What is the blood-brain barrier?

A network of blood vessels and tissue that is made up of closely spaced cells and helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain. The blood-brain barrier lets some substances, such as water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and general anesthetics, pass into the brain.

What is the blood-brain barrier and what is its function?

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the specialized system of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) that shields the brain from toxic substances in the blood, supplies brain tissues with nutrients, and filters harmful compounds from the brain back to the bloodstream.

What is blood-brain barrier permeability?

Under normal physiological conditions, the neurovascular unit limits BBB permeability which prevents transport of bacteria, large molecules, and most small molecules into the brain.

What is the blood-brain barrier quizlet?

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable membrane barrier that separates the circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system (CNS). It is a mechanism which controls the composition of the BBB.

What does the blood-brain barrier prevent?

The purpose of the blood–brain barrier is to protect against circulating toxins or pathogens that could cause brain infections, while at the same time allowing vital nutrients to reach the brain.

What is the main function of the blood-brain barrier quizlet?

The blood-brain barrier prevents toxic substances, large molecules, and neurotransmitters released in the blood from entering the brain.

Why is the blood-brain barrier important in pharmacology?

The BBB controls access to the brain of essential nutrients, vitamins and ions, as well as some proteins and peptides, and removes the products of metabolism in the brain, for example neurotransmitter metabolites.

What is a blood-brain barrier quizlet?

How blood-brain barrier protects the brain?

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a layer of specialized endothelial cells around the brain that protects it—letting in only what is needed and keeping out what could be harmful. It crucially maintains the right ionic balance within the brain and blocks substances that would disrupt essential neural functions.

What are drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier called?

Small, lipid-soluble agents, such as antidepressants, cross the BBB via diffusion through endothelial cells. 3. Specialised transport proteins transport glucose, amino acids, and drugs like vinca alkaloids and cyclosporin, across the BBB.

What Cannot pass the blood-brain barrier?

The blood–brain barrier restricts the passage of pathogens, the diffusion of solutes in the blood, and large or hydrophilic molecules into the cerebrospinal fluid, while allowing the diffusion of hydrophobic molecules (O2, CO2, hormones) and small non-polar molecules.