Nervous Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of nervous tissues?

A

Provide rapid and precise communication between different parts of the body via action of neutrons. (Electrical impulses)

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2
Q

What 4 things does the nervous system include?

A

Brain
Spinal chord
Receptors of complex sensory organs
Nerves that link it with all other organs and tissues in the body

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3
Q

What makes up the CNS?

A

Brain
Spinal chord

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4
Q

What makes up the peripheral nervous system?

A

All nervous tissue outside the CNS

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5
Q

What are the 2 functional divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
Describe them.

A

Somatic = regulates voluntary control over skeletal muscle
Autonomic = heartbeat, breathing (subconscious)

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6
Q

Name and describe the 2 autonomic nervous systems.

A

Parasympathetic = regulates less urgent processes eg. digestion, waste disposal (referred to as rest and digest)

Sympathetic = branch that responds when body needs sudden or immediate action (regulates fight or slight response)

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7
Q

Describe similarity and difference between parasympathetic and sympathetic?

A

Both can regulate smooth muscle and cardiac muscle contraction

Parasympathetic- regulates basal rate of all these processes so it keeps things ticking

Sympathetic - increases rate of function in times of need

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8
Q

Name the 2 main cell groups in the nervous system?

A

Neutons and Glial cells

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9
Q

Describe neurones in the NS.

A
  • nerve cells
  • main functional units of nervous system
  • send signals and communicate with organs and tissues
  • use electrical impulses
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10
Q

Describe the function of glial cells (neuroglia) in the NS.

A
  • support cells
  • protect and provide nutrients
  • provide immune functions and protection
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11
Q

Name 4 structures a neuron contains?

A

Dendrites
Large cell body
Single axon
Terminal boutons

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12
Q

Describe a functional property all neurons have?

A

EXCITABILITY
- small difference in charge inside and outside cel
- enables generation in action potential
- briefly reversed before returning to baseline
- brief change in electrical potential of cell (action potential)

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13
Q

Why do neutrons have a high metabolic rate?

A

Generation and propagation of action potentials so these electrical impulses place a significant energy demand on neurons.

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14
Q

Describe the structure of dendrites.

A

Highly branched processes extending from the cell body
They form synapse with adjacent neurones.

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15
Q

Describe how dendrites communicate with terminal boutons from a different axon?

A

Axon branches into terminal boutons which forms synapses with dendrites from another neuron in the pathway

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16
Q

How do neurons respond to external stimuli?

A

They respond to external stimuli from another neuron and convey info to the cell body.
It interpretates it and decides weather to initiate action potential.

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17
Q

What are neurons specialised for?

A

Intercellular communication

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18
Q

Describe the cell body of a neuron?

A

large nucleus
prominent nucleolus
Contains nissil bodies
Has numerous mitochondria
Larger than surrounding neuroglia

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19
Q

What does the nucleolus do in the nucleus (cell body) of a neuron?

A

Active and ongoing synthesis of ribosomes
This reflects the high metabolic demand of neutrons

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20
Q

What reflects the high metabolic demands of neurons?

A

High concentration of cellular organelles
Prominent nucleolus

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21
Q

What are nissil bodies and what do they do in the cell body of a neuron?

A

Clusters of RER
Free ribosomes surround
They give neurons a granular appearance

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22
Q

Why does the cell body of a neuron stain darker than the surrounding cells?

A

Nissil bodies and density of other cell bodies eg mitochondria

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23
Q

Describe grey and white matter in a neuron.

A

White = axons are located
Grey = cell bodies of neurons located

24
Q

What is the function of an axon in a neuron?

A

Rapidly propagate signal from cell body to axon terminals.

25
Q

What are axons specialised for in neurons?

A

Conduct action potentials

26
Q

Are axons myelinated or non-myelinated in the CNS & PNS?

A

PNS = can be myelinated or non-myelinated

CNS = myelinated

27
Q

How do you know if an axon is myelinated or non-myelinated in the PNS?

A

Depending on whether they are coated by an external myelin sheath

28
Q

Function of a terminal bouton?

A

Form synapses with other neurons or effector organs

29
Q

What is a neuromuscular junction?

A

It’s a communication junction
Type of synapse between motor neuron and skeletal muscle fibre it’s communicating with

30
Q

What happens at the terminal bouton?

A

Electrical signals are converted to chemical and the neurotransmitters are released and convey messages to next cell in pathway

31
Q

What are neuroglia cells?

A

Support system of the nervous system

32
Q

What type of neuroglia exist in CNS?

A

Ependymal cells
Astrocytes
Microglia
Oligodendrocytes

33
Q

What type of neuroglia exist in PNS?

A

Schwann cells
Satellite cells

34
Q

What is the shape of a ependymal cell? (Neuroglia)

A

Simple ciliates cuboidal epithelium

35
Q

What do ependymal cells do? (Neuroglia)

A

Line fluid filled cavities in brain (ventricles) and the spinal canal.

36
Q

Features of ependymal cells? (Neuroglia)

A

Merge with astocytes.
Have cilia and microvilli at liminal surface to move spinal fluid and regulate its composition.
No basement membrane - Taper into long processes that merge with basement membrane.

37
Q

What shape are astrocytes?

A

Star shaped

38
Q

What is the most numerous glial cell?

A

Astrocyte

39
Q

What glial cell forms the blood-brain barrier?

A

Astrocytes

40
Q

Function of Astrocytes?

A

Regulate chemical environment
Mechanical support and mediate exchange of metabolites between nerurons and vascular systems

41
Q

How do Astrocytes regulate metabolites?

A

Wrap tightly around blood vessels and allow them to diffuse from blood to CNS

42
Q

Shape (size) of microglia?

A

Small

43
Q

What glial cell has phagocytic capacity?
What does this mean?

A

Microglia - derived from monocytes and macrophages

44
Q

What do Microglia do in response to tissue damage?

A

Transform into large phagocytic cells to remove microbes and dead cells from CNS

45
Q

What Neuroglia is prominent in white matter?

A

Oligodendrocytes

46
Q

Function of Oligodendrocytes?

A

Provide structural support and metabolic support

47
Q

What do Oligodendrocytes do to axons?

A

Form myelin sheaths around axons in CNS
each axon may need many Oligodendrocytes to form the myelin sheath

48
Q

Function of Schwann cells?

A

Provide structural and mechanical support.

49
Q

What 2 cells are equivalent to each other in CNS and PNS?

A

CNS - Oligodendrocytes
PNS - Schwann cells

50
Q

What do Schwann cells do to axons in PNS?

A

Form myelin sheaths around the PNS axons

51
Q

What do Schwann cells do to non-myelinated axons?

A

They are enveloped in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells. (Small)

52
Q

What do Schwann cells do to myelinated axons?

A

Gradually wrap them to form myelinated sheaths.
- wrapped by variable number of concentric layers

53
Q

What do satellite cells do?

A

Cover surface of neuronal cell bodies.

54
Q

Where are satellite cells located?

A

In ganglions of neuronal cell bodies near spinal column

55
Q

Function of satellite cells?

A

Unknown however presumed structural and functional protection