1. Introduction to the Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

The nervous system

A

a communication and control network that allows an organism to interact with its environment

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2
Q

General functions of nervous system

A

Sensory detection, information processing, and the expression of behaviour

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3
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord

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4
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Afferent/sensory division and efferent/motor division

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5
Q

Afferent division

A

The sensory system, generates input to the CNS

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6
Q

Efferent division

A

Receives output from CNS, to the somatic nervous system and autonomous nervous system.

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7
Q

Somatic motor system

A

Efferent division of PNS that stimulates skeletal muscle activity

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8
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Efferent division of the PNS that includes the sympathetic division, parasympathetic division, and enteric nervous system.

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9
Q

Enteric nervous system stimulates…

A

Intestinal muscle wall, mucosa

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10
Q

Sympathetic division stimulates…

A

Smooth and cardiac muscle, glands

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11
Q

Parasympathetic division stimulates…

A

Smooth and cardiac muscle, glands

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12
Q

Components of the Nervous System

A

neurons, neuroglial cells, blood vessels, connective tissues

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13
Q

Soma

A

Factory of the neuron

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14
Q

Dendrite

A

Input transmission of neuron

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15
Q

Axon

A

Output transmission of neuron

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16
Q

Nissl bodies

A

A Nissl body is a large granular body found in neurons. These granules are of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) with rosettes of free ribosomes, and are the site of protein synthesis.

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17
Q

Predominate neuron shape in invertebrates

A

Unipolar

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18
Q

Predominate neuron shape in vertebrates

A

Multipolar

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19
Q

Bipolar neuron example

A

Dorsal root ganglia cells

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20
Q

Pseudounipolar neuron example

A

Retinal cells, olfactory epithelium cells (unmyelinated, no dendrites)

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21
Q

Multipolar neuron example

A

Interneurons, motor neurons

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22
Q

Traditional senses

A

Sight, hearing, smell, taste touch

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23
Q

Non-traditional senses

A

Nociception (tissue damage), equilibrioception (balance, coordinate movements), proprioception (know the body parts and positioning), and thermoception (temperature changes)

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24
Q

What do sensory receptors do?

A

Convert a stimulus into neuronal activity

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25
Q

What type of neurons constitute 90% of all neurons?

A

Interneurons

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26
Q

What type of neurons constitute 9% of all neurons?

A

Motor neurons

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27
Q

What type of neurons constitute 0.9% of all neurons?

A

Sensory neurons

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28
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Afferent neurons
Bipolar
Sense detection by sensory receptors on receptor cell, transmitted down myelinated axon

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29
Q

Motor neurons

A

Efferent neurons
Multipolar
Initial signal recieved by dendrites
Axon terminals act on muscles at neuromuscular synapse

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30
Q

Interneuron

A

Association neuron
Multipolar
Cell body, dendrites, axon terminals
Unmyelinated

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31
Q

Why does shingles (caused by herpes zoster) affect the skin after many years latency?

A

Reactivated herpes zoster is transported along the sensory axons to the skin.

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32
Q

What’s the consequence of interruption? Such as cancer drugs

A

Neurodegeneration

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33
Q

Fast axonal transport

A

Membrane-bound organelles and mitochondria

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34
Q

Slow axonal transport

A

Proteins

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35
Q

Anterograde axonal transport

A

From the soma toward the axonal terminals, kinesin

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36
Q

Retrograde axonal transport

A

From the axonal terminals toward the soma, dynein

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37
Q

Axonal transport depends on what? Describe the mechanism of this.

A

The movement of transport filaments. This requires energy supplied by glucose. Mitochondria controls the level of cations in the axoplasm by supplying ATP to the ion pumps. An important cation for axonal transport is Ca2+. Transport filaments move along the cytoskeleton (microtubules [M] or neurofilaments [NF]) by means of cross-bridges. Transported components attach to the transport filaments. CaBP, Ca2+-binding protein; NF, neurofilaments.

