2.8. Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the nervous system comprised of?

A

Millions of neurons and glial cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What makes up the nervous system?

A

Brain, spinal cord (Central Nervous System)

Nerves (Peripheral Nervous System)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the VOLUNTARY system of peripheral nerves called?

A

Somatic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the INVOLUNTARY system of peripheral nerves called?

A

Visceral nervous system

later turns into the sympathetic and parasympathetic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What do glial cells provide?

A

Nourishment and support to the neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Neurons are so specialised they do not undergo further mitotic divisions once developed.
What does this mean in the neonatal period?

A

Number of neurons produced far exceeds the level required

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the purpose of a DENDRITE?

A

Branch-like structures extending away from the cell body, and their job is to receive messages from other neurons and allow messages to travel to the cell body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the CELL BODY?

A

Contains nucleus, smooth & rough ER, golgi apparatus, mitochondria etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the AXON?

A

Carries an electrical impulse from the cell body to axon terminals, which can then pass the impulse to another neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the SYNAPSE?

A

Chemical junction between axon terminals of one neuron and dendrites of the next

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the MYELIN SHEATH?

A

Acts as insulation to minimise dissipation of electrical signal as it travels down the axon.
Greatly increases speed of conduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the NODE OF RANVIER?

A

Periodic gaps in the myelin sheath where the signal is recharged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 3 major types of neuron?

A

Sensory/ Afferent

Motor/ Efferent

Interneurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe a sensory/afferent neuron

A

Converts external stimuli from environment to corresponding internal stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe a motor/efferent neuron

A

Project axons outside of the CNS to directly or indirectly control muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe an interneuron

A

‘middle men’ that form connections between the other 2 types

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the process of communication among neurons

A
  • Neurons usually have a negative conc grad- more Na+ outside, more K+ inside (resting membrane potential)
  • When the electrical impulse reaches the axon, Na gates open, allowing Na+ across the conc grad into the axon
  • This causes the membrane to become depolarised
  • Na channels close, membrane becomes leaky to K+, which move out of the axon down the electrochemical gradient
  • Results in repolarisation
  • Process propagates along length of neuron (action potential)
  • Neurotransmitters are released from the first neuron at synapse
  • They travel across and trigger an action potential in the second neuron
  • If the axon has a myelin sheath, action potential moves faster
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a synapse?

A

A junction between the presynaptic cell and the postsynaptic cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the 2 types of reaction that occur at the synapse?

A
  1. Chemical

2. Electrical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the 3 parts of the HINDBRAIN?

A
  1. Pons
  2. Medulla
  3. Cerebellum
21
Q

Key functions of PONS

A

Regulates body temperature, heart rate, swallowing, breathing

22
Q

Key functions of MEDULLA

A

Control centre for respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive systems

23
Q

Key functions of CEREBELLUM

A

Coordinates skeletal muscles to produce smooth motions

24
Q

Key functions of MIDBRAIN

A

Motor movement- eye, auditory, visual processing

25
Q

What are the 2 parts of the DIANCEPHALON?

A
  1. Thalamus

2. Hypothalamus

26
Q

Key functions of THALAMUS

A

Passes information to the cerebral cortex

27
Q

Key functions of HYPOTHALAMUS

A

Sexual behaviour, release hormones, regulate body temp, controls appetite, regulates emotional responses

28
Q

Key function of SPINAL CORD

A

Convey info to brain, carry info to skeletal muscles, control posture, control nearby organs

29
Q

Key functions of CEREBRUM

A

Thought and control centre, emotions and decision making.

Gray matter- mass of cell bodies, synapses, dendrites
White matter- myelin-coated axons

30
Q

What are the 4 parts of the CEREBRAL CORTEX?

A
  1. Frontal lobe
  2. Temporal lobe
  3. Occipital lobe
  4. Parietal lobe
31
Q

Starting at the TOP of the spinal cord, label the 4 groups of nerves

A
  1. Cervical nerves
  2. Thoracic nerves
  3. Lumbar nerves
  4. Sacral and Coccygeal nerves
32
Q

What is the significance of Sacral and Coccygeal nerves in midwifery?

A
  • Nerves of pelvic organs and lower limbs
  • Sensory innervation of perineum and anal sphincters
    ^^EPIDURAL affects these nerves^^
33
Q

What is the DURA?

A

Outermost layer of spinal cord tissue

Tough protective coating

34
Q

What is the epidural space filled with and where is it located?

A
  • Filled with adipose tissue and contains a network of blood vessels
  • Located between the dura matter and surrounding bone of the vertebrae
35
Q

List 3 changes or symptoms which pregnant women may experience during pregnancy as a result of changes to the CNS

A
  1. Grey matter volume shrinks during pregnancy and for up to 2 years post birth
  2. Pituitary gland enlarges gradually. In 3rd trimester, oedema can affect vision
  3. Progesterone affects neural activity in the brain, reducing level of excitatory neurotransmitters- increased desire for sleep (1st trimester)
36
Q

What makes up the PNS (peripheral)?

A

All neural structures outside the brain and spinal cord- Peripheral nerves and associated ganglia and efferent motor endings

37
Q

What does the PNS do?

A

Detects changes in the body’s external or internal environments

38
Q

What is the somatic nervous system subdivided into?

A
  1. Sensory components

2. Motor components

39
Q

What is the motor component responsible for?

A

Voluntary movement

40
Q

Gate Control Theory asserts that activation of nerves which do not transmit pain signals (non-nociceptive fibres) can interfere with signals from pain fibres, thereby inhibiting pain.

How could this theory be used to advise women on pain management strategies during labour?

A
  • TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine -> overstimulates nerves
  • Massage
  • Heat pads
41
Q

What is a neuromuscular junction?

A

A chemical synapse formed by the contact between a motor neuron and a muscle fibre

42
Q

What is the reflex arc?

A

Reflexes occur over specific neural paths called reflex arcs and may be somatic or autonomic. Many reflexes occur with little or no brain input.

43
Q

What are the 5 components of the reflex arc?

A
  1. Receptor
  2. Sensory neuron
  3. Integration centre
  4. Motor neuron
  5. Effector
44
Q

What is a RECEPTOR?

A

Specialised part of a neuron that receives a signal

45
Q

What is a SENSORY NEURON?

A

Transmits the signal to the spinal cord

46
Q

What is the INTEGRATION CENTRE?

A

An interneuron in the spinal cord that connects input to output

47
Q

What is a MOTOR NEURON?

A

transmits the signal to the effector

48
Q

What is the EFFECTOR?

A

the tissue that turns the signal to action (muscle)