Lecture 2: Foundations Through Parts of a Neuron

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

• Central Nervous System (CNS)

• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

What does the central nervous system (CNS) consist of ?

• Brain

• Spine

What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consist of ?

• Somatic NS (somatic motor, somatic sensory)

• Autonomic NS (Sympathetic and Parasympathetic)

What's the somatic nervous system?

All the spinal nerves that innervate the skin, the joints and the muscles that are under voluntary control (command the skeletal muscles)

What's the autonomic nervous system?

• ANS innervates glands, smooth muscle and cardiac muscle (the viscera)

• Has both sensory and motor components

What are the two major classes of cells in the brain?

• Neurons

• glia

What's the function of neurons ?

• receive

• integrate,

• transmit information

What's the function of glia ?

• Means glue.

• Contribute to brain function by insulating supporting and nourishing neighboring neurons.

What are the three types of glia ?

1. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann
2. Astrocytes
3. Microglia

What is the function of Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

Wrap around the axon to provide insulation in the form of myelin.

• Oligodendrocytes: found in CNS

• Schwann cells: found in PNS

What is the function of Astrocytes?

• provide supporting function for neurons

• buffer potassium ions

• take up NTs released by neurons

• Provide metabolic fuel

What is function of Microglia ?

CNS resident immune cells (-phagocytes) that become activated during infection and clean up cellular debris produced by damage

• resident immune cells of the brain

• become activated to help fight off infection and clear cellular debris via phagocytosis

Understand this diagram

What are the 4 functional zones of neuron ?

Recognize and know the table