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SGUL - Physiology 2 > Neuro - Neurons And Glia > Flashcards

Neuro - Neurons And Glia Flashcards

1
Q

What is the brain comprised of?

A

The human brain is comprised of both neurons and glial cells

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2
Q

What are the two different processes used to analyse the brains micro anatomical features?
histological staining of neural tissue

A
  • Fixation: Brain tissue is fixed for preservation and subsequently embedded
  • Sectioning: A microtome can cut slices from a block of embedded brain tissue
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3
Q

How can we visualise neural tissue?

A

Via the Nissl stain and the Golgi stain

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4
Q

Describe the Nissl stain

A
  • Comprised of a basic dye
  • Stains the nuclei and Nissl bodies of neurons
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5
Q

Describe the Golgi stain

A
  • Comprised of a silver chromate solution
  • Stains neurons and their projections
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6
Q

What is the significance of these dye’s today?

A
  • Fluorescence microscopy and genetic manipulation techniques allow us to see brain regions and individual neurons/glial cells in breath-taking detail
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7
Q

What is a neuron?

A
  • Neurons are the information processing cells within the nervous system
  • They’re highly specialised for the conduction and transmission of electrical and chemical signals
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8
Q

What does a neuron comprise of?

A
  • Cell body
  • Axon
  • Dendrites
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9
Q

Describe what the cell body contains

A

Contains the same organelles found in all human cells:
- Nucleus
- Rough endoplasmic reticulum
- Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
- Golgi apparatus
- Mitochondria

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10
Q

What does the neuronal cytoskeleton consist of?

A
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Microtubules
  • Microfilaments
  • Neurofilaments
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11
Q

What is the cytoskeleton?

A
  • The internal scaffolding that gives neurons it’s characteristic shape
  • Comprised of microtubules, microfilaments and neurofilaments
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12
Q

What are microtubules?

A
  • A polymer of the protein tubulin
  • Located in the axons and dendrites
  • Important in axoplasmic transport
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13
Q

What are microfilaments?

A
  • A polymer of the protein actin
  • Found throughout the neuron
  • But are abundant in axons and dendrites
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14
Q

What are neurofilaments?

A
  • A type of intermediate filament
  • Particularly abundant in axons
  • Important in regulating atonal shape
  • Promising bio marker for neurodegenerative disorders
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15
Q

Describe what an axon is

A

Axons are highly specialised neuronal projections that conduct nerve impulses within the nervous system

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16
Q

What does the axons comprise of?

A
  • Axon hillock: Tapers away from the soma to form the initial segment of the axon
  • Axon proper: Axon can branch to form axon collaterals (and recurrent collaterals)
  • Axon terminal: Site at which the axon comes into contact with other neurons at a synapse
17
Q

Describe glial cells

A
  • Glial cells are able to myelinated axons:
  • Myelin is a membrane sheath that wraps around and insulates axons
  • Gaps in the myelin sheath are nodes of ranvier: highly enriched in voltage gated Na+ ion channels
18
Q

What are dendrites?

A
  • Highly specialised neuronal projections that receive synaptic inputs from other neurons
  • Dendrites of a single neuron are collectively termed a dendritic tree
19
Q

Describe the structure of a dendrite

A
  • Dendrites of some neurons are covered with specialised structures termed “dendritic spines”
  • Small sacs of membrane that protrude from the dendrites of some cells to receive synaptic input
  • Dendritic spine structure is sensitive to type and amount of synaptic activity
20
Q

What is the problem with the dendritic spines?

A

A number of conditions have been associated with abnormal dendritic spine numbers (Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia)

21
Q

Define the term neurotransmission

A

The fundamental process that drives information transfer between neurons and their targets

22
Q

What is the 2 classification classes of neurons?

A

Neurons can be classified based on Neuronal structure and gene expressions

23
Q

Describe what features of the neuron can be used in its classification (Neuronal structure)

A
  • Number of projections
  • Dendrites
  • Connections: Sensory, motor or interneurons
  • Axon length: Golgi type 1 and type 2
24
Q

Describe how the neuron can be classified based on gene expression

A
  • Can be classified based on the neurotransmitters they use
  • These differences arise due to differential expression of proteins involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, storage and release
  • Such as: Acetylcholine, GABA, Glutamate, Dopamine, Serotonin, Noradrenaline
25
Q

What are Glial cells?

A
  • Are the support cells within the nervous system
  • Can be classified into 4 categories based on structure and function
  • Such as: Astrocytes, Microglia, Ependymal cells, Oligodendrocytes/Shwaan cells
26
Q

What are Astrocytes?

A
  • Star shaped glial cells that function to regulate in numerous ways
  • Regulate The extra cellular environment of the brain
  • Are the most numerous type of glial cell within the human brain
27
Q

Describe what Astrocytes regulate

A
  • Astrocytes regulate the extra cellular environment in the brain
  • By enclosing synaptic junctions and actively removing neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft
28
Q

What is Microglia?

A

A type of glial cell that function as phagocytes within the nervous system to remove neuronal and glial debris

29
Q

Where can Microglia be found?

A
  • They account for about 5-15% of total CNS cell number depending on anatomical region
  • They are broadly distributed in the brain and spinal cord
30
Q

Where has it been known for Microglia to function?

A
  • Phagocytosis of neuronal and glial debris
  • Synaptic connection remodelling
  • Directing neuronal migration during brain development
31
Q

What are Ependymal cells?

A
  • A type of glial cell that provide the lining of the ventricular system of both, the brain and spinal cord
  • Ependymal cells line the ventricular system and act as a physical barrier separating brain tissue from cerebrospinal fluid
32
Q

Where has it been known for Ependymal cells to function?

A
  • Osmotic regulation of cerebrospinal fluid
  • Flow of cerebrospinal fluid
  • Directing cell migration during brain development
33
Q

What are Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

A

They are glial cells that function to provide myelin ( a membrane out sheath around axons) to neurons in the nervous system

34
Q

What is the difference between Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

A

They can both differ in their locations and other characteristics
- Oligodendrocytes: Situated in the Central nervous system
- Schwann cells: Situated in the peripheral nervous system

35
Q

What is the difference in function between Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

A
  • Oligodendrocytes contributes myelin to several axons
  • Schwann cells myelinate only a single axon

SGUL - Physiology 2 (37 decks)

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