Neuro

Question 1

Afferent

Answer 1

Sensory info - propagates input from the periphery to the CNS

Question 2

Efferent

Answer 2

Motor info - propagates input from the CNS to the periphery/muscle

Question 3

White Matter (Brain)

Answer 3

Composed of primarily axons & myelin (made from lipids) & forms the bulk of the deep parts w/in the brain
Serves to connect the various cell bodies to one another

Question 4

Grey Matter (Brain)

Answer 4

Composed of mainly nerve cell bodies & glial cells & is distributed over the surface of the brain, as well as within the brain nuclei

Question 5

Nissl Granules

Answer 5

scattered through the cytoplasm of a neuron; composed of rough endoplasmic reticulum w/free ribosomes & are responsible for protein synthesis/cell metabolism

Question 6

synapse

Answer 6

site of transmission between the axon of one nerve and dendrites of another

Question 7

motor end plate

Answer 7

site of transmission between an axon and a muscle

Question 8

Neurolemma

Answer 8

composed of Schwann cells which envelop axons for myelinization of the PNS

Question 9

Oligodendroglia

Answer 9

responsible for the myelinization of the CNS using the combination of: basic myelin protein + proteolipid protein

Question 10

What are the types of glia in the CNS?

Answer 10

• astrocytes
• oligodendroglia
• microglia

Question 11

Roles & Function of the Astrocyte

Answer 11

• function: supportive scaffolding for the neurons of the CNS
• neurotransmitter reuptake
• neuronal metabolism (esp. CHO/sugars)
• help form/regulate/maintain BBB w/pseudopodic extensions surrounding outer capillary wall

Question 12

Blood Brain Barrier

Answer 12

• highly selective barrier that separates circulating blood from the CSF & is composed of tight nit capillary walls & astrocyte extensions
• provides a protective barrier to the brain for local immune function

Question 13

Permeable substances to the BBB

Answer 13

O2
CO2
amino acids
small sugars 
lipid-soluble substances (general anesthetics)

Question 14

Most common CNS tumor in the US?

Answer 14

astrocytomas

Question 15

Microglia

Answer 15

• protectors of the CNS: derived from monocytes & macrophages
• remain dormant until activated by mechanical, chemical, or immunologic injury –> phagocytize cells –> cytokine release
• implicated in Alzheimer’s & other dementias

Question 16

Ependymal cells

Answer 16

line the central canal of the spinal cord & brain ventricles; involved in CSF production

Question 17

What are the (5) part of the brain?

Answer 17

• Telencephalon
• Diencephalon
• Mesencephalon
• Metaencephalon
• Myencephalon

Question 18

Telencephalon

Answer 18

highest center of the brain

composed of: cerebral hemispheres & basal ganglia

Question 19

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 19

Contain most of the mass of the brain & the outer convex surface is made up of gyri
Hemispheres are separated by sulci but connected centrally at the corpus callosum

Question 20

Which 2 brain landmarks divide the brain into 4 ares?

Answer 20

The lateral fissure & central sulcus divide the cerebrum into 4 lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital)

Question 21

Which gyrus makes up the limbic lobe?

Answer 21

Cingulate gyrus - located above/superior to the corpus callosum

Question 22

What makes up the corpus callosum?

Answer 22

commissural fibers - connect the hemispheres of the brain

Question 23

What connects the lobes of the brain and the gyri to one another?

Answer 23

associative fibers - long & short fibers connect lobes to each other & also the gyri together

Question 24

Internal capsule

Answer 24

• anterior limb & posterior limb connected by genu
• made up of projection fibers
• the major route by which the cerebral cortex is connected w/brainstem & spinal cord
• white matter that separates the caudate nucleus & thalamus from the lenticular nucleus

Question 25

Projection fibers

Answer 25

connect hemispheres to other areas of the CNS

Question 26

What are the 2 parts of the Lenticular Nucleus?

Answer 26

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Question 27

Basal ganglia

Answer 27

• only seen when sectioning w/in the hemispheres & is located lateral to the internal capsule w/in the temporal lobes
• Composed of:
  1. Corpus striatum (caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen, & nucleus accumbens)
  2. substantia nigra

Question 28

Diencephalon components

Answer 28

• Thalamus: main sensory relay center
• Hypothalamus: temp. control, H2O balance, emotion, autonomic regulation
• Metathalamus (medial & lateral geniculate bodies)
• Epitathalamus (pineal body & habenula)