Neurons and Glia

Question 1

What is the cell theory?

Answer 1

the cell is the basic functional unit of all living things

Question 2

What is the Neuron doctrine?

Answer 2

the idea that the cell theory also applies to neurons: Neurons are the basic functional units of the nervous system

Question 3

Name 3 structures that neurons have in common with other cells

Answer 3

Mitochondria, cell nucleus and ribosomes

Question 4

What technique allows for the observation of neuronal structure?

Answer 4

Golgi Stain

Question 5

What is the reticular theory?

Answer 5

the idea that the neurites of neurons seemed to fuse in a neural net

Question 6

what is histology?

Answer 6

the scientific study of cells and tissues

Question 7

What is microscopy?

Answer 7

the field that uses microscope to see objects that are not visible to the naked eye

Question 8

What is microtomy and tissue processing?

Answer 8

a laboratory technique used in studying extremely thin tissue sections

Question 9

What do neurons communicate with?

Answer 9

electrical impulses called action potentials (nerve impulses)

Question 10

What is the soma of neurons?

Answer 10

The cell body; contains nucleus and organelles, DNA

Question 11

What are the dendrites?

Answer 11

Receptors for neurotransmitters

Question 12

What is the axon?

Answer 12

joins cell body to axon terminals

Question 13

What is the axon hillock?

Answer 13

point of contact between the soma and the beginning of the axon

Question 14

What are the axon terminals?

Answer 14

contain packets of neurotransmitters (synaptic vesicles)

Question 15

What is the synaptic cleft?

Answer 15

gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released

Question 16

What is the myelin sheath?

Answer 16

fatty tissue that insulates axons (produced by glia)

Question 17

What are the nodes of Ranvier?

Answer 17

breaks in the myelin sheath

Question 18

What is the neuronal membrane made of?

Answer 18

Phospholipid bilayer - channels embedded into it

Question 19

What are the 3 strucutres of the cytoskeleton of the neurons?

Answer 19

○ Microtubules
○ Actin filaments
○ Intermediate filaments

Question 20

Pathology of cytoskeleton may result in?

Answer 20

Pathologies such as Alzheimer’s

Question 21

What is axoplasmic transport?

Answer 21

Microtubules act as railroad tracks for the transport of materials from one part of the neuronal cell to another

Question 22

What are the 3 main types of neuron (regarding their function)

Answer 22

○ Sensory/afferent neurons (body-brain)
○ Motor/efferent neurons (brain-body)
○ Interneurons (mediators)

Question 23

What are the 4 types of Glial cells?

Answer 23

• Astrocytes
• Microglial cells
• Olidodendrocytes
• Schwann cells

Question 24

What do astrocytes do?

Answer 24

Help the migration of neurons from one part to the other

Support the neurons structurally

Question 25

What do microglia do?

Answer 25

Help to clear debris

Cleaning out dying neurons (apoptotic cells) (ex; in strokes)

Question 26

What does macroglia do?

Answer 26

• Myelin helps to insulate and speed conduction of action potentials
• CNS - oligodendrocytes (many axons)
• PNS - Schwann cells (single axon)

Question 27

What are the 2 types of macroglial cells?

Answer 27

• Olidodendrocytes

* Schwann cells

Question 28

What is demyelination?

Answer 28

(removing of the myelin sheath)

Question 29

What causes demyelination?

Answer 29

Multiple sclerosis

Question 30

What is anterograde transport?

Answer 30

Type of axoplasmic transport

Kinesin transports materials from the soma to the axon terminals

Question 31

What is retrograde transport? What substance is responsible for it?

Answer 31

Type of axoplasmic transport

Dyenin transports materials from the axon terminals to the soma