NROB60H3 Chapter 2: Neurons and Glia
Document Summary
Neurophilosophy: once fully understand the individual and concerted actions of brain cells will be able to understand mental abilities. Neuron: sense changes in the environment, communicate these changes to other neurons and command bodys response. Glia/glial cells: contribute to brain function by insulating, supporting and nourishing neurons. Needed compound microscope, thin slices (microtome), hardener of tissue (formaldehyde), selective stains. Histology: the microscopic study of the structure of tissues. Camillo golgi: golgi stain: silver chromate solution; stains the whole of certain cells (incl. Santiago ramon y cajal: used golgi stain to work out circuitry of brain: neuron doctrine: brain follows cell theory and neurons communicate by contact not continuity. Discovered this was true with electron microscopes in 1950s. Limit of resolution for the unaided eye is . 1mm. Electron microscope: limit of resolution 0. 1 nm. Light microscope: limit of resolution 0. 1 micrometers: uses electron beam instead of light.
