Neuro- Cellular neuroanatomy Lecture 2

Questions and Answers

What are the two main nervous systems in the human body?

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System (correct)

Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System

Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System

Enteric Nervous System and Cranial Nervous System

What are the main functions of the nervous system?- select three

Regulating body temperature

Processing sensory information (correct)

Coordinates voluntary and involuntary responses of organs (correct)

Monitors internal and external environment (correct)

What is the cerebrum?

The largest part of the brain made of two hemispheres responsible for higher brain functions such as thought and action. (correct)

The lower part of the brain that regulates involuntary processes.

A part of the brain involved in vision processing.

The part of the brain that controls balance and coordination.

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Coordinating voluntary movements Signup and view all the answers

What is the brainstem?

The control center for breathing and heartbeat Signup and view all the answers

What parts of the brain make up the brainstem? (Select all that apply)

Medulla oblongata Signup and view all the answers

What are gyri?

Ridge on the cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

What are sulci?

Shallow grooves on the surface of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is a fixed brain?

A brain that is preserved for study Signup and view all the answers

What is an unfixed brain?

A brain that is in its natural state, not treated Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of sulci and gyri in the brain?

To increase surface area for neuronal connections Signup and view all the answers

What are brain ventricles?

Fluid-filled cavities in the brain Signup and view all the answers

How many ventricles are there in the human brain?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What fluid do ventricles contain?

Cerebrospinal fluid Signup and view all the answers

What is grey matter?

Tissue in the brain and spinal cord that contains neuronal cell bodies and synapses. Signup and view all the answers

What is white matter?

Containing myelinated axons to pass messages from different areas of grey matter Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells are primarily found in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

Neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is a glial cell?

A supportive cell that helps maintain homeostasis in the nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What is an ependymal cell?

A glial cell that lines the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Signup and view all the answers

What is a microglial cell?

Immune cells of the central nervous system that protect against pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What is an astrocyte?

A type of glial cell that supports neurons in the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is myelin called in the central nervous system (CNS)?

Oligodendrocytes Signup and view all the answers

What is myelin called in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

Schwann cells Signup and view all the answers

What are neurons?

Excitable cells specialised for reception and conduction of impulses Signup and view all the answers

Are neurons pre-mitotic or post-mitotic?

Post-mitotic Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic structure of a neuron?

Cell body, dendrites, and axon, plasma membrane Signup and view all the answers

What are the connections between nerve cells called?

Synapses Signup and view all the answers

What do neurons release to communicate with each other?

Neurotransmitters Signup and view all the answers

What does myelination do?

Increases the speed of nerve impulse conduction Signup and view all the answers

What is a pyramidal cell?

A type of neuron found in the cerebral cortex that has a pyramid-shaped cell body. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Purkinje cell?

A type of neuron found in the cerebellum- only output from cerebellum Signup and view all the answers

What are the main components of the cytoskeleton in a neuron?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a microfilament?

Formed of actin, in cell body, substances attach and slide along them Signup and view all the answers

What is a neurofilament?

A structural protein found in neurons which is strong and has structural roles Signup and view all the answers

What is a microtubule?

A component of the cytoskeleton that runs length of axon and aids transport down axon Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of axonal transport?

Anterograde and Retrograde Signup and view all the answers

What travels slowly along an axon?

Cytosolic and cytoskeletal proteins Signup and view all the answers

What protein travels fast along an axon?

Membranous organelles (anterograde and retrograde) Signup and view all the answers

How can neurons be classified?

By neurite number Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a neurotransmitter is released from a neuron?

It binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron- if threshold reached another AP is fired. Signup and view all the answers

Why are Purkinje cells planar?

To facilitate efficient synaptic connections Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of oligodendrocytes?

They produce myelin sheaths around axons in the central nervous system, preventing dispersion of electrical signal. Signup and view all the answers

What is myelin?

A fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers Signup and view all the answers

What is saltatory conduction?

The process of electrical signal jumping from node to node along myelinated axons Signup and view all the answers

What space do astrocytes fill in the central nervous system?

Between neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of astrocytes in the nervous system?

Induce, stablize and modulate neuronal connections Signup and view all the answers

Do astrocytes regulate blood flow to neurons?

Yes, they increase blood flow to neurons. Signup and view all the answers

How do astrocytes regulate the content of extracellular space?

By recycling neurotransmitter levels Signup and view all the answers

What function do microglia have in the human nervous system?

They act as the primary immune defense in the central nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

How is the blood-brain barrier enforced?

Tight junctions between endothelial cells Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of the blood-brain barrier? (Select all that apply)

Prevents harmful substances from entering the brain Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cells protect the blood-brain barrier?

Astrocyte feet (podocyte) Signup and view all the answers

What is an astrocyte foot?

A structure that helps in the formation of the blood-brain barrier Signup and view all the answers

Where are ependymal cells found?

In the lining of the ventricles of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What specialized structures do neurons use to receive stimuli?

Dendrites Signup and view all the answers

What part of a neuron is primarily responsible for transmitting impulses away from the cell body?

Axon Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cell forms myelin in the peripheral nervous system?

Schwann cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of neurotransmitters in synaptic communication?

Carry signals across the synapse Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic differentiates neurons from most other body cells?

Excitability and impulse conduction Signup and view all the answers

Which structure in a neuron contains the nucleus and coordinates cell activities?

