Wiki - Week 1 - The Nervous System | Coursera

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IntroductionNeurobiology is a rapidly growing area of scientific research, and is becoming increasingly prevalent in the news and popular culture. In this course we study of the nervous system from a biological perspective by exploring the fundamental concepts in neurobiology, including how we sense the world, how we act in the world, and common neurological disorders.

Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this week, you will be familiar with:

the major anatomy of the nervous system and neuronshow several diseases affect the nervous system

Week 1 - The Nervous System

On this page, scroll down or click here for:

Introduction & Objectives | Module 1 | Module 2 | Module 3 | Lab | Weekly Quiz | Clinical Vignette | Additional Resources

LecturesModule 0: Introduction to the courseWelcome!

1. Introduction: The Bauby Story (6:20)

2. Memory Experiment: Let's Play (3:07)

3. Ethics and Brain Science (1:22)

Module 1: The Nervous SystemWhat is the role of the nervous system? How is the nervous system structured? What do the functions and anatomy of the nervous system tell us about neurological disorders?

1. The Four Functions (6:15)

2. Central Anatomy (6:56) Download the slides Lab Video: Brain and Spinal Cord (optional)

Module 2: Neurons

Announcements

Pre-Course Survey

Syllabus/Course Overview

Glossary

FAQ

WEEKLY COURSE PAGES

Week 1

QUICK LINKS

Discussion Forums

Video Lectures

Quizzes

Course Twitter

Course Wiki

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Help Articles

Course Materials Errors Technical Issues

Wiki - Week 1 - The Nervous System | Coursera

https://class.coursera.org/neurobio-001/wiki/Week_1[5/1/2014 3:15:32 PM]

What are neurons? What do they look like, and what do they do? What other kinds of cells play a role in the nervous system?

1. Meet the Stars: Neurons (2:20)

2. Parts of the Neuron (3:57) Download the slides

3. Neuronal Uniqueness: Stars of the Sky (8:58) Download the slides

4. Meet the Support Staff: Glial Cells (3:47) Download the slides

5. Myelin (5:19) Download the slides

6. Demyelinating Diseases (3:06) Download the slides

Module 3: Central Nervous System vs Peripheral Nervous SystemWhat are the differences between the central and peripheral nervous systems? How are the diseases that affect each different?

1. Meninges (5:49) Download the slides Lab Video: Meninges (optional)

2. Peripheral Diseases (6:09) Download the slides

3. Brain Tumors (5:46) Download the slides Lab Video: Brain Tumors (optional) Clinical Vignette: Brain Tumor (optional)

4. Looking Ahead: Course Preview (3:41) Download the slides

Weekly QuizYou should now be familiar with the gross anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as some disorders that affect them. How much have you learned?

Take the Weekly Quiz

Clinical Vignette Here, a woman tells her story of being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The meninges form a protective sheath around the central nervous system, and a tumor of the

Week 1 LabsWeek 1 Labs (optional)

Wiki - Week 1 - The Nervous System | Coursera

https://class.coursera.org/neurobio-001/wiki/Week_1[5/1/2014 3:15:32 PM]

Created Thu 10 Apr 2014 9:36 AM PDT

Last Modified Sun 27 Apr 2014 6:38 PM

PDT

meninges is known as a meningioma. These tumors are typically benign, which means they will not spread. However, because the brain is enclosed within the skull, even a benign tumor can cause serious problems as it increases intracranial pressure. As the meningioma grows and grows, it cannot press into the skull and it therefore ends up pressing against healthy brain tissue. This is an example of the "mass effect” that we talked about. Our patient's reference to "chromosome 22" is actually a reference to a genetic mutation of the NF2 gene which is located on chromosome 22, specifically on the long "arm" of this chromosome which is called 22q. Her meningioma is most likely due to a "somatic" mutation, meaning it is present in only some parts of the body. The opposite of this would be a "germline” mutation, which is a mutation that is present in all cells of body.

Mutations on chromosome 22, also on the long arm (22q), can lead to disrupted thyroid function, which we see here with our patient. The thyroid's primary role is in the regulation of growth and metabolism. It is currently estimated that about 200 million people across the globe suffer from some form of thyroid disease, more common in women than men. The thyroid can be removed surgically in a procedure known as a thyroidectomy. Following this procedure, patients need to replace their thyroid hormone daily with medication.

Additional ResourcesOutside SourcesThere are many online resources freely available. Always be aware of the source of the material, and that the provider is trustworthy.

A great introductory resource is provided by the Society for Neuroscience, called BrainFacts.

Another resource is Wikipedia. Although the articles are editeable by anyone, they are usually reliable and provide sources that can be verified.

However, when looking at other sources for additional information (which is always strongly encouraged!!), be aware that the information provided may not be factually accurate, or it may even be deliberately misleading.

If you have any questions or find interesting articles, videos, or images you would like to discuss, please use the course discussion forums under YouTube and Current Events, where the course TAs and Dr. Mason will be involved.