Lab 10: Nervous System Histology
Reading: E Ch 7
Your Task
Before looking at this first set of slides, complete the following tasks.
1. Draw a single neuron, labeling all of the required parts.
2. Draw a nerve, labeling all required connective tissue layers. Indicate what kind of connective tissue each layer is made of.
3. List and describe all the glial cells found in the nervous system. Indicate where you would expect to FIND these different types
of cells.
Part 1: Nervous system histology
Your Task
Draw each slide. Label all required structures.
1. Nerve, Ox Spinal Cord (H 4.11)
A. Neuron
B. cell body
C. nucleus
D. cell processes (axons, dendrites)
E. Neuroglia
Study question: Can you tell axons from dendrites in this preparation? Why or why not?
2. Nerve/ Nerve Roots (H 3594)
A. nerve fibers (axons)
B. nerve fiber bundles
C. Schwann cell
D. myelin sheath (often lost in tissue processing - only a space remains)
E. nucleus
F. node of Ranvier
G. endoneurium
H. perineurium
I. epineurium
Study question: How is the organization of a nerve similar to the organization of a muscle organ?
Study question: What is the functional significance of myelination? Of nodes of Ranvier?
3. Motor Nerve Endings (H 1684)
A. axons
B. motor end plates
C. myelin sheath
D. node of Ranvier
E. muscle fibers
Study question: What is a motor unit?
Study question: What is the functional significance of motor unit size?
Bio 6: Human Anatomy
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Fall 2012: Riggs
Part 2: Spinal cord histology
Your Task
Draw a cross section of the spinal cord. Include all the required structures in your drawing:
Your Task
Examine and draw all spinal cord slides.
1. Spinal cord ganglion AND Spinal cord XS (H 1572 and H 1560 and HE 2-21) NOTE: Be sure to look at all of these
preparations…the staining is very different.
A. spinal cord
B. anterior (ventral) median fissure
C. posterior (dorsal) median sulcus
D. central canal
E. white matter
F. posterior white column (funiculus)
G. lateral white column
H. anterior white column
I. gray matter
J. anterior (ventral) horn
K. cell bodies of somatic motor neurons
L. lateral horn (may not be present)
M. cell bodes of visceral motor neurons
N. posterior (dorsal) horn
O. dorsal root
P. dorsal root ganglion
Q. ganglion cell bodies (somatic sensory neurons)
R. satellite cells
S. nerve fibers
T. ventral root
U. spinal nerve
V. meninges
W. pia mater
X. dura mater
Study question: Why might the lateral horn of gray matter be absent?
Study question: Trace the path of somatic motor information from the spinal cord to the periphery.
Study question: Trace the path of somatic sensory information from the periphery into the spinal cord.
Study question: What is another name for the visceral motor system?
Bio 6: Human Anatomy
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Fall 2012: Riggs