What are functions of Astrocytes? Select all that apply. Flag this Question Ques

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What are functions of Astrocytes? Select all that apply.

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Question 21 pts

Schwann cells are located in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes are found in the central nervous system (CNS).

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Question 31 pts

What is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS)?

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Question 41 pts

The concentric rings formed by oligodendrocytes are called:

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Question 51 pts

*** This is an example of a test question***

To clear neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft in the central nervous system, there are cells that contain transmembrane proteins that simultaneously bind Na + and the neurotransmitter glutamate. This transmembrane protein then simultaneously transports them into the cell’s cytoplasm. The cell type where you would expect to find such transporters would be the:

Explanation / Answer

Answer 11.

Functions of Astrocytes:

Astrocytes are a type of the neuroglial cells which are star shaped and give off a number of processes. These are of two types- Fibrous astrocytes and protoplasmic astrocytes. Fibrous astrocytes are mainly seen in the white mater of CNS. Whereas Protoplasmic astrocytes are seen in the grey mater of CNS. Their functions include:

Answer 21. True.

Explanation: The medullary sheath around the nerve fibers in the central nervous system is continuous. However in the peripheral nervous system it is not continuous and is absent at certain points which are known as the nodes of Ranvier. The part of a nerve fiber between the two successive nodes of Ranvier is called as an inter node. Each segment of the myelin sheath in a peripheral nervous system is formed by the Schwann cells.

However, Oligodendrocytes are a type of the neuroglia cells with a rounded nucleus and are majorly meant for the formation of a myelin sheath around the axons lying within the central nervous system that is the brain and the spinal cord.

Answer 31. Glutamate

Explanation: Neurotransmitters are the chemicals which acts as a messenger that is they help in the relaying of the information from the brain to the other parts via a process called chemical synapse.

Various chemicals from different groups acts as neurotransmitters; however the most potent and excitatory among them is the Glutamate which is an amino acid class of the neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter alone accounts for approximately 90% of the total synapses occurring in the human brain.

Answer 41. Myelin

Explanation: Oligodendrocytes are a type of the neuroglial cells which are marked with a rounded nucleus. Their cytoplasm is rich in the mitochondria, microtubules and glycogen. They also have a fewer and shorter cell processes and they occur near the surfaces of the neurons present in the central nervous system. In order to protect the information flow within the axons of the neurons, they form a concentric ring around the axons; which is called a myelin sheath and is composed of proteins and lipids. This sheath thus formed prevents the information from getting lost and hence also maintains the unidirectional flow of the messages.

Answer 51. Astrocyte

Explanation: Astrocytes are a type of the neuroglial cells that are involved in a number of processes and functions. These cells are concerned with the central nervous system that is the brain and the spinal cord. Astrocytes have a huge number of important functions to be performed one among which is the clearing of the neurotransmitter

In case excess of neurotransmitters are present in the synaptic cleft area of the two neurons; the astrocytes are involved in their clearing. As for an example; astrocytes are involved in the removal of excess amount of the neurotransmitter; glutamate which is present in the synaptic cleft. For this they bear a transmenbrane protein receptor specific to glutamate on their surfaces and also requires the ionic gradients of the sodium and potassium channels to clear this off.

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