Neuroanatomy - overview of the nervous system

Question 1

What are the 2 main anatomical divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Peripheral and central nervous system

Question 2

What does the brainstem consist of?

Answer 2

Pons, medulla oblongata and midbrain.

Question 3

Function of neurons?

Answer 3

Receive information, mainly via synapses, integrate the information and then transmit the electrical impulses to another neuron or effector cell.

Question 4

Most neurons are unipolar. True/false?

Answer 4

False, most are multipolar with many dendrites and one axon.

Question 5

Glial cells are more prominent in the brain than neurons. What are the 4 main types of glial cells?

Answer 5

Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglia
Ependymal cells

Question 6

Astrocyte function?

Answer 6

Roles in support, maintaining the blood brain barrier.

Question 7

Oligodendrocyte function?

Answer 7

Produce myelin in the CNS, numerous branches that extend to produce internodes of myelin around axons.

Question 8

Microglia function?

Answer 8

Cells that are similar to macrophages. Involved in immune monitoring and antigen presentation.

Question 9

Ependymal cell function?

Answer 9

Ciliated cuboidal/columnar epithelium that lines ventricles.

Question 10

3 layers of the meninges?

Answer 10

Dura mater (outermost)
Arachnoid mater (thin spidery like structure) - located just outside subarachnoid space which contains cerebrospinal fluid
Pia mater (innermost layer)

Question 11

What are schwann cells?

Answer 11

A type of glial cell of the PNS that help form the myelin sheath around the nerve fibres.