w-1 course overview

Question 1

What is neuroscience?

Answer 1

The study of how the nervous systems of humans and other animals are organized, how they develop, and how they function to generate behavior

Question 2

Name areas of neuroscience research.

Answer 2

• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
• Systems Neuroscience
• Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Neurology (Clinical Neuroscience)
• Developmental Neuroscience

Question 3

What is a neuron?

Answer 3

• the fundamental units of the nervous system
• they integrate and transmit information in the form of electrical signals
• they are very similar across neurons

Question 4

______ ______ ________ depend on unique properties in neurons as well as diverse organization and connectivity of many neurons.

Answer 4

distinct animal behaviors

Question 5

________ are the primary target for synaptic outputs

Answer 5

dendrites

Question 6

________ send out information in the form of action potentials

Answer 6

Axons

Question 7

What are the three main classes of glia in the mature central nervous system?

Answer 7

• Astrocytes
• Oligodendrocytes
• Microglia

Schwann cells are also a type of glia but are primarily found in the peripheral nervous system.

Question 8

what is the function of schwann cells?

Answer 8

• to myelinate cells of the peripheral nervous system
• only myelinate one axon at a time

Question 9

What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

Answer 9

• Oligodendrocytes create myelin by wrapping cell membrane around axons in the CNS
• can myelinate many axons at once
  (Myelin acts as electrical insulation, allowing for faster signal transmission)

they do this to any axon shaped thing lol

Question 10

What do astrocytes do?

Answer 10

maintain the chemical enviornment for neurons/synapses

Question 11

What do microglia do?

Answer 11

• they are the resident immune cell of the central nervous system
• they respond to injury and infection

Question 12

What is the longest axon in humans?

Answer 12

The motor neuron axon in the sciatic nerve, spanning from the spinal cord to the big toe, is approximately 3 feet long

Giraffes have axons around 15 feet long, and blue whales can have axons up to 30 meters (90 ft!!!!)

Question 13

What are the two types of matter in the nervous system?

Answer 13

• Gray matter: where the neuron cell bodies are located
• White matter: consists of myelinated axons and axon tracts

Question 14

What are ganglia?

Answer 14

Local accumulations of nerve cell bodies and support cells

Question 15

____________ contain cell bodies for sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system.

Answer 15

Dorsal root ganglia (DRGs)

Question 16

____________ contain cell bodies for the peripheral motor neurons of the visceral nervous system

Answer 16

Sympathetic chain ganglia

Question 17

What does the autonomic nervous system consist of?

Answer 17

• Parasympathetic nervous system
• Sympathetic nervous system

Question 18

the parasympathetic nervous system drives

Answer 18

the rest and digest response

Question 19

the sympathetic nervous system drives

Answer 19

the fight or flight response

Question 20

What is the function of the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 20

Protects the brain by selectively transporting substances necessary for normal biological functions , while simultaneously excluding potentially harmful invaders (such as immune cells) from the brain

Question 21

nucleus:

Answer 21

a local accumulation of neurons with similar function and connectivity

Question 22

What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Answer 22

A fluid that fills the ventricles, contributing to the buoyancy of the brain and helps clear waste products

Question 23

Meningitis

Answer 23

an infection of the CSF and meninges (protective membranes/lining around the central nervous system)

Question 24

What are the morphological features of a neuron?

Answer 24

Dendrites, Cell body (soma), Axon, Axon hillock, Myelin sheath, Nodes of Ranvier, Axon terminals

Question 25

What do ependymal cells do?

Answer 25

Line ventricles; produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Question 26

How is the nervous system categorized?

Answer 26

Central Nervous System (CNS), Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), Somatic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) ## Footnote Each category has distinct structures and functions.

Question 27

What is the main role of the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 27

Controls voluntary movements & sensory input.

Question 28

What regulates involuntary functions in the body?

Answer 28

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

Question 29

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 29

Increases heart rate, dilates pupils, inhibits digestion, increases glucose release for energy.

Question 30

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 30

Decreases heart rate, constricts pupils, stimulates digestion.

Question 31

What is the enteric nervous system responsible for?

Answer 31

Regulates gut motility & secretion.

Question 32

What is the function of gray matter?

Answer 32

Processing & integration.

Question 33

What is the function of white matter?

Answer 33

Rapid signal transmission.

Question 34

What substances can pass through the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 34

Nutrients (e.g., glucose, oxygen) while blocking large molecules and pathogens.

Question 35

What forms the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 35

Tight junctions in endothelial cells supported by astrocytes.

Question 36

What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Answer 36

Cushions & protects the brain and spinal cord, removes waste, delivers nutrients.

Question 37

Where can cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) be found?

Answer 37

Found in ventricles, subarachnoid space, & central canal of the spinal cord.

Question 38

What produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Answer 38

Choroid plexus in the ventricles.