OSMOSIS CNS HISTOLOGY

What are the main components of the central nervous system (CNS)?

The CNS consists of the cerebellum, cerebrum, brain stem, and spinal cord.

What is the basic working unit of the nervous system?

The neuron.

What are neuroglia or glial cells?

Non-neuronal cells that support and protect the nervous system.

Name the types of central neuroglia.

Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, and microglia.

What types of neuroglia are found in the peripheral nervous system?

Schwann cells and satellite cells.

What are the two types of matter in the CNS?

White matter and grey matter.

What distinguishes white matter from grey matter?

White matter contains myelinated axons, while grey matter consists mostly of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and glial cells.

What is the arrangement of grey and white matter in the cerebrum and cerebellum?

Grey matter is on the outermost portion, with white matter in deeper regions.

How is the arrangement of grey and white matter different in the spinal cord?

White matter is mainly in the periphery, while grey matter is closer to the center, forming an 'H' shape.

What do the dorsal horns of the spinal cord contain?

Mostly sensory neurons.

What do the anterior horns of the spinal cord contain?

Mostly upper motor neurons.

What is the function of the meninges?

To cover and protect the CNS.

What is the dura mater?

The thickest and outermost layer of the meninges.

What fills the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What type of cells line the ventricles and central canal and produce CSF?

Ependymal cells.

What are the characteristics of oligodendrocytes?

They have small, round, condensed nuclei and wrap around axons to form myelin sheaths in the CNS.

What is the most abundant type of glial cell in the CNS?

Astrocytes.

What role do astrocytes play in the blood-brain barrier?

Their foot processes surround capillaries and help maintain tight junctions between endothelial cells.

What are glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAPs)?

Structural proteins produced by astrocytes, used as markers for immunostaining.

What are microglia?

Small antigen-presenting cells of the CNS that migrate to remove damaged tissue and function in the immune response.

What are pyramidal cells?

The most prominent neurons in the cerebral cortex, known for their large pyramid-shaped cell bodies.

What are the three layers of the cerebellar cortex?

Molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, and granular layer.

What is the function of Purkinje cells?

They have large cell bodies with branched dendrites and play a role in motor coordination.