Neuro summary Flashcards
What are the cellular components of the nervous system
Neurones and glial cells
What are glial cells
Neurone supporting cell, maintains environment. Both CNS and PNS
What is the soma
Cell body
What is the Nissl substance
Granules containing rough ER and free ribsomes. Site of protein synthesis in neurones
Where are nissl granules found
Cell body/soma and dendrites
Where is the axon potential initiated from
Axon hillock. The axon hillock has fast voltage gated sodium channels, the dendrites don’t
What is the myelinating cell of CNS vs PNS
CNS = Oligodendrocytes
PNS = Schwann cells
What is a key difference between oligodendrocytes and schwann cells
Oligodendrocytes can myelinate many axonal segments, schwann cells only 1
What is the most numerous glial cell
Oligodendrocytes
What are the functions of astrocytes
1) Storage of glycogen/lactate for neurones. Neurones do not store
2) Uptake of excess ions + neurotransmitters
3) Modulation of transmission. Release ATP which is converted to adenosine
4) Astrocyte end feet modulate blood flow
What is adenosines function in the brain
Inhibitory neurotransmitter. Promotes sleep + supresses arousal
What are gliotransmitters
Substances released from glial cells eg ATP from astrocytes which regulate neuronal synaptic transmission
What is the origin of most glial cells
All are ectodermal in origin apart from microglia which are mesodermal
What is the function of the microglia
Immune cells of the brain. Initiate phagocytosis + act as antigen presenting cells
What is the function of ependymal cells
Produce CSF in choroid plexus. Have cilia to facilitate movement of CSF
What are the 4 anatomically defined neurones
Multipolar, Bipolar, pseudounipolar, unipolar
Where are multipolar neurones found
Brain and spinal cord (most common)
Where are bipolar neurones found
Ganglia of CNVIII
Retina
Olfactory epithelium
Where are pseudounipolar neurones found
Dorsal root ganglia
All CN ganglia apart from VIII
Where are unipolar neurones found
Not in vertebrates
Are cranial nerves peripheral or central?
Peripheral. Apart from the CN II Optic which is CNS. The optic nerve is ensheathed in all 3 meningeal layers
What connective tissue surrounds peripheral nerves
Epineurium, perineurium, edoneurium
What is ganglions
Collection of cell bodies
What does white matter contain
Myelinated axons
What does gray matter contain
Cell bodies, dendrites, neuroglia
What are the components of the blood brain barrier
1) Tight junctions between endothelial cells + basement membrane
2) Pericytes
3) Astrocyte end feet
4) Microglia
Where is CSF produced
Choroid plexus. Covers the 2 lateral ventricles, and the roof of the 3rd + 4th ventricles
How much CSF is produced/day
500ml
How much CSF is present in the body at any given time
150ml
How is CSF produced
Ependymal cells form the blood-cerebral spinal fluid barrier. They secrete CSF
What is the osmolarity between CSF and blood
Have the same osmolarity
Where is CSF found
The ventricles, the subarachnoid space (between arachnoid mater and pia mater) and spinal canal
What do arachnoid granulations/villi do
Protrusions of arachnoid mater into the dura mater. Allow CSF to drain into the dural venous sinuses
What are the functions of CSF
1) Buoyancy
2) Protection
3) Homeostasis
4) Clearing waste
What is hydrocephalus
Abnormal increase of the volume of CSF within the ventricular system. Causes increased pressure
What are the 3 types of neurotransmitters based on function
Excitatory, inhibatory, neuromodulators
What do neuromodulators do
They alter the strength of the transmission between neurones by affecting the amount of neurotransmitter released
What is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain
Glutamate, excitatory
What is the main importance of glutamate
involved in learning and memory
Is acetylcholine excitatory or inhibatory
Excitatory
Is GABA excitatory or inhibitory
Inhibatory
Is glycine excitatory or inhibitory
Inhibitory
What are the divisions of the autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic, parasympathetic, enteric
How many neurones make up the efferent (motor) limb of the autonomic nervous system
Generally 2. Preganglionic with a cell body in the CNS and post ganglionic with a cell body in the periphery
What neurotransmitters do the sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous systems use
Sympathetic = acetylcholine, norepinepherine
Parasympathetic = acetylcholine, acetylcholine
What vertebrae do sympathetic neurones arise from
T1 - L2/3
What are the exceptions to the 2 neurone rule of the ANS
For sympathetic innervation of the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, the preganglionic neurone synapses directly - 1 neurone. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter
What are the length differences of the 2 ANS neurones
Sympathetic = short, long
Parasympathetic = long, short
Do efferent fibres exit the spinal cord anteriorly or posteriorly
Anteriorly
Where are the cell bodies of sympathetic preganglionic neurones located
In the grey matter on the spinal cord
What does the white rami communicans do?
