neuroanatomy

psyc 301

gray matter

darker patches on the brain composed of cell bodies of large neurons and the entirety of small neurons

white matter

composed of branches of the neurons, light because of the glia (myelin)

nissl staining (cresyl violet)

reveals gray matter

fiber staining

binds to myelin and reveals white matter

Golgi stain

stains about 10% of neurons but they take it through the entire cell, how we learned what a neuron was

projection neurons

neurons with long axons that go to another brain area

interneurons

neurons with short axons that only go to same or nearby brain areas, they modify signals

glial cells

non-neuronal cells in the CNS, in thee embryo they act as scaffolding for neurons

blood brain barrier

keeps everything bad out of the brain but also keeps out the immune system which is why the brain uses microglia

microglia

the immune system of the brain, they detect information on whether there’s something in the brain that shouldn’t be there, when they detect suspicious things they grow into their prime state, and when they absorb it they’re in their activated state

Schwann cell

glial cells in the PNS that wrap around the axon to become the myelin

oligodendrocytes

glial cells that have several branches coming out of their body and myelinate several axons in the CNS

astrocytes

glial cells that wrap around blood vessels (capillaries), ½ of the blood brain brain barrier and all of the nutrients that the brain needs comes through them

glial network

the proteins on astrocytes that causes them to click together (gap junctions) that buffer ions

gliotransmitters

chemicals released from the astrocytes that engulf the synapse and send signals to the neurons

DNA

a code for creating protein (a big string of amino acids that folds itself into a particular shape)

ATP

molecule in the brain that stores energy, mitochondria needs oxygen and carbohydrates to make it

cytoskeleton

helps structural stability and transport in cells

synapse

the gap between two neurons, can be from axon to blood (releases hormones), axon to extracellular fluid, and axon to axon

dendritic spines

protrusions on the dendrites that allow for modifiability of neural communication

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and the spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the nerves all around the body except brain and spinal cord, includes the somatic and autonomic NS

afferent SNS

sensory, brings in sensory information from outside

efferent SNS

motor, carries motor commands from the CNS to the rest of the body

autonomic NS

regulates involuntary physiological processes

efferent ANS

sympathetic and parasympathetic NS, visceromotor responses

sympathetic NS

fight or flight, it frees up energy so we can create more ATP for the things we need more, ex. airways dilate to bring more oxygen, heart pumps more blood

parasympathetic NS

rest and digest, it stores energy for future use by converting them into other things such as fats

nuclei

cell clusters in the CNS (basal ganglia is named wrong)

ganglia

cell clusters in the PNS

nerves

bundles of axons outside CNS, considered fibres

tracts

bundles of axons in CNS, considered fibres

neuraxis

the imaginary line that places the brain at the front and tail at the back

coronal section

brain is cut into a front and back section

horizontal section

brain is cut into top and bottom

mid-sagittal section

brain is cut directly down the medial line, right and left side

telencephanol

most anterior part including the cerebral cortex and some underlying structures

diencephalon

the caudal part of forebrain, includes the thalamus and hypothalamus

thalamus

many nuclei that receive and send input from sensory systems, cerebellum, and basal ganglia

damage to thalamus

causes a loss of senses and even loss of consciousness

hypothalamus

collection of nuclei that direct the pituitary gland. They have diverse functions such as sex, aggression, feeding, sleep, parenting, etc… these neurons also act as a light switch that keep us awake or asleep

damage to hypothalamus

causes narcolepsy, pathological eating (more rare)

mesencephalon

midbrain, composed of tectum (roof, actually at the back) and tegmentum (floor, front)

tectum

responsible for the automatic orientation of our body towards sensory information