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Lab Exam 2: Histology and Nervous System

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Terms in this set (21)

  • Central Nervous System (CNS)

    Brain and spinal cord that process and coordinate sensory data and motor commands.

  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

    Cranial and spinal nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body, including sensory input and motor output.

  • Functional divisions of the PNS

    Sensory (afferent) division carries signals to CNS; Motor (efferent) division carries signals from CNS to muscles and glands.

  • Types of neurons

    Multipolar neurons have many dendrites and one axon; unipolar neurons have a single process; bipolar neurons have one dendrite and one axon.

  • Neuron structure components

    Dendrites receive signals; cell body contains nucleus; axon transmits impulses; axon terminals release neurotransmitters.

  • Neuroglia functions

    Support neurons by regulating environment, forming myelin, phagocytosis, and maintaining blood-brain barrier.

  • Astrocytes

    Neuroglial cells that anchor neurons, regulate extracellular environment, and form the blood-brain barrier.

  • Oligodendrocytes

    Neuroglial cells that myelinate axons in the CNS.

  • Microglial cells

    Neuroglial cells that act as phagocytes to remove debris and pathogens in the CNS.

  • Ependymal cells

    Neuroglial cells that line cavities of the CNS and help circulate cerebrospinal fluid.

  • Schwann cells

    Neuroglial cells that myelinate axons in the PNS.

  • Satellite cells

    Neuroglial cells that surround and support neuron cell bodies in the PNS.

  • Resting membrane potential

    The membrane potential of a resting neuron is about \(-70\,mV\), maintained by ion gradients and selective permeability.

  • Depolarization phase of action potential

    Voltage-gated Na+ channels open, allowing Na+ influx, causing the membrane potential to become more positive.

  • Repolarization phase of action potential

    Voltage-gated K+ channels open and Na+ channels close, allowing K+ to exit and membrane potential to return toward resting.

  • Hyperpolarization phase

    Membrane potential temporarily becomes more negative than resting due to delayed closing of K+ channels.

  • Chemical synapse transmission

    Action potential triggers Ca2+ influx, causing neurotransmitter release into synaptic cleft, which binds receptors on postsynaptic neuron.

  • Role of neurotransmitters

    Transmit signals across synapses by binding to receptors, causing excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials.

  • Cranial nerve I function

    Olfactory nerve responsible for the sense of smell.

  • Cranial nerve II function

    Optic nerve responsible for vision.

  • Cranial nerve X function

    Vagus nerve controls autonomic functions of viscera and contributes to swallowing and taste.