Neurons 8/2/24

Question 1

What stain can be used to stain Neurons?

Answer 1

H&E

Question 2

What is changes in neuronal/synaptic structure and function in response to Neural activity? What is this the basis of?

Answer 2

Neural Plasticity
Basis of leaning and memory

Question 3

What 4 things do Neurons Differ in?

Answer 3

Size
Morphology
Neurotransmitter content
Electrical properties

Question 4

What are Glia cells?

Answer 4

Non conducting cells in the CNS that hold nerve cells in place and allow them to carry out their function

Question 5

What are the Myelinating cells of the Oligodendrocytes?

Answer 5

Obligodendrocytes

Question 6

How do Obligodendrocytes Myelinate cells? What other kind of support do they provide?

Answer 6

Obligodendrocyte process wraps around the axon
Metabolic support

Question 7

What are the spaces called in the Myelin Sheath? What is the process called where impulses jump between spaces?

Answer 7

Nodes of Ranvier
Saltatory conduction

Question 8

What is the Myelin sheath made up of in what composition? What are the specific proteins called? What do the proteins act as?

Answer 8

Lipids (70%) Protein (30%)
Myelin basic protein
Acts as a marker

Question 9

What are the resident immune cells of the CNS?

Answer 9

Microglia

Question 10

Where do the Microglia originate from? What do they do during their ‘resting’ state?

Answer 10

Yolk sac progenitors
motile processes survey enviroment and highly ramified (spread out)

Question 11

What substance activates Microglia? What happens to their processes when activated? What else happens when they are activated?

Answer 11

ATP
Processes retract
They become motile and proliferate at sights of injury

Question 12

What are 3 functions of Microalgia?

Answer 12

Immune surveillance
Phagocytosis
Synaptic plasticity

Question 13

What are the two forms of Microglia and which one is good?

Answer 13

M1 and M2
M2 is ‘good’ M1 is bad

Question 14

What are the most abundant glial cells in the CNS? What shape are they? What marker protein is present on them?

Answer 14

Astrocytes
Star like
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)

Question 15

What system do astrocytes contribute towards?

Answer 15

Blood brain barrier

Question 16

What are 5 functions of Astrocytes

Answer 16

Structural
Envelope synapses
Metabolic support
Neurovascular coupling activity
Proliferate in disease

Question 17

What metabolic support mechanisms are Astrocytes involved in? What is the name of the envelope synapse?

Answer 17

Glutamate-Glutamine
Tripartite synapse- buffers K+ and Glutamate

Question 18

What are three examples of specialised astrocytes and where are they found?

Answer 18

Radial glia- Brain development
Bergmann glia- Cerebellum
Muller cells- retina

Question 19

What is Motor Neurone disease and Multiple Sclerosis?

Answer 19

MND- Loss of upper and lower motor neurones
MS- Autoimmune disease where immune cells attack myelin sheath

Question 20

MND spina spinal cord shows pathological changes in what 3 structures?

Answer 20

Motor neurones
Microglia
Astrocytes

Question 21

What are Axons gathered in? What is the name when these structures cross the midline?

Answer 21

Tracts
Commissures

Question 22

Where are cell bodies located in the PNS? What cells myelinate the PNS axons?

Answer 22

Ganglia
Schwann cells

Question 23

What is the name of epithelial cells that line ventricles and central canal of spinal cord? What is their function? What adaptation do they contain?

Answer 23

Ependymal cells
CSF production, flow and absorption
Ciliated

Question 24

What projections of the ventricles (in the brain) produce CSF? What are they made up of? What do Gap junctions between the cells that make it up allow?

Answer 24

Choroid plexus
Modified ependymal cells
Blood-CSF barrier