Cell body (soma) Signup and view all the answers

In which part of the neuron are synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters primarily found?

Axon terminal Signup and view all the answers

Which type of transport mechanism is primarily involved in moving materials quickly along an axon?

Fast axonal transport Signup and view all the answers

Which type of neuron has no axon and is primarily involved in local communication within the retina?

Amacrine cell Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily released from presynaptic axons to communicate with postsynaptic neurons at the synapse?

Neurotransmitters Signup and view all the answers

Neurons can be classified based on which of the following characteristics?

Neurite number and neurotransmitter type Signup and view all the answers

Which morphology describes a neuron characterized by a single axon and multiple dendrites branching from the soma?

Multipolar Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the dendrites in a neuron?

Receive signals from other neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the synaptic cleft in neurotransmission?

It is the space where neurotransmitters are released and bind to receptors. Signup and view all the answers

In what way do oligodendrocytes contribute to neuron function?

They form myelin sheaths around axons. Signup and view all the answers

What type of transport mechanism is involved in the rapid movement of proteins along axons?

Fast axonal transport Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system?

Wrapping axons with myelin Signup and view all the answers

What primary function do dendrites serve in a neuron?

Receive information from other neurons Signup and view all the answers

How does myelination affect nerve signal transmission?

Facilitates saltatory conduction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the structure of a typical neuron?

Contains a nucleus that houses genetic material Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for transmitting signals to other neurons?

Axon Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of neurotransmitters in neuronal communication?

Conduct communication between neurons at synapses Signup and view all the answers

What is a key function of the blood-brain barrier?

Protects against poisons and regulates nutrient supply Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes fast axonal transport from slow axonal transport?

Type of substances being transported Signup and view all the answers

Astrocytes perform which of the following functions in the nervous system?

Regulating neurotransmitter recycling Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of microglia in the central nervous system?

Performing immune-like functions through phagocytosis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is a critical part of the cytoskeleton found in neurons?

Microtubules Signup and view all the answers

How are neurons primarily classified?

By their morphology and function Signup and view all the answers

What process describes the jumping of action potentials between nodes of Ranvier?

Saltatory conduction Signup and view all the answers

Which cell type is responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system?

Schwann cells Signup and view all the answers

What type of protein structure is primarily involved in stabilizing axonal transport?

Neurofilaments Signup and view all the answers

What unique feature characterizes the synapses between neurons?

Chemical communication through neurotransmitter release Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily responsible for transmitting signals away from the neuron?

Axon Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is primarily responsible for receiving signals from other neurons?

Dendrites Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of neurotransmitters in synapse communication?

They facilitate the transfer of signals between neurons. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of axonal transport is responsible for moving materials toward the synapse?

Anterograde transport Signup and view all the answers

How are neurons classified based on their structure?

Multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar Signup and view all the answers

What structural component aids in the rapid conduction of action potentials along the axon?

Myelin sheath Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft?

Action potentials reaching the axon terminals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following structures is involved in the recycling of neurotransmitters after their release?

Neurotransmitter transporters Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neurons and Neuroanatomy

Neurons can be traced using the Golgi technique, involving silver salts to visualize individual nerve cells.
Neurons vary by number of neurites: unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar classifications exist.
Dendritic morphology can be pyramid-shaped, star-shaped, spiny, or aspinous.

Synapses and Signal Transmission

Synapses are connections between neurons where neurotransmitters are released for communication.
The structure of a basic synapse consists of presynaptic axon, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic cell, where neurotransmitter receptors are present.

Glial Cells

Glial cells, or neuroglial cells, support neuronal function: they include astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells.
Astrocytes modulate neuronal connections, regulate extracellular content, and control blood flow during neuronal activity.

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

The BBB maintains a stable brain environment, regulating nutrient supply and protecting against toxins and fluctuations in peripheral circulation.

Structure and Function of the Nervous System

The nervous system is structured into the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
The CNS includes the brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem) and spinal cord, serving functions such as sensory integration and response coordination.

Brain Structure

The cerebrum is the largest brain region with right and left hemispheres, responsible for higher functions like vision, reasoning, and emotion.
The cerebellum, located under the cerebrum, coordinates movements and maintains posture and balance.
The brainstem connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord, managing automatic functions including breathing and heart rate.

Neuron Anatomy

Neurons consist of a cell body (soma) containing the nucleus, dendrites for receiving signals, and an axon for transmitting impulses.
Neurons are post-mitotic, meaning they do not reproduce after initial development.

Axonal Transport

Axonal transport can be slow (1-10 mm/day) for cytosolic proteins or fast (>400 mm/day) for membranous organelles, in both anterograde and retrograde directions.

Myelin and Oligodendrocytes

Myelin, produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS, wraps around axons, facilitating faster signal transmission through saltatory conduction.
Schwann cells perform a similar role in the PNS.

Cellular Components

Neurons possess a unique structure that includes organelles for supporting cellular function and specialized membranes for information transmission.
Mitochondria provide energy, while Golgi bodies and endoplasmic reticulum support synthesis and transport of cellular products.

Microglia and Ependymal Cells

Microglia act as the immune cells of the CNS, performing phagocytosis.
Ependymal cells line the ventricles and assist in guiding neuronal development during embryogenesis.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge about the two main nervous systems in the human body. This quiz will help you understand their functions and components. Perfect for biology students or anyone interested in anatomy.