Fundamental Neuroscience: Understanding Ourselves

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on fundamental neuroscience, including definitions of important terms related to cell structure and function, neuronal types, and aspects of the nervous system.

Cell

The structural, functional, and biological unit of an organism.

Plasma Membrane

Outer boundary of the cell.

Cytoplasm

Interior of the cell.

Mitochondria

Powerhouses of the cell that produce energy.

Microtubules and filaments

From the cytoskeleton of the cell

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

Network of membranes involved in synthesis and storage. Smooth ER; Rough ER: with ribosomes attached

Nucleus

Organelle that contains genetic material DNA

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that processes, modifies, and packages proteins and lipids

Secretory vesicles

Contains materials(proteins, neurotransmitters or hormones) to be released from the cell.

Neurons

Elementary cellular unit of information processing in the nervous system.

Astrocytes

Glial cells providing structural support and metabolic support in the nervous system. No axon meaning no polarization (structure) . Have soma and tiny branches called processes.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells that form myelin in the central nervous system.

Schwann cells

Gilal cells that from myelin in the PNS

Myelin

A fatty substance that dramatically increases the speed of electrical signal conduction down the axon.

NG2+ cells

Primarily responsible for remyelinoation (heals tissue myelin)

Cell body or soma

Houses the organelles and nucleus responsible for producing proteins and energy acting as the neurons control for life, growth and energy.

Neural Stem Cell

A type of cell that can differentiate into various types of neurons and glial cells.

Microglia

Immune cells of the CNS involved in debris clearance and immune defense.

The human brain contains

80 billion glial cells (non-neuronal cells), 1000 synapses per neuron = 80 trillion synapses

The reticular theory (Camillo Golgi)

The nervous system was considered to be formed by a continuous reticulum or network of cells fused together

The Neuron Doctrine Theory

The nervous system is composed of discrete, individual cells called neurons which communicates at synapses

Synapse

The junction between neurons where communication occurs. (Transmits information)

Extracellular Space

The space outside of cells.

Gray Matter

Regions of the brain and spinal cord containing nerve cell bodies (somas).

White Matter

Regions of the brain and spinal cord mainly composed of axons.

Functional Architecture of the Brain

The arrangement of interconnected neurons that form networks, circuits, and systems in the brain.

Meninges

Membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, providing protection.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid filling brain ventricles and the spinal cord canal, providing buoyancy and waste product removal.

Dendrites

Protrusions on neurons that receive messages (chemical signals or neurotransmitters) from other neurons and then transmits the, as electrics; impulses towards the soma or cell body.

Axon

The long projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that processes, modifies, and packages proteins and lipids.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Network of membranes involved in synthesis and storage, with smooth and rough types.

Ribosomes

Organelles responsible for protein synthesis.

Ependimocytes

Circles around the central canal, plays a role in CSF homeostasis