What is the Nervous System Made of?

Question 1

What is the nervous system?

Answer 1

Collections of cells, glia, synapses, cerebrospinal fluid, and the resulting circuits of precisely arranged/connected cells

Question 2

Cells

Answer 2

Neurons

Question 3

Glia

Answer 3

supporting cells of the nervous system, “housekeeping” cells

Question 4

Synapses

Answer 4

the connections made between neurons

Question 5

Cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 5

salty water (lots)

Question 6

How does behavior arise?

Answer 6

from coordination of these cells/neurons, even if they are few in number

Question 7

Sensory Neurons

Answer 7

receive input

Question 8

Motor neurons

Answer 8

move the body

Question 9

Facilitating neurons

Answer 9

the “in between” neurons

Question 10

The more neurons means…

Answer 10

the more complex circuits and the more complex functions

Question 11

neurons

Answer 11

the building blocks of the nervous system and the element of processing information, give rise to behavior

Question 12

What aspects of the nervous system are shared across all species?

Answer 12

peripheral ganglia and closely related species share brain and spinal cord similarities in mammals

Question 13

Camillo Golgi

Answer 13

-Nobel prize in 1906
-Staining technique to stain
neurons in their entirety –
axons and dendrites
-Gave clear descriptions of
cerebellum, hippocampus,
spinal cord, olfactory bulb

Question 14

Ramony Cajal

Answer 14

-Nobel prize in 1906
-Dendritic spines
-Axonal growth cone

Question 15

Parts of a neuron

Answer 15

-input zone
-integration zone
-conduction zone
-output zone

Question 16

Input Zone

Answer 16

where neurons collect and integrate information, either from the environment or from other cells

Question 17

Integration Zone

Answer 17

where the decision to produce a neural signal is made

Question 18

Conduction Zone

Answer 18

where information can be transmitted over great distance

Question 19

Output Zone

Answer 19

where the neuron transfers information to other cells

Question 20

Dendrite & Spine

Answer 20

-input zone
-where information is received
-dendrites from one neuron can receive information from many sources (environment and other neurons)

Question 21

Soma - Cell Body

Answer 21

-Mitochondria: produce energy
-Cell Nucleus: contains genetic instructions
-Ribosomes: translate genetic instructions into proteins

Question 22

Axon Hillock

Answer 22

-Axon Hillock: location where integration occurs
-Conduction Zone: information is electrically transmitted

Question 23

Axon

Answer 23

-motor proteins aid in transporting materials carried by the transport vesicle

Question 24

Axon Terminal

Answer 24

-output zone

Question 25

Flow of information

Answer 25

presynaptic membrane –> synaptic cleft –> postsynaptic membrane

Question 26

How many synapses can a neuron receive

Answer 26

-each neuron may receive and make thousands to tens of thousands of synapses

Question 27

Types of Glial Cells

Answer 27

-astrocytes
-oligodendrocytes
-Schwann cells
-Microglial cells

Question 28

Astrocytes

Answer 28

-Star-shaped cells that help form the blood
brain barrier by sitting between capillaries
(blood) and neurons

-Support the metabolic and biochemical
needs of neurons

-Directly regulate synaptic signaling
(tripartite synapse)

-React to brain injury (repair and scarring)

Question 29

Oligodendrocytes

Answer 29

glial cells that form myelin sheath in the
central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

Question 30

Schwann Cells

Answer 30

glial cells that myelinate cells in the peripheral
nervous system

Question 31

Microglial Cells

Answer 31

-inflammatory response
-Steps of a microglial cell
1. resting/surveillance microglia
2. Focal activation/directional process extension
3. Conversion to a phagocyte
4. Phagocytosis