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38
Q

Role of supportive matrix of the CNS

A

Provides local environment suitable for neurons to function

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39
Q

What are the components of the local environment?

A

Neuroglia, CNS circulation, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

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40
Q

What are the major roles of the supportive matrix in neurotransmission?

A

Taking up neurotransmitters; providing myeline sheaths

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41
Q

Neuroglia in the CNS

A

Astrocytes, oligodendroglia, microglia, ependymal cells

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42
Q

Astrocytes

A

Structural support, metabolic support; neurotransmiitter uptake and release; ion homeostasis; nervous system repair; synaptic plasticity.

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43
Q

Oligodendroglia

A

Myelination

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44
Q

Microglia

A

Immune defense

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45
Q

Ependymal cells

A

Production of the CSF

46
Q

Neuroglia in the PNS

A

Satellite cells and Schwann cells

47
Q

Satellite cells

A

Function similar to astrocytes

48
Q

Schwann cells

A

Myelination (debris clearances, nerve regeneration). Can be myelinating or nonmyelinating.

49
Q

Myelin

A

Ensures fast saltatory conduction of AP.
CNS: oligodendroglia, a single cell myelinates many axons
PNS: Schwann cells, a single cell myelinates only one axon

50
Q

What cells can give rise to brain tumors in the adult brain?

A

Astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma.

In babies and infants: neuroblastomas.

51
Q

Features of neurons

A

Post-mitotic
Dendrites and axons
Excitable
Functional units of nervous tissue

52
Q

Features of neuroglia

A

Mitotic
No branches
Non-excitable
Supporting cells of nervous tissue

53
Q

Why does the gray matter have a higher metabolic rate?

A

The gray matter contains soma which is the factory of the neuron.

54
Q

Gray matter

A

Soma and dendrites (axons, glial cells, capillaries)

55
Q

White matter

A

Axons (glial cells, capillaries)

56
Q

Diencephalon

A

The thalamus and hypothalamus

57
Q

Cerebrum

A

Frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe

58
Q

Brain stem

A

Midbrain, pons, medulla

59
Q

Location of medulla

A

The rostral extension of the spinal cord (lowest)

60
Q

Location of pons

A

Rostral to the medulla (just above the medulla)

61
Q

Location of midbrain

A

Rostral to the pons

62
Q

Ten cranial nerves functions

A
Eye movement
Head movement
Facial expression
Swallowing
Taste
Hearing
Sensory
Motor
Autonomic functions of viscera (glands, digestion, heartrate)
63
Q

Functions of the brain stem in general

A

Autonomic centers and relay nuclei

64
Q

Function of medulla

A

Breathing, blood pressure, swallowing, coughing, vomiting

65
Q

Function of pons

A

Balance and posture, breathing

66
Q

Function of midbrain

A

Micturition (urinary reflex), eye movements, auditory and visual systems

67
Q

Cerebellum location

A

Between the cortex and the spinal cord, attached to the brain stem and lies dorsal (behind) to the pons and medulla

68
Q

Cerebellum functions

A

Coordination of movement, maintenance of posture and balance

69
Q

Thalamus and hypothalamus location

A

Between the cerebral hemispheres and the brain stem, so called diencephalon (“between brain”)

70
Q

Functions of the thalamus

A

Processes sensory information going to the cerebral cortex and motor information coming from the cerebral cortex to the brain stem and spinal cord

71
Q

Functions of the hypothalamus

A

Regulates body temperature, food intake, and water balance, and controls the hormone secretions of the pituitary gland (anterior pituitary hormones, antidiuretic hormone, oxytocin)

72
Q

Cerebrum location

A
The anterior (front) portion of the brain
Divided into left and right hemispheres connect by the corpus callosum
The cerebral hemispheres consist of the cerebral cortex (grey matter), an underlying white matter, and three deep nuclei (basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala)
73
Q

Cerebrum functions

A

Perception, higher motor functions, cognition, memory, emotion

74
Q

Gyrus vs Sulcus

A

A gyrus is a ridge on the cortex, a sulcus is a groove

75
Q

Fissure

A

A fissure is a larger furrow than a sulcus, that divides the brain into hermispheres

76
Q

Sylvian/lateral fissure

A

separates the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain from the temporal lobe.

