10 Questions
What is the function of the axon terminals?
To release neurotransmitters and branch out to target cells
What is the role of dendrites in a neuron?
Receiving incoming information from other neurons
What is the main function of afferent neurons?
Transmitting information into the CNS from sensory receptors
What provides the 'road pathway' for the transport of organelles and molecules in axonal transport?
Microtubules
What is the role of astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS)?
Removing excess neurotransmitters in the synapses
What is the main function of microglia?
Acting as macrophages of the brain, eating up cell debris or bacteria
What is the difference between oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?
Oligodendrocytes form myelin sheaths around CNS neuron axons, while Schwann cells form myelin sheaths around neuronal axons of the PNS
What is the main function of ependymal cells in the central nervous system?
Regulating the production and flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the CNS
What is plasticity in relation to neural growth and regeneration?
The ability of neurons to remodel their synaptic connections, which declines with age
What happens to a significant number of neurons that have differentiated from stem cells after birth?
They die, about 50-70% of them, which affects early memory formation
Study Notes
Neuron Structure and Function
- Axon terminals release neurotransmitters to transmit signals to other neurons or cells.
- Dendrites receive signals from other neurons through synaptic connections.
Types of Neurons
- Afferent neurons carry signals from sensory receptors to the central nervous system (CNS).
Axonal Transport
- Microtubules provide the 'road pathway' for the transport of organelles and molecules in axonal transport.
Glial Cells
- Astrocytes in the CNS provide nutrients and oxygen to neurons, regulate the chemical environment, and maintain the blood-brain barrier.
- Microglia act as the immune system of the CNS, engulfing and destroying pathogens and debris.
- Oligodendrocytes myelinate axons in the CNS, while Schwann cells myelinate axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Ependymal Cells
- Ependymal cells in the CNS produce cerebrospinal fluid, circulate it, and help to detect and respond to changes in the CNS.
Neural Development and Regeneration
- Plasticity in neural growth and regeneration refers to the ability of neurons to change and adapt in response to experience and the environment.
- A significant number of neurons that have differentiated from stem cells after birth undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis.
Test your knowledge on the structure of a neuron, including the cell body, dendrites, axon, and axonal transport. Questions cover the functions and components of each part, as well as their role in signal transmission.
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