Questions and Answers
What is the function of somatic motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
What is the main function of astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS)?
What is the function of microglia in the nervous system?
What gives gray matter its gray appearance?
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What is the role of oligodendrocytes in the nervous system?
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Where are interneurons located in the nervous system and what is their primary function?
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What are Schwann cells responsible for?
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What is the function of satellite cells?
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What is the primary function of the sodium-potassium pump?
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What is the relationship between graded potentials and action potentials?
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What is the neurilemma?
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Study Notes
Somatic Motor Neurons
- Contribute to voluntary muscle movement by transmitting signals from the central nervous system (CNS) to skeletal muscles.
- Control activities such as walking, running, and other intentional movements.
Astrocytes
- Serve as the primary support cells in the CNS, contributing to the blood-brain barrier, which regulates the passage of substances between blood and neurons.
- Maintain the extracellular environment by regulating ion balance and providing nutrients to neurons.
Microglia
- Act as the immune cells of the nervous system, responding to injury and disease.
- Remove debris, dead cells, and pathogens through phagocytosis, thereby playing a crucial role in neuroinflammation and repair.
Gray Matter
- Appears gray due to the presence of numerous neuronal cell bodies and unmyelinated axons, which contrasts with myelinated white matter.
- Contains synapses and is involved in processing and integrating information.
Oligodendrocytes
- Responsible for the formation of myelin sheath in the CNS, which insulates axons and speeds up action potentials.
- Support neuronal health and function by providing structural support.
Interneurons
- Located primarily in the CNS, especially within the spinal cord and brain.
- Function as relay points between sensory and motor neurons; they process and integrate information, facilitating reflexes and complex behaviors.
Schwann Cells
- Responsible for the formation of myelin sheaths around axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), ensuring fast signal transmission.
- Aid in the regeneration of damaged nerves through the release of growth factors.
Satellite Cells
- Found surrounding neuronal cell bodies in ganglia of the PNS.
- Provide structural support and help regulate the microenvironment by controlling the exchange of nutrients and waste.
Sodium-Potassium Pump
- Maintains the resting membrane potential of neurons by transporting sodium ions out of and potassium ions into the cell.
- Essential for neuronal excitability and muscle contraction, contributing significantly to the generation of action potentials.
Graded Potentials vs. Action Potentials
- Graded potentials are small, variable changes in membrane potential that occur in response to stimuli; they can summate and spread over short distances.
- Action potentials are rapid, all-or-nothing depolarizations of the membrane that occur when a threshold is reached, propagating signals over long distances.
Neurilemma
- The outermost layer of the Schwann cell that encompasses the myelin sheath around a PNS axon.
- Plays a key role in nerve regeneration and repair by guiding the growth of new axons after injury.
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Description
This quiz provides an overview of basic concepts in neurology including motor neurons, interneurons, and neuroglia. It covers the functions and characteristics of different types of neurons as well as the role of neuroglia in the nervous system.
