurons which carry impulses from the CNS or ganglia to the effector cells.
CNS –> EFFECTORS
What are sensory neurons? What are their functions? What is another name for sensory neurons?
Neurons which carry impulses from receptors to the CNS.
RECEPTOR –> CNS
also known as “effector neurons”
What are interneurons? What are their functions?
Neurons which communicate between sensory and motor neurons.
Which organ are there no nerve endings?
the liver
What do all three types of neurons complete?
the reflex arc
What is neuron classification based on?
the structure of the neuron
What three classifications are neurons classified into?
1) multipolar neurons
2) bipolar neurons
3) unipolar neurons
What are multipolar neurons (main characteristics)? State examples.
- numerous dendrites
- one single axon
eg.
- motor neurons
- interneurons
(looks like the usual neuron i drew in IB)
What are bipolar neurons? State examples.
- one single axon
- one single dendrite (extending from the cell body)
eg.
- retina
- other special sense organs
(looks like a neuron which swallowed a balloon)
What are unipolar neurons? What is a different name for them? State examples.
different name: ‘pseudounipolar neurons’
- one short process that arises from the cell body and bifurcates.
eg.
- sensory neurons
(looks like a neuron with a pimple that needs popping)
Where are the dendrites of multipolar neurons located? Why?
Mainly in the brain, because the body is the most most important part of the neuron (has a nucleus).
What is the difference between a pseudounipolar neuron and a unipolar neuron.
A unipolar neuron looks like a ball with a line and an axon. While the pseudo-unipolar neuron looks like a nerve with a pimple.
Where are the cell bodies of neurons typically found?
In the Central Nervous System.
If the cell bodies of neurons are not found in the CNS, then, where can they be found?
In the ganglia (which are a part of the peripheral nervous system).
What is RER in neurons known as?
Nissl bodies
What of the neuron can one see in the microscope? What cannot be seen?
The axon and the dendrite. The whole axon cannot be seen.