Patho 1 Flashcards
Nervous system
- what is functional unit
- what type is most common
- neuron
- multipolar
Ratio of neurons to glial cells
1:10 neuron:glia
Where are bipolar neurons mostly found?
specialized sensory organs (eye, ear, etc.)
Describe alpha motor neuron
- multipolar
- branching collaterals that form motor end plate
- collateral branches to other parts of nervous system: modulation
Neurons to areas with fine motor movement vs. less fine movement
- gross muscle w/o fine movement: one neuron will branch to supply 100s of muscle cells. No fine control
- extraoccular muscles have a one to one relationship between muscle cells and motor nerve for very fine control
Two cells that myelinate and where they are found
- Oligodendrocyte (CNS)
2. Schwann cells (PNS)
Describe myelin
concentric rings of the Schwann cell/oligodendrocyte’s plasma membrane
How much myelination do un-myelinated cells have?
a single layer
Number of axons wrapped by oligodendrocyte vs. Schwann cell
- 1 oligodendrocyte can wrap multiple axons
- 1 schwann cell per axon
Neural transmission
- nodes of Ranvier
- type of transmission
- nodes of ranvier: spaces between myelin
- action potential jumps from node to node, speeds up signal
- called saltatory conduction
- faster bc don’t have to change na/k flux the entire length of the axon, just at nodes
Synapses
- describe
- contact between neurons
- contain neurotransmitters released by axon terminal
Synapses
- elements
- presynaptic membrane
- postsynaptic membrane (contain receptors)
- synaptic cleft (very narrow)
Types of neural connection
- Axosomatic
- Axodendritic
- Axospinous to spine of dendrite
- Axoaxonic - usually inhibitory to modulate the action of the post synaptic axon
Difference between damage to peripheral vs. central nerve?
- Schwann cells in periphery can grow back
- Oligodendrocytes not only don’t grow back, they have an inhibitor for neural regrowth, why SC injury so bad…
How does a peripheral nerve repair?
- If cut a peripheral nerve, can reattach cut nerve to Schwann cell (tube).
- The cut axon will grow sprouts (like roots) and if one finds its way into the Schwann cell, it will regrow!
- 1 mm/day to reinnervate the downstream target
What is synaptic strength
- can create and remove synapses hourly
- the more synapses on a neuron, the more likely it will fire
what is quantal release of neurotransmitter?
Describes how much nt is released at one time
- if lots of nt is released, more likely to have downstream action
- if just a little nt is released, might just have a jump in voltage but not a true action potential
What is the general relationship between neurons and neural output?
What is the one exception?
- Most neurons do not have a one to one relationship, usually lots of input.
- One exception is neuromuscular junction with alpha motor neurons. If alpha fires, muscle will contract
Synaptic plasticity
- can create new synapses all the time
- occurs most in growing neuro system (children)
Memory theory
- part of synaptic plasticity
- if repeat something over and over, make new synapses to remember that information
What is long term potentiation?
- explanation for how neurons learn
- first, an action potential from one neuron will cause an action potential on a second neuron the first has a synapse on
- if the first neuron fires in a rapid burst, the second will still fire but the interaction at the synapse is different that the first situation
- The second neuron will “memorize” the first neuron’s impulse
- memory: excite neurons to the point the biochemistry is changed between the two neurons
Synaptic density
- two types
- spatial summation: lots of neurons fire at the same time on one neuron to cause 2nd neuron to fire
- temporal summation: one neuron releases nt over and over (rapid firing) which causes the 2nd neuron to fire
- Dr. McNeill explained temporal slightly different…
Axonal release of nt
- contain vesicles with Ach and other neuromodulators
- axon “knows” what to release, won’t release them all at once, depending on what is released has different downstream effects.
neuromodulators
substance P somatostatins bradykinins etc. peptide hormones