Nervous Tissue:Support Cells

Question 1

What are support cells?

Answer 1

They are found in the CNS grouped together as “neruoglia”

Question 2

What are the general functions of support cells?

Answer 2

-Support
-insulate
-protect neurons

Question 3

What are astrocytes?

Answer 3

-abundant, star shaped cells
-brace neurons
-forms barrier between capillaries and neurons
-controls chemical environment of the brain

Question 4

What are Microglia

Answer 4

-spider like phagocytes
-dispose of debris

Question 5

What are Ependymal Cells?

Answer 5

-lines cavities from the brain and spinal cord
-assists with circulation of cerebrospinal fluid

Question 6

What are Oligodendrocytes?

Answer 6

-wraps around nerve fibers in CNS
-produce myelin sheath
-myelin sheath in CNS is called oligodendrocytes

Question 7

What are satellite cells?

Answer 7

-protect neuron cell bodies

Question 8

What are Schwann cells?

Answer 8

-forms myelin sheath in PNS

Question 9

What two processes happen outside the cell body?

Answer 9

-dendrites
-axons

Question 10

What are dendrites?

Answer 10

-conduct impulses towards the cell body
-there can be over 100 dendrites in neurons

Question 11

What are Axons?

Answer 11

Conduct impulses away from the cell body
-only one axon arising from ht cell body at the axon hillock

Question 12

Describe Axons?

Answer 12

-ends in axon terminals
-axon terminals contain vesicles with neurotransmitters
-axon terminals are separated from the next neuron by a gap

Question 13

What’s a synaptic cleft/gap?

Answer 13

-gap between adjacent neurons

Question 14

What’s a synapse?

Answer 14

-junction between nerves

Question 15

Describe Myelin sheath?

Answer 15

-whitish, fatty material covering axons

Question 16

What are nodes of ranvier?

Answer 16

-gaps between myelin sheath along axons