Nervous Tissue I Flashcards
What is nervous tissue specialized for?
Processing, integrating, transmitting, and receiving information
What are general characteristics of nervous tissue?
cells > ECM
All cells directly in contact with other cells
CNS ground substance mostly GAGs and glycoproteins - no fibers
PNS ECM compositions varies, ground substance + some fibers
CT compartmentalizes nervous tissue in PNS peripheral nerves
Vascularized
What are the 2 resident cells of nervous tissue?
Neurons
Neuroglia
What are neurons and their function?
Nerve cells
Highly specialized cells
Generate, receive, process, integrate, and send information
Some specialized for sensing information about the internal or external environment
Do not divide in adults
What are neuroglia and what are their functions?
Glia, Glial cells
Support, nurture, and protect neurons in CNS and PNS
In the CNS only, synthesize and secrete ECM components; wound healing and more
Neuroglia > neurons
Can divide
What is the CNS made up of?
Brain and spinal cord
What is grey matter and what structures are brain grey matter and spinal cord grey matter?
Regions with high numbers of neurons and neuroglia cell bodies
Brain grey matter includes the cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, and basal nuclei
Spinal cord grey matter includes columns (horns) and grey commissure
What is white matter and what structures are brain white matter and spinal cord white matter?
Regions with high number of myelinated axons
Brain white matter includes tracts that run between grey matter regions
Spinal cord white matter includes tracts, fasciculi, and commissures
What is the PNS and what is its function? What can it be subdivided into?
PNS is all nervous tissue outside the CNS
Connects body with CNS
Includes clusters of neuron cell bodies called ganglia
Includes collections of axons called nerves and nerve plexuses
What is a neuron and how does it communicate?
Basic functional unit of nervous system
Function to communicate with other cells - communicate across synapses and sometimes gap junctions
What is the soma of the neuron and its function?
Cell body
Metabolic center of cell
What are characteristics of neurons?
Very acting protein synthesis via exocytosis - large euchromatic nucleus with prominent nucleolus
Lots of RER for neurotransmitter synthesis
Nucleus usually round or oval
Nissl bodies - clumps of RER (basophilic)
What does the soma contain?
Contains other typical organelles
Neuronal cytoskeleton
Cytosolic inclusions like lipid droplet, lipofuscin, and melanin granules
What does the neuronal cytoskeleton include?
Actin (thin) filaments
Neurotubules - microtubules
IFS - neurofilaments
Neurofibrils = bundles of neurofilaments and neurotubules
What is the tau protein?
Microtubules associated protein that helps stabilize microtubules
What are neurites and their function?
Cell processes - dendrites
Receive signals from other cells, convert signals into small electrical impulses, and transmit them toward soma
What are the characteristics of neurites?
Never myelinated
Allow neurons to receive signals simultaneously from many other neurons
Cell membrane on dendrites has very high number of neurotransmitter receptors
Dendrite cytoplasm has Nissl bodies and other organelles
How do neurons receive signals simultaneously from other neurons?
Dendrite terminals are arborized (bushy, branching)
Dendritic spines on dendrite surfaces further increase available surface area for synapse formation