0311 - Intro to Nervous System - EG Flashcards
Where is the central nervous system located?
Within the skull and the vertebral column.
Where is the peripheral nervous system located?
All nerves outside CNS, distributed to organs and structures, from the 12 cranial nerves attached to the brain to the spinal nerves (cervical 7, thoracic 12, lumbar 5)
List some functions of the nervous system.
(1) influence all regulatory/autonomic functions within the body. (2) transmit and process all sensory information. (3) control movement. (4) site of higher functions, associations, decision making, creativity, motivation, thought.
What are the two main cell types of nervous tissue?
(1) neurons, which have excitable membranes to pass information from one cell to the next in one direction only. (2) glia, which monitor and maintain the nervous system and its ECF, such as astrocytes.
What are the three broad categories of neurons and what are the functions of each?
pseudounipolar are sensory, bipolar are interneurons, multipolar and motor neurons
What are dendrites and why are they important?
Dendrites are protuberances of the cell membrane, specialised dendritic spines with a specialised “post synaptic density” for detecting signals. Their configurations is plastic, being modified by input and learning. Malformation of spines is associated with mental retardation.
What is the most abundant organelle in neuronal soma?
rough ER, highlights the high level of protein synthesis to maintain membrane channels and other functional components. The Golgi apparatus is also prominent.
What feature of an axon enables the transport of proteins?
mictrotubules, along which kinesin protein bound to vesicle uses ATP to transport vesicle along microtubule from cell body to axon terminal (anterograde)
Are distal or proximal synapses more likely to be excitatory?
Distal
Are distal or proximal synapses more likely to be inhibitory?
proximal
List some mapped cortical areas?
Pre-central and post-central gyri, Broca’s area, occipital lobe
