Neuroscience

If you get stuck with any of the terms used here see our neuroglossary page

Organisation and Structure

Neuroanatomy is very complex, but it can be an interesting topic. We are going to try to cover it in a basic but comprehensive way, so you know what's going on, even if you might not be at brain surgery level yet...

Cells:

Cells in the nervous system consist of neurones which connect and send electrochemical signals to each other and glial cells with maintain their environment.

neurones - there are many types of neurones, many eponymously named, and are of varying valency and speed of conduction

Glial cells consist of:

astrocytes - starfish-shaped cells which have long processes which wrap around capillaries in the brain to form the blood brain barrier
oligodendrocytes - the myelinating cells in the CNS which wrap around 3-50 adjacent axons, insulating them from each other and allowing higher speeds of action potential conduction
ependymal cells - form the lining of the ventricles. In the lateral ventricles they form the choroid plexus which produces CSF.
microglia - the macrophages of the brain
Schwann cells - the myelinating cells in the PNS which wrap around one axons, insulating it and allowing higher speeds of action potential conduction

Central nervous system:

cerebral hemispheres including middle bit
brainstem and cerebellum
spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system:

Autonomic nervous system:

Brain:

The Rest:

Function

The nervous system is quite useful. If I had to choose between having a brain or having a spleen, it would not be a decision that would take me very long. However, understanding how it works is not fun. Learn about sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. I assume there will be more to write in this section soon.

Disorders

For more on neurological disorders, check the Neurology page.