Nervous System HISTOLOGY & Anatomy Flashcards
Describe the layers of the Brain starting with Bone (9)

A: Name the Cells of Neuroectodermal origin (2)
B: Name the Cells of Mesenchymal origin (3)
A: Neuroectodermal: Neurons and [Glial Cells: AOE (Astrocytes / Oligodendrocytes / Ependymocytes]
B: Mesenchymal:
- [Microglial Macrophages]
- Choroid Plexus
- Meninges
A: What stain is this? What does it stain?
B: Which organ component is this?

A: Nissel Stain which stains Nissel bodies located in neuronal rough ER
B: Cerebral Cortex
“White People In your Brain” = White mater is on the INSIDE in the BRAIN

Describe the following stains
A: H & E
B: Cresyl Violet
C: [Bielschowsky Silver Stain]
A: Does NOT stain neuronal processes but will stain [cytoplasm pink] and [nuclei blue]
B: Stains [Nissel Bodies] of the neuronal body Rough ER
C: Stains Axons and Dendrites (image shown below)

What structure is stained by these Immunohistochemical stains?
A: Vimentin
B: Neurofilament
C: [GFAP - Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein] (2)
D: [Synptophysin vs. Chromogranin]
E: NeuN
F: [NSE - Neuron specific enolase]
G: S100
A: [Intermediate filaments of Astrocytes]
B: [Intermediate filaments of DAN (Dendrites/Axons/neurons)]
C: Astrocytes & Ependymal cells
D: Neuronal Cytoplasm
E: Neuronal Nuclei
F: Neurons
G: Astrocytes
A: What type of cell?
B:Histology Description (3)
C: Function

A: [Principal Motor Neuron]
B:
1) Long Axon
2) Prominent Nissel substance within cytoplasm
3) [Large cell body with single large centrally placed nucleolus]
C: Transmit info over long distances of the cerebral cortex

A: This cell is AKA Granular Cell Neuron. What is it?
B: Histologic description (3)

A: [Local Circuit Interneuron]
B:
1) small compact cell body
2) LACKS NISSEL SUBSTANCE
3) [short dendrites & small axons]

A: What Neuronal Cellular Response is delineated?
B: Describe the pathophysiology

A: Central Chromatolysis
B: When axon destruction occurs, [Nissel body containing Rough ER] disaggregates and disperses –> [smooth cytoplasm] + [peripherally displaced nuclei] + [ballooned neuronal body]. It disperses as an attempt to regenerate new proteins for new axon.

A: What Neuronal Cellular Response is delineated?
B: Describe the pathophysiology
C: What Dz is this most commonly associated with

A: Neuronophagia
B: [Neuronal Cell Body] disappears 2° to anoxia. Afterwards, it becomes surrounded by [purple elongated microglia macrophages]
C: Viral CNS Infection

A: What Neuronal Cellular Response is delineated?
B: Describe the pathophysiology
C: What 3 areas of the brain are most Vulnerable to this condition?

A: [Acute Neuronal Injury]
B: [Acute Neuronal Injury] –> [More Eosinophilic Pink Cytoplasm] and [Pyknotic Nucleus]
C:
1) [Pyramidal neurons: Hippocampus CA1 field]
2) [Pyramidal neurons: Neocortex Areas 3 & 5]
3) Purkinje Cells

A: What Neuronal Cellular Response is delineated?
B: Describe the pathophysiology
C: What are the main causes of this? (4)

A: [BAN - Ballooned Achromatic Neuron]
B: Degenerative Dz–> Enlargement of neuron bodies and cytoplasmic homogenization but with [centrally placed nucleus]
C: “BAN the PACT”
- [Corticobasal degeneration]
- [Pick’s Dz]
- [ANT Horn cell aging: physiological]
- Prion Dz

A: What is shown in the image?
B: Where does it come from?

A: Negri Body neuronal inclusion
B: Rabies Infection

A: What is shown in the image?
B: Where does it come from?

A: Lewy Body neuronal inclusion
B: Parkinson’s Dz (found at synpases of Substantia Nigra and contains neuromelanin)

A: What is shown in the image?
B: Where does it come from? (2)

A: Hirano Body neuronal inclusion
B: Alzheimer’s vs. normal aging
(intracellular aggregates of alpha actin)

A: In MACROglia, only the ___ will stain
B: What are the 2 types of MACROglia
C: Describe each
A: Nucleus
B:
Oligodendrocytes (top arrow) = [DARKLY staining nuclei with Fried Egg Appearance from fixation]
vs.
Astrocytes (bottom arrow) = Oval vesicular nuclei that looks star shaped on [Golgi and GFAP stains]

A: What stain is this?
B: What structure is this?
C: Function of this structure

A: Golgi Stain (GFAP stain shown in image below)
B: Astrocytes ( [Fibrillary white] vs. [Protoplasmic gray])
C: Provides structural support for neurons and aids in neuronal repair. Their feet attach to small blood vessels.

A: Describe the two MAIN types of Astrocytes
B: What are the 2 SubTypes of Astrocytes
A:
[Fibrillary white] = majority of Astrocytes and contains numerous processes
[Protoplasmic gray] = fewer branches
B: Subtypes
- Bergman glia in cerebellum
- Pilocytic in [periventricular/cerebellum/spinal cord/white matter]

A: What Neuronal Cellular Response is delineated?
B: Describe the pathophysiology
C: Describe the 2 special types of this process

A: Astrocyte Gliosis
B: Rxn to ischemia
C: 2 types:
1) Bergman’s Gliosis: Cerebellum infarcts
2) Chaslin Gliosis: SubPial infarcts
* Astrocytes are [Oval vesicular nuclei that looks star shaped on [Golgi and GFAP stains]]*

A: What is shown below
B: What are these AKA (2)

A: Oligodendrocytes= [DARKLY staining nuclei with Fried Egg Appearance from fixation]
B: “Few Branch Glia” and “Satellite Cells”
H&E of Trigeminal N. showing difference between myelination pattern of CNS (top) and PNS (bottom

A: What Neuronal Cellular Response is delineated?
B: Describe the pathophysiology
B2: What part of the brain does this occur?

A: Satellitosis
B: Oligodendrocytes (dark purple cells) can also be called Satellite cells since they’re adjacent to neuronal cell bodies.
B2: Occurs with hyperproliferation within gray matter.
In what 2 situations do Oligodendrocytes proliferate?
- Active Multiple Sclerosis Plaque - proliferation on the edge of the plaque
- [Myelination Gliosis] = normal process during development
Name the 2 disorders that are associated with Oligodendrocyte Inclusions
- JC Virus in [PML - Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalophaty]
- Various Neurodegnerative diseases
A: What type of cell?
B:Histology Description
C: Function (3)
D: What stain is used for these cells

A: microglia (not really glia!)
B: cigar shaped nuclei with few branches
C:
*Transforms into [Antigen presenting phagocytic cells] during [Viral Encephalitis] (seen within microglia nodules-image shown below)
*Seen clustered around Dying Neurons = Neuronalphgia
*Housekeeping functions
D: CD68 Stain: since microglia are derived from CD68 monocytes

A: What type of cell?
B:Histology Description (2)
C: Function

A: Ependyma
B:
- Single layer of cuboidal vs. columnar cells + cilia at ventricular surface
- No Basement Membrane
C: Specialized Glia that line ventricles and regulate molecular transport



















