Sem 2 W 2 - Glial cells

Question 1

What are the four different glial cells

Answer 1

1. Astrocytes
2. Microglian
   3.Oliogedendricytes
   4.Ependymal

Question 2

Describe the function of astrocytes in the CNS

Answer 2

1. Most abundant
2. Communicate with each othet cia gap junctions/ nurotransmitters and with surrounding nuerons
3. important during development and provide a scaffold to guide axons to right places
4. Used in repair
5. Maianitnace of extracellular environment so when nuerotransmitters are released they are removed from exxtracellular space and astrocytes take part in this by using transporters on their memebrance to break down the nurotransmitter/ store precursor and return it to nueral cell
6. keeps potassium levels low to prevent constant depolarisation

7 used in synapose function / mainaitnance of them

can modulate nuerootransmitssion

Question 3

Microglian

Answer 3

1. immune cells of CNS
2. perform same role as macrpopharges
3. relaese cytokine
4. resting or activated / restin important in homoestatic functions
   when acitvated therire are structurasl changes and retrasct and are amoaboid and are motile to go wehre ther is CNS tissue damage
5. are pro inflammatoyr and relaes cytokines should thete be an infection
6. when uncontrollef can cause nural tissue damage

Question 4

Oliogedendricytes

Answer 4

form myelin shealth around nursl axons in white matter

Question 5

Ependymal cells

Answer 5

line fluid filled ventricles of the CNS
secrete cerebrospinal fluid
cilliated cells important in moving the cerebral spinal fluid around the ventricle
form part of blood brain barrier