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Physiology > Neuroanatomy > Flashcards

Neuroanatomy Flashcards

1
Q

What makes up the cytoskeleton?

A

Microfilaments, neurofilaments, microtubules and proteins

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2
Q

Properties of microfilaments

A
  • 3-7nm in diameter
  • Mostly polymer of actin
  • Formed by 2 strands
  • Found at the edge of the cell (cell cortex)
  • Provides strength and shape, synaptic specialisation and learning and memory
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3
Q

Properties of neurofilaments

A
  • 7-11nm in diameter
  • Protein composition varies
  • Provides up to 85% of total protein in the neurone
  • Largest population in motoneurons
  • Stabilises and strengthens axons, organises structure, can cause ALS when things go wrong
  • Also known as intermediate filaments
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4
Q

Properties of microtubules

A
  • 20-28nm in diameter
  • Polymer of tubulin molecules
  • Longitudinal arrangement in axons/dendrites
  • Shape altered by polymerization
  • They have microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs)
  • Provide cell movement and axonal transport
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5
Q

How fast can axonal transport be?

A

100-400mm/day or 1mm/day

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6
Q

Orthograde vs retrograde axonal transport

A

Orthograde is from cell body to axonal terminal. Retrograde is from axonal terminal to cell body

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7
Q

Name the 2 molecular motors

A

Kinesin and dynein

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8
Q

What are the properties of kinesin?

A
  • Orthograde transport
  • Has amino terminal for ATP activity
  • Divergent tail for movement
  • Hydrolyses ATP to carry molecule along microtubules
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9
Q

What is dynein?

A

The same as kinesin but is used for retrograde transport

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10
Q

Name the glial cells in the CNS

A

Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia and ependymal

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11
Q

Name the glial cells in the PNS

A

Schwann cells and satellite cells

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12
Q

Properties of astrocytes

A
  • Guide neurones during development
  • Support neurones and capillaries
  • Buffer extracellular ions
  • Store and release neurotransmitters
  • Allow glia-glia and glia-neurone communication
  • Help the formation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB)
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13
Q

What is the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

A

Maintains a stable chemical environment and immunological privilege of CNS

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14
Q

Properties of microglia

A
  • Role in CNS immune response to infection or tissue damage
  • Increases in numbers
  • Releases growth factors
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15
Q

What do ependymal cells do?

A

Line the ventricles and central canal of spinal cord to help produce and control flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

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16
Q

Properties of oligodendrocytes

A

Myelination (insulation) of axons

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17
Q

What is the oligodendrocytes equivalent for PNS?

A

Schwann cells

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18
Q

What is multiple sclerosis?

A

An autoimmune disease which causes the destruction of myelin in the CNS

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19
Q

What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

A

Fatigue, numbness, blurred vision and blindness

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20
Q

What is the PNS equivalent of multiple sclerosis?

A

Guillain Barre syndrome

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21
Q

What are the different sections of the spinal cord?

A

Dorsal (back), ventral (front), lateral (outside), medial (inside), dorsal horn (back right or left), ventral horn (front right or left) and the intermediolateral horn (middle)

22
Q

How many different lamina are there?

A

10

23
Q

What is Lamina I?

A

Marginal zone

24
Q

What is Lamina II?

A

Substantia gelatinosa

25
Q

What are Laminae III, IV, V and VI?

A

Nucleus proprius

26
Q

What is Lamina VII?

A

Lateral horn (soma of sympathetic preganglionic neurones)

27
Q

What is Lamina IX?

A

Somatic motoneuronal pools

28
Q

What is the sensor for the spinal cord?

A

Dorsal root which contains the dorsal root ganglion (DRG)

29
Q

What is the effector for the spinal cord?

A

Ventral root

30
Q

What is in the somatomotor pathway?

A

Sensory (afferent) fibres from skin and motor (efferent) fibres

31
Q

What are the processes for sensory fibres?

A

Cell bodies in dorsal root ganglia, enter SC via dorsal roots and terminate in grey matter of dorsal horn

32
Q

What are the processes for motor fibres?

A

Cell body in grey matter of lateral horn, exit via ventral root, terminate in skeletal muscle

33
Q

What is in the visceromotor pathway?

A

Sensory fibres from internal organs and motor fibres

34
Q

How are spinal nerves formed?

A

Dorsal and ventral roots merge

35
Q

Head end of the spinal cord

A

Rostral

36
Q

Tail end of the spinal cord

A

Caudal

37
Q

Endoneurium

A

Connective tissue layers around individual axons

38
Q

Perineurium

A

Encloses bundle of axons

39
Q

Epineurium

A

Dense tissue layer enclosing several bundles

40
Q

What are the 4 interconnecting ventricles?

A
  • Interventricular foramina (lateral to third)
  • Cerebral aqueduct (third to fourth)
  • 2 lateral apertures and a medial aperture (fourth to subarachnoid space)
41
Q

How is the CNS protected?

A
  • Outer casting (skull/spinal vertebral column)
  • Membranes (meninges)
  • Hydraulic buffer (CSF)
  • Foreign agents (BBB)
42
Q

How do nerves enter and exit the CNS?

A

Via foramen (foramina) in the skull or between spinal vertebrae

43
Q

3 substances between the brain and the skull

A

Dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater. Separated by epidural space, subdural space and subarachnoid space

44
Q

Properties of dura mater

A

Protective, highly vascularised, innervated and is below epidural space in SC but not in skull

45
Q

Properties of arachnoid mater

A

Loose fit, avascular, delicate and is above subarachnoid space which contains CSF and is a shock absorber

46
Q

Properties of pia mater

A

Thin layer of connective tissue, clings to CNS, below subarachnoid space and contains small blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to CNS

47
Q

What is Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

A
  • Produced by choroid plexuses (capillary networks) in ventricles
  • Capillaries filter blood plasma then secrete CSF to form blood-CSF barrier
  • Made of glucose and various ions
48
Q

Function of CSF

A
  • Inside and surrounding CNS
  • Protects CNS
  • Gives brain buoyancy
  • Provides nutrients and removes waste
49
Q

Arachnoid villi

A

Act as one way valves for projections of arachnoid mater through the dura mater

50
Q

Venous sinuses

A

Valveless channels supplied by brains venous system (stores arachnoid mater)

51
Q

What is hydrocephalus?

A
  • Overproduction of CSF
  • Blocks flow between ventricles
  • Obstructs drainage into circulatory system
  • Causes increased pressure in CNS
  • Can cause permanent damage
52
Q

How can you treat hydrocephalus?

A

Inserting shunts to drain fluid

Physiology (10 decks)

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