Lecture 16: Cells and organization of the nervous system

Question 1

What does integrating and coordinating mean to the nervous system

Answer 1

Senses environment
Produces an appropriate response

Question 2

What are the two parts of the nervous system

Answer 2

Central nervous system and Peripheral Nervous System (Including ENS)

Question 3

What is the ENS

Answer 3

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) is a complex network of neurons that controls the functions of the gastrointestinal tract
Can work independently of the CNS

Question 4

What does the Central nervous system consist of

Answer 4

Brain and spinal chord

Question 5

What 2 cell classes make up the CNS

Answer 5

Neurons and Glia

Question 6

What are Glia

Answer 6

Non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that play a crucial role in supporting and maintaining the functions of neurons

Question 7

What does the PNS consist of

Answer 7

Peripheral nerves and Ganglia

Question 8

What 2 cell classes compose the PNS

Answer 8

Neurons and Glia

Question 9

What are Neurons

Answer 9

Nerve cells. Cells specialized for transmission of information

Question 10

How many morphological types of neurons are there

Answer 10

4. Unipolar, Bipolar, Axonic (axonless), multipolar

Question 11

How many types of glia are there

Answer 11

Five basic types
4 in CNS, 1 in PNS
Each type has a specific function

Question 12

What are the functions of the dendrites

Answer 12

Receive input
Send info to cell body

Question 13

What are the 2 features of the cell body of the neuron

Answer 13

It contains the nucleus and organelles
Sums input

Question 14

What is the function of the axon (and an important feature)

Answer 14

Carries electrical impulses
The axon may or may not be myelinated

Question 15

What is the axon terminal and what does it do

Answer 15

End of the axon
Neurotransmitter release

Question 16

In the CNS what is a bundle of axons called

Answer 16

A tract

Question 17

In the CNS what are groups of cell bodies?

Answer 17

Nucleus

Question 18

What is grey matter (CNS

Answer 18

Group of cell bodies in cerebral cortex or spinal cord

Question 19

What is white matter (CNS)

Answer 19

bundle of axons in cerebral cortex or spinal cord
long fiber tracts

Question 20

What is the cerebral cortex

Answer 20

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of your brain’s surface, located on top of the cerebrum

Question 21

What does the term soma refer to

Answer 21

Cell bodies of neurons

Question 22

What parts of the neuron are in the input zone

Answer 22

Dendrites and cell body

Question 23

What happens in the input zone of the neuron

Answer 23

Receives chemical signals from other neurons

Question 24

What parts of the neuron are in the summation zone

Answer 24

axon hillock

Question 25

What is the function of the axon hillock

Answer 25

Summation of inputs and deciding whether to send a signal down the axon

Question 26

What is the role of the conduction zone of the neuron and what structure does it consist of?

Answer 26

The axon is in the conduction zone Its role is to carry electric signals between brain areas to and from spinal cord or from peripheral sensory receptors and to effector cells

Question 27

What happens at the output zone of neurons and what does it consist of

Answer 27

Consists of Axon terminals Contact with input zone of other neurons or effectors Releases neurotransmitter (Chemical signal)

Question 28

Why do cells of the nervous system look different

Answer 28

Because they are specialized for specific tasks

Question 29

What does multipolar mean in terms of morphological types of neurons

Answer 29

Multiple processes emanate from the cell body

Question 30

What does bipolar mean in terms of morphological types of neurons

Answer 30

Two (2) processes emanate from the cell body

Question 31

What does unipolar mean in terms of morphological types of neurons

Answer 31

One process emanates from the cell body Then branches into dendrite and axon

Question 32

What does axonic mean in terms of morphological types of neurons

Answer 32

Axonless, No distinct axon. All processes look alike

Question 33

What are the 4 types of cells in the CNS

Answer 33

Astrocytes, Microglia, Ependymal cells, Oligodentrocytes

Question 34

What are astrocytes in the CNS and what is their function

Answer 34

Most common type of Glia They supply nutrients to neurons, cover blood capillaries, repair damage in the CNS

Question 35

What is are microglia in the CNS and what is their function

Answer 35

The immune cells of the CNS They engulf microorganisms and debris

Question 36

What is are Ependymal cells in the CNS and what is their function

Answer 36

They line fluid-filled spaces of the brain and spinal cord They have cilla (hair like) processes to circulate cerebrospinal fluid

Question 37

What is are oligodendrocytes in the CNS and what is their function

Answer 37

They support CNS nerve fibers and ensheath them with myelin

Question 38

What are Shwann cells

Answer 38

They support PERIPHERAL nerve fibers and ensheath them with myelin

Question 39

Where does the myelin sheath come from in CNS and PNS

Answer 39

CNS - Oligodendrocytes PNS- Schwann cells

Question 40

What is the myelin sheath and what is its function

Answer 40

Multiple Schwann cells in line Lipid (fat) wrapped around axon. It increases conduction velocity

Question 41

What are the nodes of Ranvier and what is their function

Answer 41

Gaps between myelin that increase conduction velocity

Question 42

How do Schwann cells contrast with oligodendrocytes

Answer 42

Oligodendrocytes associate with more than one Neruron

Question 43

What is a synapse in neurons

Answer 43

This is the junction where communication between neurons occurs

Question 44

What are synaptic vesicles and where are they found

Answer 44

little packets of neurotransmitter, found in pre-synaptic neuron (Before the synapse)

Question 45

What is the neuron after the synapse called and what does it contain

Answer 45

Post-synaptic neuron, contains receptors for neurotransmitter

Question 46

What do we call information that goes INTO the brain (ascending)

Answer 46

Afferent

Question 47

What do we call infromation coming out of the brain (descending)

Answer 47

Efferent

Question 48

Is sensory information afferent or efferent.

Answer 48

Afferent.

Question 49

Is Motor information afferent or efferent.

Answer 49

Efferent

Question 50

The myelin sheath in the CNS is made by:

Answer 50

Oligodendrocytes

Question 51

The part of neurotransmission that is carried out through a chemical signal is called:

Answer 51

Synapse

Question 52

The part of a neuron where summation of inputs takes place is called:

Answer 52

Axon Hillock