NeuroPhys 1 Flashcards
what is white matter?
collections of myelinated axons in the CNS
what is myelin?
a multi-layer lipid coat that insulates axons
- formed by specialized glial cells in the PNS and CNS
- increases the velocity signal transmission along an axon
what is grey matter?
areas of the CNS that have relatively few myelinated axons
what is tract?
a collection of axons in the CNS
what is nerve?
a collection of axons in the PNS
the longer an axon is the more…
crucial the information it carries and the more likely that it will be myelinated
differences of PNS and CNS
- different cells populate the PNS
- axons/nerves in the PNS can sometimes regenerate after damage, does not happen in the CNS
- PNS is less isolated than CNS (immune system are allowed to enter and exit the PNS more freely)
- fewer neuronal cell bodies in the PNS vs in the CNS
what is a ganglia
collections of neuronal cell bodies in the PNS
what is the nuclei
collections of neuronal cell bodies in the CNS
glial cell types:
- astrocytes
- oligodendrocytes
- microglia
what is the most numerous cells in the CNS, and highest numbers in the grey matter?
astrocytes
what is the critical roles of astrocytes in the CNS?
- facilitate the formation and strengthening of synapses (neuroplasticity)
- regulate the concentration of ions in the interstitial fluid
- structural support for the bran
- barrier functions - induce the formation of the BBB
- “feed” neurons - help extract nutrients from the blood, provide nutrients to neurons to support energy metabolism
astrocytes are connected to each via what?
gap junctions
what is synctium?
the network of small tunnel that connect the intracellular fluid of astrocytes in the gap junctions
what does oligodendrocytes do?
each process wraps around the axon of a CNS neuron many times, “sheathing” the axon in myelin
what is myelin sheath?
compacted layers of cell membrane rich in sphingolipids that have very little cytosol
function of myelin?
- increases the speed with which an action potential moves down an axon
- reduces the energy consumed by movement of an action potential down an axon - more efficient signaling
what are microglial cells?
small bodied glial cells that:
- remove cellular debris (phagocytosis)
- monitor the environment and fight pathogens
- if the pathogen cannot be eliminated by resident microglia, they call in other WBC through secretion of soluble factors and can present antigen to other immune cells
microglial cells derived from what?
blood-borne immune cells (monocytes) that migrate into the CNS
the brain and spinal cord are surrounded by what?
cerebrospinal fluid
CSF is what?
a specialized fluid from the choroid plexus
explain the CSF circulation
produced in the flood of the lateral ventricle by the choroid plexus, moves to 3rd ventricle and then 4th ventricle -> circulate into the subarachnoid space and down the spinal cord. Eventually absorbed by specialized structures known as arachnoid granulations
what drives the movement of CSF
movement of cilia
the ependymal cells that line the ventricles are what?
ciliated
what is the blood brain barrier
the barrier between the CNS and the bloodstream