Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What are the convoluted surfaces of ridges residing within the cerebral hemispheres?
Gyri
What are the impression in the cerebral hemispheres?
Sulci
What are the four cerebral lobes?
Temporal, parietal, occipital, and frontal
What does the brainstem consist of?
Midbrain, pons and medulla (In descending order)
What is the cerebellum?
Hind brain structure, attached to brainstem Coordinates voluntary movements including posture, balance, coordination and speech
What is the role of the spinal cord?
Extends down from the medulla, conduit for neural transmission and coordinate reflex action
What are unipolar neurones?
Consists of one extension from cell body (considered as single axonal projection)
What are pseudo-unipolar neurones?
Single axonal protection that divides into two segments
What are bipolar neurones?
Two projections from the cell body (axons and dendrons)
What are multipolar neurones?
Neurones with multiple projections from the cell body, most prevalent neuronal type
What are pyramidal cells?
Neurones with a pyramidal shape soma, two distinct dendritic trees. Basal dendrites emerge from the base and the apical dendrites from the apex of the pyramidal cell body
What are Purkinje and Golgi cells?
GABA neurones found in the cerebellum
GABA neurons: main inhibitory neurotransmitter (reduces activity of neurons to which it binds & decreases AP below threshold potential –> will not excite nearby neurons) in tandem with excitatory NT glutamate by modulating the inhibitory-excitatory balance
Where are Purkinje and Golgi cell located?
Cerebellum
What are neurones?
Excitable cells fo the CNS, generate action potentials. Non-dividing cells contemporary elements suggestive of potential division
What does heterogeneous morphology mean?
Variation in structural morphology of neurones.
What is the soma?
Connects to dendrites, transmits electrical signals, to the neurone, and there axon sending information to adjacent neurones
Contains nucleus & ribosomes
What does the soma contain?
Nucleus, Nissl granules (RER containing free ribosomes –> protein synthesis) and neurofilaments.
What are Nissl granules?
Composed of rough endoplasmic reticulum and are polyribosomes
What is the function of neurofilaments?
Express structural and transportation properties.
What do axons contain?
Axoplasm
- originates from soma at axon hillock
- branch off into collaterals
- covered in myelin
Where do axons originate from?
Originate from the axon at the axon hillock
What is there term referred to the axon projections?
Collaterals
What is the function of axons?
Transmitting electrical signals to adjacent neurones/ effector cells
What protein encapsulates axons?
Myelin
Why is myelin useful?
Enhances electrical trnsmission through electrical insulation that stimulates saltatory conduction.
What is present at the axon terminal?
Telodendria
What are dendrites?
Highly branched cell body, that unmyelinated, receives signals from other neurones, and transmits electrical signals to the soma to the axon
What are the other types of cells?
Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
Microglia
Ependyma
Which cells connect neuronal signalling and CNS vasculature?
Astrocytes
What projections extend from the astrocyte soma and attach to the basement membrane?
Astrocyte end feet
How do astrocytes enable bidirectional signalling between neurones and vasculature?
Processes extend form the cell bodies towards the neurones, and to the vasculature
What are the functions of astrocytes?
Cell repair - synthesis NTFs: peptides –> growth, differentiation of neurons)
Abundance
Structural - form BBB (highly selective semipermeable border of endothelial cells preventing solutes in blood from crossing to ECF of CNS)
Homeostasis –> removal/ reuptake of NT
How do astrocytes maintain the blood brain barrier?
Paracrine interaction with the endothelial cells and pericytes (present at walls of capillaries). Secrete classes of factors with either barrier promoting or barrier disrupting effects depending on neuronal signalling. Paracrine interaction: when proteins synthesised by one cell diffuses over small distances to induce change in neighbouring cells
How are astrocytes involved in cell repair?
Synthesis of neurotrophic factors (endogenous soluble proteins that support growth, survival and differentiation of neurones). CNS damage = astrocytes occupy space to form glial scar
How do astrocytes form glial scars?
Astrocyte proliferate and migrate to area of injury, undergo hypertrophy to develop thicker processes that aim to isolate the area
What is the process of forming glial scars referred as?
Astrocytosis
What are astrocytes involved in homeostasis?
Neurotransmitter removal and re-uptake. Express plasma membrane transporters (glutamate transporters for neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate)
How do astrocytes maintain interstitial fluid?
Release lactate into fluid, neurones have limited energy stores. Potassium ion concentration
Which cells myelinated cells of the CNS?
Oligodendrocytes