Chapter 16
The Nervous System and Nervous Tissue
The nervous system is one of the most complex systems in our body. It is organized into two main divisions: the central nervous system (CNS) and the…
The nervous system, responsible for sensing, integrating, and responding to various stimuli, is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the…
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory,…
A typical nerve cell comprises three main components: the cell body, dendrites, and the axon. The cell body, also known as the soma or perikaryon,…
Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm…
Neurons, the fundamental units of the nervous system, can be classified based on both their structural and functional characteristics.
Structurally,…
Glia, or neuroglia, are vital support cells that assist neurons in their functions. The term "glia" originates from the Greek word for…
The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction.…
An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement…
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only…
Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the…
Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension,…
The relative difference in electrical charge, or voltage, between the inside and the outside of a cell membrane, is called the membrane potential. It…
The resting membrane potential of a neuron (-70mV) is sustained due to the selective ion permeability of the membrane. At the resting potential, the…
Graded potentials are localized fluctuations in the cell membrane's electrical charge, commonly found in the dendrites of neurons. The magnitude…
Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release…
The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct…
The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons…
A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the…
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory…
Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in the communication between neurons in the autonomic nervous system. Neurons in the autonomic nervous system…
Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind…
Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in…
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work…
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal…
Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all…
A Method for 3D Reconstruction and Virtual Reality Analysis of Glial and Neuronal Cells
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Serial sectioning and subsequent high-resolution imaging of biological tissue using electron microscopy (EM) allow for the segmentation and…
The protocols described here are designed to allow researchers to study cell communication without altering the integrity of the environment in which…
Stab Wound Injury of the Zebrafish Adult Telencephalon: A Method to Investigate Vertebrate Brain Neurogenesis and Regeneration
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Adult zebrafish have an amazing capacity to regenerate their central nervous system after injury. To investigate the cellular response and the…
