Neuroscience 1 Flashcards
What are the different types of neurones?
Motor
Sensory
Interneurones
Pyramidal cells
What are the different types of cells to do with neuroscience?
Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
Microglia
Ependymal cells
What living creatures have nervous systems (NSs)?
Animals but not plants
What are the main purposes of the nervous system?
Rapid control of movement
Collect information on environment
Process information
Produce a response
Integrating centre for homeostasis
Source of emergent properties e.g. emotions and intelligence
What does the brain do?
Thinking/reasoning
Emotions
Language/communication
Memory
What is the brain made of?
Neurones
Glial cells
Connective tissue
What are neurones?
“Processing units”
Fast electrical wiring
Integration centres for multiple signals
What are glial cells?
Metabolic support for neurones
Blood-brain barrier
Immunity
What is connective tissue
Keeps everything together
Mechanical protection
Blood supply
What makes the brain and spinal cord not solid?
Contains hollows (ventricles and canals)
Suspended in cerebral spinal fluid
How is the neural tube formed?
The neural plate of the ectoderm folds
What does the neural tube form?
Spinal cord and brain
What do neural crest cells form?
Diffuse neuroendocrine system and the peripheral nervous systems
What are the three primary brain vesicles?
Prosencephalon (forebrain)
Mesencephalon (midbrain)
Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
Where are the primary brain vesicles found?
The rostral end of the neural tube
What does the forebrain develop into?
Cerebrum and Dienchephalon
What does the hindbrain develop into?
Metencephalon (pons)
Myelencephalon (Medulla)
What are the regions of the cortex?
Frontal lobe (Reward, motivation motor cortex, higher functions)
Parietal lobe (Speech, somatosensory cortex)
Occipital lobe (Visual cortex)
Temporal lobe (Memory formation, processing sensory info, emotions?)
Insula cortex (Integration of functions?)
What are Brodman areas of the cortex?
50+ parts identified by cytology/morphology, having distinct functions
What is the purpose of the Limbic system?
Emotional responses
What is the purpose of the Basal Ganglia?
Movement coordination
What is the purpose of the Hippocampus?
Memory formation
Synaptic plasticity - Cellular model for memory formation
Lesions and neurodegeneration affect short term memory
What is the purpose of the Thalamus?
Sensory gateway
All sensory signals synapse onto thalamic neurones
Info relayed from thalamus to cortex
What is the purpose of the Hypothalamus?
Endocrine interface
Sleep/wake cycle
Emotions
Homeostasis core (Appetite, thirst, temp, circadian rhythms)
What is the purpose of the Cerebellum?
A “mini brain”
Contains as many neurones as the CNS
Complex series of movements
Input from somatosensory cortex via pontine nucleus (20m neurones) and spinal tracts
Outputs mostly via thalamus ventral lateral nucleus
What is the purpose of the Brain stem?
Housekeeping functions e.g. Breathing, coughing, heart rate, digestion, swallowing
Major structures: Midbrain, Pons, Medulla oblongata
Origin of 10/12 of cranial nerves
All tracts between brain and spine run through brainstem
Do glial cells outnumber neurones?
Yes
What do ependymal cells do?
Produce CSF
What do Astrocytes do?
Metabolic support for neurones
BBB formation
What do oligodendrocytes do?
Myelination of CNS neurones
What are microglia?
CNS immune cells
What are the meninges?
Connective tissue around the brain
What are the three layers of the Meninges?
Dura mater
Arachnoid membrane
Pia mater
What are Arachnoid granulations responsible for?
Drainage of CSF
What is the CSF?
Filtered blood plasma, produced in choroid plexuses in ventricles
What are the functions of the CSF?
Shock absorber
Nutrient supply
Waste product removal
Floats the brain and spinal cord
What are neurones needed for?
Fast, precise and targeted signals
Coordinating different processes simultaneously
Rapidly linking stimuli to actions
Processing information
How do interneurons work?
Small, simple short processes
Provide local connections within the CNS
One dendritic and one axonal
How do sensory neurons work?
One process, divides into 2
One running to CNS
One runs to sensory areas of the body
How do motor neurons work?
Large cell body to provide metabolic support for large axon
Many dendritic processes
How do pyramidal neurons work?
Multiple complex processes
e.g. hippocampal - memory formation
How do neurones harness electricity?
Cell membrane is highly permeable to ions
Allows formation of ion gradients (membrane potential)
Allows electrical signalling and excitability
