Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Neuroscience > Glia > Flashcards

Glia Flashcards

(43 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

types of vertebrate glial cells

A

astroglia

microglia

oligodendroglia

Schwann cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

astroglia

- features + functions

A

star-shaped
symmetrical
common in CNS

nutritive + support function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

microglia

- features + function

A

small
mesodermally-derived

defensive function
- role in breaking down cells + material in brain
= can lead to disease

BUT keeps brain free of pathogens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

oligodendroglia

- features + function

A

asymmetrical

forms myelin around axons in brain + spinal cord (CNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Schwann cell

- features + function

A

asymmetrical

wraps around peripheral nerves to form myelin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

classification of cell types

  • neural cells
  • neuronal cells
  • glia
  • macroglia
A

neurones + glia

neurones

microglia + microglia

astrocytes
radial cells
oligodendroglia
Schwann cels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

myelinating glia

  • 2 types
  • function
A

oligodendroglia
(in CNS)

Schwann cells
(in PNS)

insulates axons
-> increases rate of action potential transfer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

radial glia

  • function
  • produce
A

provide scaffold throughout CNS for neurones to migrate via during development

matrix + adhesion proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

radial glia

- in adults

A

persist as different types of cells

e.g. Muller glia cells in retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

ependymal cells

- structure

A

lines central canal + ventricles in brain

cuboidal cells but no basement membrane

beating cilia when lining ventricles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

ependymal cells

- specialised forms participate in…?

A

secretion of CSF

= cerebral spinal fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

origins of cell types

  • neurones, astrocytes + oligodendrocytes
  • Schwann cells
  • microglia
A

neural tube

neural crest

yolk sac + macrophages (i.e. blood)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

gliogenesis

- doesn’t involve..?

A

microglia

Schwann cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

gliogenesis

- process

A

neural stem cells
1) -> form neurones

OR
2) -> glial-restricted precursors

A) -> astrocyte precursors
-> type-1 astrocytes

OR

B) ->O2A progenitors
-> forms oligodendrocytes
OR
->type 2 astrocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

which glia are in the CNS?

A

astrocyte
oligodendrocyte
microglia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

dual origin of microglia

A

primitive macrophages from yolk sac blood islands migrate into brain
-> eventually become microglia

may come from blood directly
- from monocytes that invade the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

evidence for monocytic origin of microglia

A

bone marrow chimeras:
show the brain becomes populated by donor-specific cells of haemopoietic origin

immunocytochemical studies:
show changes in morphology as monocytes transform to microglia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

types of microglia

Study These Flashcards
A 
ameboid
- round cells clustered
- found in development 
concentrated in corpus collosum
- proliferate

ramified

  • adult form found in brain
  • don’t proliferate when resting
19
Q

activation states of adult microglia

Study These Flashcards
A

resting

  • fine processes
  • OX-42

activated

  • thick processes
  • larger cell body
  • vimentin
  • OX-42
  • proliferate
  • migrate

phagocytic (break down cells)

  • globular cell
  • lack projections
  • vimentin
  • OX-42
  • OX-8
  • proliferate
20
Q

blood-brain barrier

- define

Study These Flashcards
A

semipermeable barrier
caused by vasculature + brain cells

prevents passage of cells and large molecules

21
Q

microglia

- functions

Study These Flashcards
A

resting cells

  • support + protect neurones
  • release GFs

antigens activate microglia
-> migrate to antigen
+ secrete toxic substances + pro-inflammatory cytokines

remove damaged neurones

myelin fragments convert to phagocytic state
- consume cell debris from dead neurones

22
Q

microglial activation sequence

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. activation signal
  2. retraction of extant branches
  3. motility (protrusion + retraction)
  4. locomotion
23
Q

microglia stimulators

Study These Flashcards
A

viruses + bacteria

dead cells/debris

CNS toxins

ischemia (stroke-related damage)

neuronal degeneration
- release cytokines

activated astrocytes
- release cytokines

24
Q

controversy:

microglia’s role in neurodegenerative disease

Study These Flashcards
A

A) certain proteins produced by neurones during these diseases e.g. amyloid
-> activate microglia + kill neurones via ROS production

vs

B) microglia don’t play an active role in killing otherwise healthy cells in brain
- microglia kill damage neurones

25
astrocytes - 2 types - functions
protoplasmic (grey matter) - maintain blood-brain barrier - transport K+ and glucose fibrous (white matter) - support + structure - form scar tissue
26
astrocytes - ratio of astrocytes:neurones - perivascular feet
50:1 projections that make contact with blood vessels
27
astrocyte | - functions
pathways support growth + death calcium signallin g glutamate BBB glucose transport channels + receptors extracellular volume
28
astrocyte | -pathways
in development - provide pathways used by neurones to migrate role in axonal guidance -involves CAMs, cadherins, integrins, selectins create boundaries for axonal movement
29
astrocyte | - support
gives structure and protection to synapse
30
astrocyte | - growth + death
release large no. of different factors: GFs + cytokines = important for survival and development of neurones astrocytes proliferate around site of axon damage - could aid repair but can form 'glial scar' which inhibits axonal regeneration
31
astrocyte | - Ca2+ signalling
gap junctions between astrocytes - allows rapid communication using Ca2+ via calcium waves - may coordinate synapses into synchronously firing groups
32
astrocytic regulation of neural networks
all synapses enveloped by an astrocyte may be within that astrocyte's domain of synaptic influence -> one group of neurone could influence another distant grip through strictly astrocytic pathways
33
glutamate
a neurotransmitter released in excess - must be removed otherwise excitotoxic death
34
astrocytes | - glutamate
express glutamate tranporters = GLAST + GLT-1 -> clear glutamate from synapse glutamate converted into glutamine + returned to neurones
35
astrocyte | - BloodBrainBarrier
astrocytes involved in BBB formation stops immune system cells (e.g. T cells) invading - provides immune privilege
36
immunological privilege
rejection of allografts is greatly diminished by transplantation into the nervous system
37
astrocyte | - K+ and glucose transport
express GLUT K+ levels for neuronal function - need to be higher inside neurone
38
astrocyte | - channels + receptors
neurotransmitter receptors e.g. seretonin receptor helps coordinate activity of astrocytes with neurones ion channels e.g. Ca2+ and K+ - clearance of ions that help maintain levels of ions extracellularly (=interstitial ion levels)
39
astrocyte | - extracellular volume
astrocytic swelling due to glutamate and adenosine receptor stimulation volume fraction decreases -> increased conc of extracellular molecules (= increases effective cones of neurotransmitters) *astrocytes through modulation of their size can influence excitability of neurones*
40
cytokines - produced by - alter - 2 types of response - different actions depending on...
astrocytes + microglia + neurones cell survival + proliferation pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory - point of release - cells they act on - concentration
41
cytokine | - examples
interferons (IFN) interleukins (IL) tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family
42
cytokine | - receptors
microglia, astrocytes + oligodendrocytes express receptors for many cytokines e.g. microliga express IL-6 receptor
43
signal transduction mediated by cytokine receptors
1. cytokine binds to receptor 2. triggers intracellular pathway e. g. Jak-Stat pathway 3. stat proteins enter nucleus 4. alter transcription

Neuroscience (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions