Unit 1: Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Neurobiology
Study of cells of the nervous system and the organization of these cells into functional circuits that process information and mediate behavior
Nissl Stain
Basic dyes stain nuclei of all cells as well as clumps surrounding the nuclei of neurons. Stain reacts with nucleic acids. Distinguishes between neurons and glia and arrangement of neurons
Golgi Stain
Silver chromate solution makes a small percentage of neurons become darkly colored
Grey matter
On surface in brain, neurons and synapses
White matter
Connects grey matter, myelinated, axons
Ben Franklin (1751)
Experiments and observations on electricity
Luigi Galvani and Emil du Bois-Reymond (1800)
Electrical stimulation of nerves causes muscle movement
Charles Bell and Francois Magendie (1810)
Dorsal roots of spinal cord carry sensory info into brain, ventral roots carry motor info out to muscles
Marie-Jean Pierre Flourens (1823)
Cerebrum: sensation/perception
Cerebellum: motor coordination (does not initiate movement but does it well)
Localization theory
Cut birds brains
Paul Broca (1861)
Left frontal lobe is responsible for the production of speech
Charles Darwin (1859)
Common behaviors: common mechanisms
Specialized traits: specialized mechanisms
Nervous system of different species evolved from common ancestors by natural selection
Reticular theory
Nerves are continuous (old theory)
Neuron doctrine
Nerve cells are separate, distinct entities (new theory). They communicate by contact, not continuity
Microscopes (early 1800s)
First opportunity to examine tissue at high magnification
Theodore Schwann (1839)
All tissues are composed of microscopic units called cells
Camilo Golgi (1873)
Soaked brains in silver chromate solution=Golgi stain=small percentage of neurons become darkly colored in their entirety (based on complexity, argued for reticular theory)
Santiago Ramon y Cajal (1900)
Used Golgi methods to draw out circuitry in many regions of the brain (advocate of neuron doctrine)
Electron microscope (1950s)
Uses electron beam instead of light to form better images, neurons in contact but no continuity (neuron doctrine wins)
Neuron
Dendrites (receive inputs from other neurons) –> soma (processes info) –> axon (transmits output of processing to other neurons)
How do neurons differ from other cells? (2)
- They stop dividing after birth
2. They have dendrites and axons (specialized structures designed to receive and transmit info)
What distinguishes cells from each other?
Specific parts of DNA that are used to assemble the cell (genes). DNA within every cell in the body is the same
Where does protein synthesis occur?
Ribosomes in cytoplasm. Ribosomes can be freely floating in cytosol or bound to rough ER
What is binding regulated by?
Transcription factors
Where are proteins that are synthesized in free ribosomes destined for?
Internal structures such as the cytosol, nucleus, and mitochondria
Where are proteins that are synthesized on rough ER destined for?
Inserted into plasma membrane or enclosed in vesicles to be released from neurons as neurotransmitters
What does the Golgi apparatus do?
Site of extensive “post-translational” chemical processing of proteins released from rough ER, also directs transmembrane and secretory proteins to their destination (soma, dendrites, or axon)
Mitochondria
Site of cellular respiration, import pyruvic acid oxygen, Krebs cycle and ETC, produces ATP
Neuronal Membrane
Barrier to enclose cytoplasm and exclude certain substances, phospholipid bilayer
What can DNA microarrays be used for?
Determine which genes are expressed uniquely in neurons, or which genes are more or less abundant in normal vs diseases brains
Important properties of genetic engineering (2)
- Target specificity (strand break)
2. Temporal control (inducible drugs)
Neurite
Includes many dendrites and one axon, designed to receive and transmit information
Axon characteristics
Constant radius, long and branch at right angles, have myelin sheath and transmit electro-chemical signals
Dendrite characteristics
Taper off in shape, shorter and branch profusely at all angles, no myelin sheath, receive electro-chemical signals
Roles of cytoskeleton
Gives shape to neuron (changes), mechanical support, aids in transport, allows cells to migrate, segregated chromosomes during cell division
What is tau?
