HISTOLOGY OF THE CEREBRUM AND CEREBELLUM

©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D.,
Professor of Biology and Chemistry
University of Cincinnati Clermont College,
Batavia OH 45103
Painting of Purkinge Cells by Penny Oliver
Cerebral Cortex, 100x
(above)
Cerebellum, 40x
(below)
File "Brain_Histology.htm" was last modified on 14 Jan 2010.
This page has been accessed Counter times since 24 December 2002. 
31 Dec 1992, rvsd 17 Dec 1993, 5 Jan 1995, 31 Dec '96, 7 Jan '98, 3 Jan 01
Painting of Purkinge Cells
by Penny Oliver
(Inspired by micrographs
on this page.)
Follow protocol  Notebook Illustrations

Examine the following slides, identify the listed features. Survey each slide for the best typical field showing listed features, and illustrate it at the indicated power, labeling the listed features. At home, note the significance or function of each feature in a sentence or two. 
 
 

CEREBRAL CORTEX Slide 2,  Cerebral Cortex, cat, pyramidal neurons, Ag stain , (H 1490).  (MF 9 th, page 105) 
cortex with pyramidal cells

cortex with white matter:

Cerebral Cortex, 40x: 

MENINGES:
   arachnoid meninx (Note that this membrane 'drapes' across the sulcus, and has  'spider-web' like fibers connecting it to the pia mater.)
   pia mater (this vascular tissue forms the surface of the organs of the brain, and descends down into and lines the sulci.
CORTEX:
   molecular layer (superficial most)
   granular layer (just below molecular)
   pyramidal cells (primary motor neurons which initiate conscious motor activity)
   dendrites of pyramidal cells (collect information leading to initiation of a motor impulse.)
MEDULLA:
   white matter

Here is a labeled version of the cortex with pyramidal cells .
Cerebral Cortex, 100x:

Cerebral Cortex, 400x:

Central Cerebral Cortex, 400x

Pyramidal cells
nucleus
dendrites
dendritic collaterals (collect impulses)
axon  (a single axon emerges from the deep portion of the neuron, towards the white matter.  Only seen in rare pyramidal cells because of the section being viewed.)
astrocyte (neuroglial cell)

Here is a labeled version of the cerebral cortex, 400x.
CEREBELLUM Slide 3, Cerebellum, cat, Purkinje Cells, Ag stain, (H 1510)
(MF 9 th, page 103,)

Cerebellum, 100x:

Cerebellum, 40x: Note that the structure is much more refined, the sulci deeper, and the gyri narrower.  Here they are called folia.

pia mater
cortex (gray matter)
molecular layer (superficial most)
granular layer (just below molecular)
white matter

Here is a labeled version of the cerebellum, 100x.

Cerebellum, 400x:

Cerebellar cortex, 400x:

molecular layer:
   outer stellate cells 
   parallel axons of granule cells (extending from granular layer)
Purkinje cell layer:
   Purkinje Cells:
   dendrite (multibranched)
   nucleus
   axon (difficult to see)
   axons of deep stellate cells (also called "basket cells").  They lie near but above Purkinje cells.
granular layer:
   granule cells (very numerous)
   axon of Purkinje cell
   myelinated fibers of white matter (deep)

Penny Oliver, an artist, was inspired by this micrographic image of Purkinge Cells to create a painting of it.  Take a look at her artwork.