QUIZ – Nervous tissue:

MCQ’s – X type (true or false)

1. The histological characteristics of multipolar neurons include:

a. A heterochromatic nucleus F
b. A prominent nucleolus T
c. Sparse rough endoplasmic reticulum F
d. A large cell body T
e. Abundant Nissl bodies T

2. In the Peripheral Nervous System, Schwann cells:

a. Produce myelin T
b. Envelop unmyelinated axons T
c. Produce collagen fibres T
d. Conduct impulses F
e. Are interneurons F

3. With regard to the perineurium :

a. It surrounds a nerve fascicle T
b. Perineural cells contribute to the blood-nerve barrier T
c. It is a typical dense connective tissue F
d. It is continuous with the endomysium F
e. It contains many lymphocytes F

4. With regard to the dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves:

a. Neuronal cell bodies are surrounded by satellite cells T
b. They consist of efferent neurons F
c. They contain afferent nerve fibres T
d. They are found within the CNS F
e. They consist of pseudounipolar neurons T

5. With regard to the node of Ranvier:

a. It insulates the axon F
b. It represents the junction between adjacent Schwann cells T
c. It is required for saltatory conduction T
d. It allows for an increase in the rate of impulse transmission T
e. It is present in unmyelinated axons F

Short Answer Questions

Describe the histological- and ultrastructure and function of an anterior horn cell. (5 marks)
 • Multipolar neuron with one axon and multiple dendrites (½) - motor neuron convey
impulses from CNS to effector cells (½)
• Large vesicular cell body with pale-staining, euchromatic nucleus (½) indicating active
transcription (½)
• Prominent nucleolus(½) indicating rRNA synthesis (½)
• Perinuclear cytoplasm contains:
o Abundant RER (Nissl substance) (½) and free ribosomes (½) – indicating protein
synthesis (½)
o Prominent Golgi apparatus (½) and abundant mitochondria (½) indicate high
anabolic activity (½)
• Axon hillock devoid of Nissl substance (½) – initial segment below at which an action
potential is generated (½)

Describe the histological structure and function of the connective tissue sheaths found in association
with a peripheral nerve e.g. the median nerve. (6 marks)

• Endoneurium (½)
o Loose connective tissue (½) surrounds each individual nerve fibre (½)
o Composed of collagen fibres, occasional fibroblasts, macrophages and mast cells
may be present (½)
• Perineurium (½)
o Specialized connective tissue (½) that surrounds a fascicle (bundles) of nerve fibres
(½)
o Contributes to formation of the blood-nerve barrier (½)
o Composed of collagen fibres, occasional fibroblasts, macrophages and mast cells
may be present (½)
• Epineurium (½)
o Dense irregular connective tissue(½) that surrounds the fascicles and forms the
outermost layer of CT(½)
o BVs travel penetrate the epineurium(½), branching into the perineurium (½)
Spotters

1) Give three diagnostic criteria for the tissue shown in this photomicrograph. (3 marks)
2) Identify the tissue. (1 mark)

1) Blue-stained perineural connective tissue surrounding a fascicle of nerve fibres

Presence of pale-stained axons surrounded by orange/yellow-stained neurokeratin (remnant
of myelin sheath)
Blue-stained endoneurium surrounding individual axons
Orange/red staining nucleus of Schwann cells
2) Peripheral nerve
 A

D
B

1) Identify the structures labeled A, B, C and D. (4 marks)

1) A – Myelin sheath
B – Node of Ranvier
C – Schwann cell cytoplasm
D – Endoneurium