NeuroscienceLesson 1 of 1 in the course The Nervous System

Animal Nervous System Organization, Neurons, Neurogenesis, and Glia

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Nervous systems vary widely across the animal kingdom, from simple networks of connected cells to highly centralized systems with specialized brains and spinal cords. Comparing these arrangements helps explain how nervous systems support communication, movement, and behavior.

Some animals do not have a true nervous system. Sea sponges, for example, lack neurons organized into a nervous system. Other animals have nervous systems without a centralized brain. Jellyfish have a nerve net: a network of separate but connected neurons that can coordinate responses across the body.

All flashcards

What does the axon hillock do?
It integrates signals arriving from synapses and forms the junction between the soma and axon.
What is neurogenesis?
The birth of new neurons.
How are pseudounipolar neurons structured?
One process extends from the soma and branches into two extensions.
What do dendritic spines contribute to neurons?
They increase the surface area available for synaptic connections.
How do nerve-cord positions commonly differ between invertebrates and vertebrates?
Many invertebrates have ventral nerve cords, while the vertebrate spinal cord is dorsal; the evolutionary relationship is debated.

Quiz questions

  1. Which glial cells form myelin around axons in the central nervous system?Answer: Oligodendrocytes
  2. In the peripheral nervous system, how much of an axon does one Schwann cell myelinate?Answer: One axon segment
  3. Which glial cells contact neurons and capillaries and help form the blood-brain barrier?Answer: Astrocytes
  4. Which CNS glial cells scavenge dead cells and help defend against invading microorganisms?Answer: Microglia
  5. How can researchers use bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to identify newly generated cells?Answer: It becomes incorporated into DNA in cells that are in S phase.

Based on Biology 2e by Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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