Wiki - Week 1 - The Nervous System| Coursera

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Introduction
Neurobiology 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 Objectives
By the end of this week, you will be
familiar with:
the major anatomy of the nervous
system and neurons
how 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
Lectures
Module 0: Introduction to the course
Welcome!
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 System
What 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
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Video Lectures
Quizzes
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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 System
What 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 Quiz
You 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 Labs Week 1 Labs (optional)

Take the Weekly Quiz
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 Resources
Outside Sources
There 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.