77
Q

Transverse fissure

A

Horizontal fissure found between the cerebrum and the cerebellum

78
Q

Longitudinal fissure

A

Separates hemispheres

79
Q

Three areas of cerebral cortex

A

motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas

80
Q

Functions of cerebral cortex

A

Receives and processes sensory information and integrates motor functions

81
Q

Relative size of areas of cerebral cortex

A

Sensory and motor areas make up ~1/5 of the cortex, and the association cortex makes up most of the cortical surface.

82
Q

Roles of cerebral cortex parts

A

Sensory and motor areas are directly involved in sensory or motor processing. The association cortex analyzes the incoming information and translates it into something meaningful (perception)

83
Q

Motor cortex location

A

Frontal lobe

84
Q

Auditory cortex location

A

Temporal lobe

85
Q

Sensory cortex location

A

Parietal lobe

86
Q

Visual cortex location

A

Occipital lobe

87
Q

Olfactory and gustatory cortex location

A

Frontal lobe

88
Q

Neuron v ganglion

A

A group of neurons in the CNS and in the PNS, respectively

89
Q

Location of basal ganglia

A

Base of forebrain

90
Q

Location of hippocampus

A

In the temporal lobe

91
Q

Location of amygdala

A

In the temporal lobe

92
Q

Function of basal ganglia

A

Movement (parkinsons, huntingtons)

93
Q

Function of hippocampus

A

Memory

94
Q

Function of amygdala

A

Emotion

95
Q

Ventricles

A

In the brain: two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle

96
Q

Foramina

A

Interventricular foramina and cerebral aquaduct

97
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A

Liquid that fills and circulates within the ventricular system of the brain
Produced by the choroid plexus
CSF sampling: lumbar puncture (lumbar cistern)

98
Q

Functions of ventricular system and CSF

A

Distribute nutritive materials to and removes wastes from nervous tissue; protection of the brain

99
Q

Hydrocephalus

A

An abnormal accumulation of CSF in the ventricles

100
Q

Why brain infections are difficult to treat?

A

Antibodies too big to cross the BBB

101
Q

Why can radiologists exploit brain tumors by introducing substance into the circulation?

A

Brain tumors cause the disruption of the BBB, which leads to leakage of radiolabelled substance into the region occupied by the brain tumor

102
Q

How is the BBB formed

A

By capillary endothelial cells, which are connected by tight junctions, and astrocytes.

103
Q

What can cross the BBB

A

The BBB only allows the passage of water, some gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide), and some ions by passive diffusion; a few water-soluble substances (glucose and amino acids) by active transport; lipid-soluble substances.

104
Q

What are the functions of the BBB

A

Protect the brain from bacterial infections, and damage by neurotoxic molecules (neurotoxins).

105
Q

Location of spinal cord

A

The most caudal portion of the CNS; extend from the base of the skull to the first lumbar vertebra; lies within the bony vertebral column.
31 pairs of spinal nerves: cervical (8), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacral (5), coccygeal (1)

106
Q

Functions of spinal cord

A

Contain both afferent and efferent nerves
Ascending pathways: carry sensory information from the periphery to higher levels of the CNS
Descending pathways: carry motor information from higher levels of the CNS to various organs
The “information highway of the body“ to connect the various organs of body to the brain.

107
Q

Reflex arc

A

The simplest type of neural circuit, e.g. “withdrawal flex”
Nocioceptors detect pain, propagates through dorsal root to interneurons, which feedback to motor neurons through the ventral root, to act at neuromuscular junction and pul away.

108
Q

Degeneration

A

Chromatolysis, wallerian degeneration

109
Q

Regeneration

A

In the PNS, not CNS

110
Q

Axon growth

A

Trophic factors (NGF, neurotrophin, CNF)