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Chapter 4 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Neuron

from Section 1 - Basic and Computational Neuroscience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2024

By
Oluwatobi Ariyo  and
Farhana Akter
Edited by
Farhana Akter ,
Nigel Emptage ,
Florian Engert  and
Mitchel S. Berger
Farhana Akter
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Nigel Emptage
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
Florian Engert
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Mitchel S. Berger
Affiliation:
University of California, San Francisco
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Summary

We discuss the fundamental units of the nervous system: neurons and supporting cells, which are formed from radial glial cells, progenitor cells that divide to generate new neurons, which then migrate to their destination. An understanding of the anatomy of neurons and their function enables us to decipher how information travels within the nervous system and how neurons communicate with each other through synapses to form networks capable of performing sophisticated and complex tasks. We then discuss how ions traverse the cell membrane and the critical role ion channels play in establishing resting membrane potential, and how action potentials are generated and propagated along the axon.

Type
Chapter
Information
Neuroscience for Neurosurgeons , pp. 72 - 83
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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References

Further Reading

Daneman, R, Prat, A. The blood–brain barrier. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2015;7(1):a020412. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a020412. PMID: 25561720; PMCID: PMC4292164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Debanne, D, Campanac, E, Bialowas, A, Carlier, E, Alcaraz, G. Axon physiology. Physiol Rev 2011;91(2):555–602. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00048.2009. PMID: 21527732.Google Scholar
Dessalles, CA, Babataheri, A, Barakat, AI. Pericyte mechanics and mechanobiology. J Cell Sci 2021;134(6):jcs240226. https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.240226. PMID: 33753399.Google Scholar
Ghosh, SK. Camillo Golgi (1843–1926): scientist extraordinaire and pioneer figure of modern neurology. Anat Cell Biol 2020;53(4):385–92. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.20.196. PMID: 33012727; PMCID: PMC7769101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartline, DK, Colman, DR. Rapid conduction and the evolution of giant axons and myelinated fibers. Curr Biol 2007;17:R29–R35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2006.11.042.Google Scholar
Kress, GJ, Mennerick, S. Action potential initiation and propagation: upstream influences on neurotransmission. Neuroscience 2009;158(1):211–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.03.021.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Major, G, Larkman, AU, Jonas, P, Sakmann, B, Jack, JJ. Detailed passive cable models of whole-cell recorded CA3 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. J Neurosci 1994;14:4613–38. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-08-04613.1994.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sofroniew, MV, Vinters, HV. Astrocytes: biology and pathology. Acta Neuropathol 2010;119(1):7–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8.Google Scholar
Wright, SH. Generation of resting membrane potential. Adv Physiol Educ 2004;28(1–4):139–42. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00029.2004. PMID: 15545342.Google Scholar

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