Neurons and Glia Flashcards
Anterograde transport
A cellular process responsible for the movement of substance from the cell body to the distal parts of a cell
Aspinous neuron
A neuron lacking dendritic spines
Astrocyte
A star-shaped glial cell of the central nervous system
Axon
The long thread-like part of a neuron along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells
Axon collateral
Branches off a neuron’s main axon
Axon hillock
The site in the soma where membrane potentials propagated from synaptic inputs are summated before being transmitted to the axon
Axon terminal (bouton)
The enlarged club-shaped endings by which axons make synaptic connections with other neurons or effector cells
Axoplasmic transport
A cellular process responsible for the movement of substances from the soma down the axon
Bipolar neuron
A neuron with two neurites extending from the soma
Cytoskeleton
A microscopic network of protein filaments and tubules in the cytoplasm of many living cells, giving them shape and coherence
Cytosol
The aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell, within which various organelles and particles are suspended
Dendrite
A short branched extension of a neuron, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body
Dendritic tree
The structure formed by multiple dendrites from the same neuron
Dendritic spine
A small membranous protrusion from a neuron’s dendrite that typically receives input from a single axon at the synapse, supported by an actin cytoskeleton
Endoplasmic reticulum
A network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, continuous with the nuclear membrane. It usually has ribosomes attached and is involved in protein and lipid synthesis.
Istology
The study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
Gene expression
The processes of DNA transcription and translation
Genetic engineering
The deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.
Genome
The complete set of genes present in a cell or organism
Glial cell
Supporting cells of the nervous system. Three types (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells) are created from the neuroepithelial cells of the neural tube, and are hence siblings of nerve cells.
Golgi stain
A silver staining technique that is used to visualise nervous tissue under light microscopy.
Green fluorescent protein
A protein that glows green under fluorescent light.
Interneuron
A neuron which transmits impulses between other neurons.
Microglia
mmune cells that migrated in to the central nervous system during early development, that function as macrophages.
Microtubule
A microscopic tubular structure present in numbers in the cytoplasm of many eukaryotic cells, sometimes aggregating to form more complex structures.
Mitochondrion – An organelle in which the biochemical process of respiration and energy production occur.
Mitochondrion
An organelle in which the biochemical process of respiration and energy production occur.
Multipolar neuron
A neuron with multiple neurites extending from the soma
Neurite
Neuronal processes extending from the soma, namely axons and dendrites
Neurofilament
Intermediate filaments found in the cytoplasm of neurons.
Neuronal membrane
The cell membrane of the axon, soma and dendrites of a neuron.
Nissl stain
A method for staining RNA to visualise neurons
Oligodendrocyte
A glial cell concerned with the production of myelin in the central nervous system.
Perikaryon
The cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus. Also known as the soma.
Primary sensory neuron
Neurons with neurites in the sensory surfaces of the body.
Retrograde transport
A cellular process responsible for the movement of substance from the distal parts of a cell to the cell body
Schwann cell (neurolemmocyte)
A glial cell concerned with the production of myelin in the peripheral nervous system.
Soma
The cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus. Also known as the perikaryon.
Spiny neuron
A neuron with dendritic spines
Terminal bouton
The specialised presynaptic terminal at the end of an axo
Transgenic mice
A genetically modified mouse that has had its genome altered through the use of genetic engineering techniques.
Unipolar neuron
A neuron with a single neurite extending from the soma
