Nervous System 3

Nervous System III: Professor Diamond continues her discussion of the nervous system beginning with a discussion of myelin-forming oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, saltatory conduction from the nodes of ranvier, and the similarity of the function of microglia to monocytes. She moves on to describe the development of the neural tube by drawing a cross-section of the neural tube and depicting the changes it undergoes, forming the ventricles of the brain, which are lined with ependymal cells, and developing pia. Next, Professor Diamond describes the divisions of the neural tube from the proencephalon (forebrain) to the telencephalon and diencephalon, and the rhombencephalon (hindbrain) to the metencephalon and myelencephalon, while noting that the mescencephalon (midbrain) does not divide. She continues with a conversation on the developments of the derivatives of the neural tube including the medulla oblongata, cerebellum, pons, corpora quadrigemina, and the thalamus and hypothalamus, as well as their functions. She concludes with images of the cells discussed as well as a description of how synapses grow stronger with use.