A protein that allows for change in microtubules and helps neuron change shape continually
How is axon different from soma? (2)
- No ribosomes in axon= no protein synthesis
2. Protein composition of axonal membrane is fundamentally different than soma
How is the cytoplasm in the axon terminal different than in the axon proper? (3)
- Microtubules do not extend into terminal
- Terminal contains numerous small bubbles called synaptic vesicles
- Terminal contains many mitochondria (high energy needs because of long transport)
What way does information flow?
Pre to post synaptic side of synapse (axon terminal of one neuron to dendrite or soma of the next cell)
Why is axoplasmic transport needed?
Axons lack ribosomes so proteins are made in soma and shipped to axon, fast transport is in the microtubules
Anterograde
Towards the terminal: kinesin
Retrograde
Back to the soma: dynein
Tract Tracing
Used to trace the paths of axons
Anterograde: trace axons projecting away from cell bodies
Retrograde: trace axons projecting into area of cell bodies
Dendritic spines
Isolate various chemical reactions that are triggered by some type of synaptic activity, has free ribosomes in base of spine=protein synthesis
Glia cells
Outnumbers neurons 5:1, provides structure/metabolic support to neurons
Oligodendrocytes
Extensions rich in myelin, create myelin sheaths around axons in CNS
Schwann Cells
Similar in function of oligodendrocytes, but in PNS, can guide axonal regeneration
Microglia
Involved in response to injury or disease, exist in state of rest until activated
Astrocytes
Largest glia, star-shaped, many functions:
Form barrier to unwanted substances entering brain, control blood flow to neurons, maintain proper chemical state outside of neurons, removes waste, surround synapses and can modify neuronal signals, send nutrients (glucose) to neurons, digests old neuronal parts, secrets neurotransmitters and glialtransmitters
Central Nervous System Function
Interprets sensory input, initiates movement, and mediates complex cognitive processes
Peripheral Nervous System Function
Serves to bring sensory info into CNS (afferents) and carry motor signals out from CNS (efferents)
Rostral
Anterior- towards the front/nose
Caudal
Posterior- towards the back/tail
Ipsilateral
Structures on same side of head
Contralateral
Structures on opposite side of head
Sagittal cut
Left vs right
Horizontal (transverse) cut
Top vs bottom
Frontal (coronal) cut
Front vs back
Cross-section cut
Cut at right angle to spinal cord
3 major fissures (large grooves) in cerebrum
- Longitudinal 2. Central 2. Lateral
Divides hemisphere into four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
3 large gyri (bumps) in cerebrum
- Precentral 2. Postcentral 3. Superior temporal
Commissures
Fiber tracts in cerebral hemispheres, largest is corpus callosum
3 different areas of cerebrum
- Outer area of neuronal cell bodies (grey matter of cerebral cortex) 2. Inner area of myelinated axons (white matter) 3. Subcortical areas of grey matter
Ventricular system
Fluid-filled caverns and canals
Folium
Ridge or gyrus in the cerebellum
Diencephalon
Either side of third ventricle
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
Midbrain
Cerebral aqueduct
- Tectum
- Tegmentum
Pons
Below 4th ventricle
Medulla
Below 4th ventricle, continuous with spinal cord
Computer tomography (CT)
Measures opacity to x-rays
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Measures hydrogen atom response to magnetic fields
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Used to visualize large bundles of axons (track movement)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Inject radioactive substance, have subject perform behavior, scan horizontal slice in brain
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
No substance injected, have subject perform behavior, scan brain for de/oxygenated hemoglobin
Regions of the vertebral column (4)
- Cervical (8) 2. Thoracic (12) 3. Lumbar (5) 4. Sacral (5)
1 coccygeal
Dorsal root in spinal cord
Brings sensory information into the spinal cord (afferent), cell bodies in dorsal root ganglion
Ventral root in spinal cord
Carries motor information away from spinal cord (efferent), somas in cord