NEURO Flashcards
(188 cards)
White matter
Axonal structure
Connects different part of the cortex together and connects cortical matter to the deep grey matter
How does magnetic resonance imaging work
Body has tiny magnets - brain is 75% water
Hydrogens have protons - causes it to have magnetic moment
What does the image intensity depend on in T2 weighted images
T2 - more fluid = brighter signalling.
Water content, tissue structure, blood flow, perfusion, diffusion and paramagnetic
What is T1 weighted images related to
Time it takes for the magnetisation to realign with the magnetic field
Why do white and grey matter have different relaxation time?
Approx. 50% of tissue volume in white matter is from myelin structures - relaxation of 1H in lipid structures is very short.
Therefore white matter shows very bright
What does diffusion MRI measure
Measures how freely water diffuses in a variety of directions - what is the max and min diffusion.
How does functional magnetic resonance work
Venous side is paramagnetic - variation in magnetic field so decrease in MR signal
How does positron emission tomography work
Emit beta particles - annihilation occurs and 2 gamma ray released in opposite direction.
Scanner detects rays and joins lines together to where annihilation occurs.
Relating to metabolism of cellular functions
Microtubules
Polymer of the protein tubulin – located in axons and dendrites and important in axoplasmic transport
Microfilaments
Polymer of the protein actin – found throughout the neuron but particularly abundant in axons and dendrites
Neurofilaments
A type of intermediate filament – particularly abundant in axons and important in regulating axonal shape
Glial cells
‘Support cells’ within the nervous system and can be classified into 4 categories based on structure and function.
Can myelinate axons
Astrocytes
Most numerous type of glial cell within the human brain.
Regulate extracellular environment in the brain
Microglia
Accounts 5-15% of total CNS cell number - broadly distributed in brain and spinal cord
Function of microglia
Phagocytosis of neuronal and glial debris
Synaptic connection remodelling
Directing neuronal migration during brain development.
Ependymal cells
Lines the ventricular system and acts as a physical barrier separating brain tissue from CSF
Oligodendrocytes and schwann cells
Function to provide myelin - a membranous sheath around axons to neurons in the nervous system
Oligodendrocytes
Situated in CNS - myelinate many axons
Schwann cells
Situated in the peripheral NS - myelinate only single axon
Glutamate synthesis
Glutamine into glutamate
By enzyme glutaminase - phosphate activated.
Transported into vesicles by VGLUT - counter transport with H+
Degradation of glutamate
Glutamate reabsorbed from synaptic cleft into glial cell via EAAT
Glutamate into glutamine by glutamine synthetase
Then move through SN1 and SAT2 into neuron.
Consequences of glutamate signalling in the brain
Excitatory neurotransmitters will lead to neuronal membrane depolarisation - membrane becomes more + value.
ESPC - flow of ions, change in current across post synaptic membrane
EPSPs - increase the chances of action potential
Excitotoxicity
Pathological process by which excessive excitatory stimulation leads to neuronal damage and death
Mechanism of long term potentiation (LTP)
Glutamate activates AMPA receptors – Na+ flowing leading to post synaptic neuron and cause depolarisation
NMDA receptors open. Removing the voltage gated Mg2+ ion block
Ca2+ ions enter the cell activate post-synaptic protein kinases such as calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) and protein kinase C
CaMKII and PKC trigger a series of reactions leading to insertion of new AMPA receptors into post synaptic membrane
AMPA receptors increase sensitivity to glutamate and increase ion channel conductance
This underlies the initial phase of LTP