Carries preganglionic nerve fibres from the spinal cord to the sympathetic trunk
Are the sympathetic neurones ipsilateral or contralateral?
Ipsilateral, the fibres do not decussate
After the sympathetic preganglionic neurones emerge from T1-L2/3, they enter the sympathetic chain. What can happen then?
1) Ascend/descend the symp trunk then synapse with a symp postganglionic neurone
2) Synapse on that level with a symp post ganglionic neurone. Join the grey rami communicans, then a spinal nerve
3) Travel through the sympathetic chain without synapsing –> becomes a splanchnic nerve
4) Single preganglionic neurone to adrenal medulla
D) Paravertebral ganglia
Sympathetic chain. String of synapses adjacent to the spinal cord
What are the two main divisions of splanchnic nerves
1) Cardiopulmonary
2) Abdominopelvic
What receptor type does acetylcholine bind to
Cholingernic receptors –> usually muscarinic
What receptor type does norepinephrine bind to
Adrenergic receptors –> alpha 1,2 and beta 1,2,3
What is the sympathetic innervation of the head + neck
Cervical ganglia -
1) superior = head, arterial smooth m
2) middle = neck, arterial smooth m
3) inferior = heart, arterial smooth m
What is the enteric nervous system
(Arguably) division of the ANS which controls digestion
What are the two plexuses of the enteric nervous system
- Myenteric (Auerbach’s)
- Submucosal (Meissner’s)
What sets up the resting membrane potential
Na+/K+ ATPase pump
What is the resting membrane potential of neurones
-70 mV
What are the ion concentrations inside vs outside the neurone
Inside = K+ and organic ions
Outside = Na+ and Cl-
What ion has the greatest influence on resting membrane potential
K+
What is the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
Actively transports 3 sodium ions out and 2 potassium ions in against a concentration gradient
D) Equilibrium potential
The point at which the rate of ions leaving a cell down a concentration gradient is equal to the rate at which ions enter via an electrochemical gradient
What is the Nernst equation
The Nernst equation is used to calculate the value of the equilibrium potential for a particular cell for a particular ion
What is hyperkalaemia and what does this cause
High blood K+ level. Means that the diffusion of K + out of cells is reduced (less conc gradient). So the RMP is closer to the threshold for an action potential
–> neurones are more easily excitable
What is the refractory period
The period of time after an action potential when sodium channels close
What are the divisions of the refractory period
- Absolute refractory period
- Relative refractory period
D) Absolute refractory period
When the sodium channel are closed after an action potential and cannot be reopened, regardless of the strength of the stimulus
D) Relative refractory period
When the sodium channels begin to come out of inactivation. Another action potential can be generated, if the stimulus is strong enough
D) Local current
The diffusion of sodium ions in an axon down a concentration gradient. This diffusion depolarises the membrane at the next node so the threshold potential is reached and another action potential is generated
What factors dictate the distance of a local current at which the threshold is no longer reached
1) Membrane capacitance (ability to store charge - low is better)
2) Membrane resistance (number of open ion channels - low number so high resistance is better)
–> low cap, high mem
How does the myelin sheath increase the speed of conduction
- Increases membrane resistance and decreases membrane capacitance
–> saltatory conduction
What are the two main classes of receptors found on neurones
Metabotropic and inotropic
What is a metabotropic receptor
A membrane receptor which when activated uses secondary messengers to change the cells activity
What is an inotropic receptor
A ligand-gated ion channel
What is the Post synaptic potential
Change in the membrane potential of a post synaptic neurone as a result of excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters. If the post synaptic potential is great enough, the threshold will be reached and an action potential generated
Is the neurotransmitter dopamine excitatory or inhibitory
Both, it depends on which receptor it binds to
How do excitatory neurotransmitters eg glutamate work
- Glutamate binds to an a receptor resulting in the opening on non-selective cation channels
- Na+ enters, K+ leaves slowly. Na + will be more significant
- The membrane potential increases
How do inhibitory neurotransmitters eg GABA work
- GABA binds to receptors resulting in the opening chloride ion channels
- Chloride ions enter the post synaptic neurone causing hyperpolarisation