John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.

7. Nervous Tissues

Specific Objectives:

At the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

  1. Describe the basic structural and functional characteristics that distinguish nervous tissues from the other tissue types.
  2. Describe the structural and functional specializations of nerve cells allowing for the receipt, propagation, and transmission of signals.
  3. Describe the basic process of signaling within the nervous system
    A. Describe the presence of an electrical potential across cell membranes.
    B. Describe the specializations allowing for transmission of electrical signals across a cellular membrane.
    C. Describe the specializations allowing for transmission of chemical signals across a synaptic gap.
  4. Describe the role of support cells in the functioning of the nervous system.
  5. Compare and contrast white matter and gray matter of the nervous system.
  6. Describe the organization of the general subdivisions of the nervous system
  7. Describe the organization peripheral nerves.

Lectures:

Part 1

This lecture examines the general characteristics of nervous tissues.

Part 2

This lecture examines the glial cells of the central nervous system.

Part 3

This lecture examines the general cellular organization of the Central Nervous System.

Part 4

This lecture examines the microscopic structure of peripheral nerves.

Part 5

This lecture examines the general physiology of nervous tissues.

Laboratory:

This video provides an overview of the important concepts to remember as studying histological images to learn about nervous tissues.

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