Microanatomy 1 Flashcards
what are the glial cells in the CNS
- ependymal cells
- oligodendrocytes
- astrocytes
- microglia
what are the Glia cell in the PNS
- Schwann
- satellite cells
how many Glial cells are there in the CNS
10:1
What do epdenymal cells do
- line fluid filled cavities in the CNS
- control the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
where are epdenymal cells present
- present in the brain ventricles
- spinal cord
- central canal
describe the structure of the ependymal cells
- ciliated
- movement of there chill circulates the CSF
- they look like epithelium but they do not have a basement membrane
what is the difference between epithelial cells and ependyma cells
- epithelial cells have a basement membrane whereas ependymal cells do not
what do astrocytes do
- provide structural and metabolic support for neurones
- help form the blood brain barrier
- regulate neuronal external potassium and intracellular calcium concentrations
- regulate pH
- form scars in areas of damage
- regulate neurotransmitter availability to neurones by restricting diffusion and having specific transporters that mop up excess transmitter which can then be metabolised or recycled
How are astrocytes distinguished from neurones
- astrocytes have a glial fibrillary acidic protein whereas neurones do not have this
describe the structure of microglia
- they are small cells in the CNS
- they have long spiny processes
what do microglia do
- during development they release growth factors
- act as macrophages and remove debris by produced by programmed cell death
- in adults they are surveillance cells which sample micro-envrioment
- in infection they change shape and become phagocytic macrophages and are called reactive microglia
what do oligodenstrocytes do
- they wrap around axons forming a myelin sheath
- thus electrically insulating axons in the CNS
- they can meyleinate up to 60 axons and their cell bodies will lie between the axons
what do Schwann cells do
- electrically insulate axons in the PNS
- they can only myelinated a single axon segment
- they are surrounded by a basement membrane like external lamina which is continuous over the length of axon
what are the two types of Schwann cells
- myelinating Schwann cell s
- non myelinating Schwann cells
what does myelin do
- it prevents leakage of membrane charge into the surrounding intracellular space and lessens the strain on the neurones sodium potassium pump by restricting ion release to specific sites
what non-myelinting Schwann cells associated with
- they are associated with 1 to up to 20 axons of small diameter sensory C fibres or post ganglionic autonomic efferents
- only have one fold of the myelin over them
when the non meylianting Schwann cells supports numerous axons what is the collection of axons called
remack bundles
- adjacent axons are kept separate by thin extensions of the Schwann cell body
describe the structure of the perineurium
- comprised of several layers of flattened fibroblast like cells
- fibrocollagenous matrix between the layers
How does the perineurium act
- it acts as a selective barrier
- it restricts passage of substance to the nerve fibres that are embedded into the endoneuriuz and contributes to what is known as the blood nerve barrier
describe the structure of the axonal cytoplasm
- loads of mitochondria (these provide power to run the sodium potassium pump that keeps the trans-membrane potential at normal level)
- small dots in the axoplasm are microtubules
what do microtubules do in the axonal cytoplasm
- they maintain normal axonal shape and guide neurotransmitter molecules and other material synthesised in the spam to their dentition in the terminus of the axon
why does the myelin sheath has intense staining with osmium
- stains with osmium this is because it has a high lipid content in the membrane
unmyelinated axons have…
a smaller diameter compared to myelinated axons
what do spinal roots do
- It is these roots that carry information in and out of the cord exiting via the intervertebral foramen.
what does the dorsal root do
Dorsal roots transmit sensory information from the periphery to cells in the gray matter of the spinal cord.
what does the ventral root do
Ventral roots transmit motor and autonomic information from neurons in the spinal cord to the periphery.
where are the cell bodies of the postganglionic neurones of the sympathetic nervous system found
- they are found int eh syamtpethicc chain ganglia T1-L3
what do satellite cells do
- they occupy the space around the ganglion cell and have supportive functions like the astrocytes found in the CNS