Histology of Neurons
A nerve cell is a neuron.
Neurons are specialize for conduction. They send signals via a nervous impulse.
Neurons have a high metabolic rate. They are unable to survive long without oxygen. They have an extremely long longevity, lasting a lifetime. Neurons do not divide.
The cell body of a neuron is called a perikaryon or soma.
The basophilic clusters of ribosomes and rough endoplasmic seen in neuron cell
bodies is called Nissl, Nissl bodies or Nissl substance.
The terminal bouton is the end portion of an axon. It is also called an axon
terminal or end bulb. The terminal bouton will be associated with another
neuron in a synapse.
Central Nervous System
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. All other
nervous system elements are considered to be in the peripheral nervous system.
An astrocyte is a supporting cell seen in the central nervous system. Basket cells are a type of neuron seen in the cerebellum.
Neuroglia are the supporting cells in the central nervous system. Sometimes,
neuroglia are called glial cells or glia.
Peripheral Nervous System
Schwann cells are responsible for the myelination of neurons in the peripheral
nervous system.
A ganglion is a collection of nerve cell bodies outside of the CNS.
Satellite cells are found in the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system.
Classification of Neurons
Neurons can be classified based on the number of axons and dendrites
stemming off of the cell body.
A unipolar neuron has one process which
branches off of it This process then immediately divides into two. Thus, a
unipolar neuron is sometimes also called a pseudounipolar neuron. Sensory
neurons are unipolar.
A bipolar neuron has two process that branch from it: an axon and a dendrite. Bipolar neurons are not very common and are found in some of the organs for special senses. Bipolar neurons are found in the retina, inner ear, and the region of the nose involved with smell. An olfactory cell is a bipolar neuron.
Multipolar neurons have one axon and many (at least two) dendrites that branch
off of it. Motor neurons and interneurons are multipolar Most neurons in the
body (over 99%) are multipolar. Both motor neurons and interneurons are
multipolar.
Interneurons are the neurons between the sensory and motor neurons. 99.9% of
all neurons are interneurons. The vast majority of neurons are interneurons.
Interneurons are also called internuncial neurons.
Histology of Neuroglia
Neuroglia are the supporting cells of the central nervous system. Sometimes, neuroglia called glial cells or glia. Astrocytes, ependymal cells, oligodendrocytes, and microglia are all neuroglia. Of the neuroglia cells, astrocytes are the most abundant and the largest. These are star shaped cells involved in the blood brain barrier. Ependymal cells line the ventricles and spinal canal. Oligodendrocytes form myelin in the central nervous system.Microglia are the central nervous system macrophages.
Meninges
The meninges are composed of the three connective tissue covers which
surround the brain and spinal cord. There are three: dura mater,
arachnoid, and pia mater.The dura mater is the outer
meninx. The dura mater is composed of dense irregular connective tissue. The arachnoid is made of a delicate spider web like connective tissue.The pia mater is the innermost meninx. It covers the brain intimately.
Gray Matter and White Matter
White matter is myelinated nerve fibers. Gray matter is essentially neuron cell
bodies and associated dendrites or unmyelinated axons. Nodes of Ranvier are
the gaps that occur in the myelin sheath. Neurofilaments are a type of
intermediate filaments seen in neurons which provide rigidity and tensile
strength.
The outer part of the cerebrum and cerebellum is gray matter. It is called the cortex. Underneath the cortex, is white matter. Gray matter is also found in conglomerations within the cerebrum and cerebellum where it is called nuclei.
Gray matter is found in the central portion of the spinal cord in a butterfly shape.
White matter is on the outer portion of the spinal cord.
The outer part of the brain is gray matter called the cortex. The conglomerations of gray matter deep within the cerebrum and cerebellum are called nuclei.
Histology hint from Sarah Bellham: Notice that the distribution of gray matter
and white matter for the brain and spinal cord is the reverse of each other. On
the cerebrum and cerebellum, gray matter is on the outer portion, white matter is
deeper. For the spinal cord, white matter is on the outer portion, and gray matter
is deeper.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
The cerebrospinal fluid is found in the subarachnoid space. The subarachnoid
space is the space between the arachnoid and the pia mater.
Histology hint from Sarah Bellham: Arachnoid is derived from the Greek word
for spider. It is used in the words arachnophobia, arachnids and arachnoid.
Myelin
The primary component of myelin is lipid. It is formed by the cell wrapping itself
around the axon. Thus, it is primarily the plasma membrane of either the
Schwann cells (in the PNS) or the oligodendrocytes (in the CNS).
Schwann cells are seen in the peripheral nervous system and are not considered neuroglia. Schwann cells are responsible for the myelination of neurons in the peripheral nervous system. Nodes of Ranvier are the gaps that occur in the myelin sheath.
Coverings
The endoneurium surrounds a nerve fiber. The perineurium surrounds a bundle of nerve fibers. The epineurium surrounds a nerve.
Sources:
Histology: A Text and Atlas
Michael H. Ross/Edward J. Reith
Human Anatomy
Elaine N Marieb; Jon Mallatt
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
http://www.training.seer.cancer.gov; funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, via contract number N01-CN-67006, with Emory University, Atlanta SEER Cancer Registry, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
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