Structure of Neurones & Glia Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 parts of a neuron?

A

Cell body/ soma
Dendrites- input
A single axon- ouput

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are dendrites and axons are sometimes called collectively?

A

Neurites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is contained within the soma?

A

Nucleus

Perikaryon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is perikaryon?

A

Cytoplasm of a neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What organelles of the cell body are found in the neuron?

A
Nucleus
Ribosomes
Golgi apparatus
Microtubules
Mitochondria
Lysosomes 
Lipofucin bodies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the nucleus responsible for?

A

Contains DNA, replicate cells
Most adult neurons (after the age of 7) do not replicate- DNA involved only in protein synthesis
Protein made by transcription and translation (ribosomes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are ribosomes responsible for?

A

Translation
Most commonly associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
Rough ER or Nissl bodies (making proteins and peptide sequences)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the golgi apparatus responsible for?

A

Protein assembly completed here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are microtubules responsible for?

A

Cell body, dendrites and axon
Transporting packaged proteins
Forms part of the cytoskeleton (gives neuron some degree of rigidity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How many neurons are in the mitochondria and what is it’s job?

A

Numerous in neurons

Supply energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are lysosomes responsible for?

A

Break down organelles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are lipofucin bodies for?

A

Contain all neurons rubbish
Electron dense
Waste products in ‘old’ cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What happens to lipofucin bodies as people get older?

A

As you get older your body obtains more lipofucin bodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the role of dendrites?

A
Continuation of the cell body
Contain free ribosomes and mitochondria
Form branching patterns like trees
Synapses are formed on dendrites
Some synapses on spines
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the role of axons?

A

Unique to neurons
Specialised for transmission of electrical impulses
Can be up to 1m in length

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the part of the axon?

A

The axon hillock
Axon proper
Axon collaterals
Axon terminal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the axon hillock do?

A

Merges from soma
Generates electrical impulse
Causes neuron to fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where is the axon proper?

A

Long part of the axon

Emerges form axon hillock

19
Q

Where are the axon collaterals?

A

Branch from the axon

20
Q

What are the two cells that make up the brain and the spinal chord?

A

Neurons

glia

21
Q

What are axons terminals?

A

Form swelling or boutons

Make synapses

22
Q

What does an axon not contain?

A

Ribosomes

23
Q

How do axons transport proteins?

A

Along microtubules

24
Q

What are the ways of axonal transport in a neuron?

A

Axoplasmic transport (up to 1000mm/day)
Axoplasmic transport- both directions
Away from the cell body (anterograde transport)
Towards the cell body (retrograde transport)

25
Q

What are the reasons for retrograde transport?

A

To get rid of things of no values

Some molecules can convey messages from axon terminals to cell body (i.e. enzyme requirement)

26
Q

What is the composition of the nerve cell membrane?

A

Acts as a membrane
Consists of a phospholipid bilayer
Protein molecules embedded in the membrane confer unique properties
Allow ions to pass in or out of the cell selectively i.e. semi permeable membrane

27
Q

How can neurons be classified?

A
Number of neurites
Shape
Connections
Axons
Neurotransmitters
28
Q

What are the different number of neurites which can be classified in neurons?

A

Unipolar
Bipolar
Multipolar

29
Q

What are the different shapes neurons can be?

A

Pyramidal

Sellate- star shape

30
Q

What are the different connections for the classification of neurons?

A

Primary sensory neurons
Moto neurons
Interneurons

31
Q

What are primary sensory neurons?

A

Connections with sensory neurons surfaces of the body

32
Q

What are the moto neurons?

A

Connections with muscles

33
Q

What are the interneurons?

A

Connections with other neurons

34
Q

How can axons classify neurons?

A

Golgi type I- long axons

Golgi type II- local axons

35
Q

How can neurotransmitters classify neurons?

A

E.g. cholinergic- contains acetylcholine

36
Q

How much of cells in the brain are glia?

A

90%

37
Q

What are the 3 principle classes of glia?

A

Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglia
Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes= macroglia

38
Q

What are astrocytes?

A

Star shaped
Most numerous type of glia
Few organelles

39
Q

What is the function of astrocytes?

A

Function is not fully understood
Provide mechanical and metabolic support
Repair process (nervous system damaged, cause scar over and this is impenetrable, stops infection)
Regulate flow of ions and molecules in extracellular fluid

40
Q

What are Oligodendrocytes?

A

Many organelles and microtrubules

41
Q

What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

A

Make Myelin (fatty substance which rolls itself around axons, insulting it and allowing conduction of axons to be increased)

42
Q

What is myelin?

A

Lipid sheath around axons
Electrically insulates axons, not continuous
Node of Ranvier
Peripheral nervous system- myelin formed by Schwann cell

43
Q

What are microglia?

A

Microglia are really phagocytes, i.e. they remove waste.

About 100,000 neurons in your CNS die every day and microglia remove the debris.