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Higher Human Biology Unit 3 > 3.3 Cells of the Nervous System and Neurotransmitters > Flashcards

3.3 Cells of the Nervous System and Neurotransmitters Flashcards

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1
Q

Function of neurons

A

Recieve and transmit electrical signals

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2
Q

Function of glial cells

A

Support and maintain the neurons

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3
Q

Composition of neurons

A
  • Nerve cell body

* Nerve fibres

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4
Q

The three types of neurons

A
  • Sensory
  • Inter
  • Motor
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5
Q

Function of dendrites

A

Nerve fibres that recieves nerve impulses

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6
Q

Function of the cell body

A

Contains the nucleus, containing DNA, coding for a neurotransmitter, or a receptor, or enzymes needed for the synthesis or degredation of neurotransmitters

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7
Q

Funtion of axons

A

Nerve fibre that carries inpulses away from the cell body

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8
Q

Order in which nerve impulses travel

A

Dendrite -> Cell Body -> Axon

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9
Q

Funtion of sensory neurons

A

Passes information from sense organs to neurons in the CNS

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10
Q

Function of Inter neurons

A

Link sensory neurons to motor neurons within the CNS

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11
Q

Function of motor neurons

A

Passes information from the CNS to an effector (a muscle or a gland)

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12
Q

Why axon terminals of a neuron contain many mitochondria

A
  • Provide ATP for synthesis reactions

* Privide ATP for the creation of vesicles which are able to store, carry and release neurotransmitters

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13
Q

Definition of myelination

A

The development of myelin around the axon fibres if individual neurons

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14
Q

The two jobs of the myelin sheath

A
  • Insulates the axon fibres of neurons

* Increases the soeed of impulse conduction

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15
Q

The two jobs of the glial cells

A
  • Maintain a homeostatic environment around the neurons

* Remove debris by phagocytosis

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16
Q

Definition of synapse

A

The junction between an axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another

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17
Q

Definition of synaptic cleft

A

The narrow space between the plasma membranes of the two neurons at the synapse

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18
Q

Where neurotransmitters are stored in neurons

A

Vesicles

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19
Q

Where neurotransmitters are released from

A

Vesicles from the presynaptic membrane

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20
Q

What neurotransmitters do after diffusing across the synaptic cleft

A

Bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

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21
Q

What a neurotransmitter is

A

Protein molecules produced by ribosomes

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22
Q

Jobs of receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

A

Determine whether the signal is excitory or inhibitory

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23
Q

Definition of neurotransmitter threshhold

A

Minimum quantity of neurotransmitter to allow activation/ muscle contraction

24
Q

Hiw the continuous stimulation of the post synaptic neuron is prevented

A
  • Neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft by enzymes
  • Re-uptake occurs
25
Q

Why many mitochondria are needed in nerve cells

A

Provide ATP for:
• release of neurotransmitters
• to allow vesicles to the cleft and fuse with the membrane
•for re-uptake to occur (active transport)

26
Q

Enzyme involved in enzyme degredation

A

Acetylcholine

27
Q

How enzyme degredation works

A
  • The neurotransmitter is broken down by a degredative enzyme
  • Non active products are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron
  • It is then re-synthesised in to qctuve transmitters
28
Q

How reuptake works

A
  • The neurotransmitter is reabsobed directly into the presynaptic membrane
  • It is then stored in a vesicle ready for reuse
29
Q

Neurotransmitter involved in reuptake

A

Noradrenaline

30
Q

Definition of Summation

A

When a series of weak stimuli trigger an inpulse or when a higher concentration of neurotransmitter is released to trigger an impulse

31
Q

What controls the direction if nerve impulse?

A

Vesicles only occur in the axon on the terminal side of the synaptic cleft

32
Q

What is a neural pathway?

A

The route a nerve impulse follows through the nervous system

33
Q

Definition of converging pathway

A

Several neurons linked to one neuron, increasing the neurotransmitter concentration and therefore the chance of impulse generation

34
Q

Definition of diverging pathway

A

One neuron linked to several neurons, so impulses are sent to several destinations at the same time

35
Q

When diverging pathways are used

A

For fine motor control of the fingers or eyes (several muscles are activated at once when writing)

36
Q

Definition of reverberating pathway

A

A pathways which has neurons later in the pathway which link back to form synapses with neurons earlier in the pathway

37
Q

Definition of plasticity

A

The ability of brain cells to become altered as a result of new environmental experiences

38
Q

Example of major plasticity

A

The undamaged cells to form new neural pathways following brain damage (eg stroke)

39
Q

Example of minor plasticity

A

When the brain suppresses reflexes like blinking or supresses sensory impulses

40
Q

Definition of endorphines

A

Neurotransmitters which stimulate neurons involving the intensity of pain

41
Q

When endorphine prorduction increases

A
  • severe injury
  • continuous excersise
  • stress
  • certain foods
42
Q

What increased levels of endorphines do

A
  • euphoric feelings (intense happiness)
  • appetite regulation (modulation)
  • release of sex hormones
43
Q

Definition of dopamine

A

The neurotransmitter that induces feelings of pleasure and reinforces certain behaviours in the reward pathway

44
Q

When neurotransmitter related disorders occur

A

When there is an imbalance, overproduction or underproduction of neurotransmitters

45
Q

Examples of neurotransmitter related disorders

A
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • anxiety disorders
  • depression
  • schizophrenia
46
Q

What kinds of drugs are given to treat neurotransmitter disorders

A

Drugs that are similar to the neurotransmitters, act as agonists, antagonist and enzyme inhibitors

47
Q

Action of Agonists

A

Bind to and stimulate the receptors mimicking the neurotransmitters

48
Q

Action of Antagonists

A

Bind to specific receptors, blocking the action of the neurotransmitters

49
Q

Action of Enzyme inhibitors

A

Inhibits the enzymes which degredate neurotransmitters or inhibit reuptake

50
Q

Effects of recreational drugs

A
  • Changes brains neurochemistry
  • alters moods
  • alters cognition
  • alters perception
  • alters behaviour
51
Q

Action of recreational drugs acting as agonists

A

Mimics the action of natural neurotransmitters and can enhance the action of these
Eg. Nicotine mimics the action of acetylcholine

52
Q

Action of recreational drugs acting as antagonists

A

Block the binding of natural neurotransmitters or bind to receptors, preventing the nerve impulses passing from the synapse
Eg. Nicotine blocks the reuptake of dopamine (continuing stimulation of the reward pathway and reinforcing smoking habits)

53
Q

Definition of sensitisation

A

An increase in the number and sensitivity of neurotransmitter receptors

54
Q

What sensitivity occurs with

A

The use of antagonistic drugs, blocking the receptors

55
Q

Definition of desensitisation

A

A decreased number and sensitivity of receptors as the nervous system tries to compensate for the overstimulation of certain neurotransmitter receptors

56
Q

What desensitisation occurs because of

A

An exposure to drugs that are agonists. This leads to a drug tolerance

57
Q

Cocaine’s effect on dopamine

A
  • Blocks the dopamine reuptake proteins
  • It therefore acts as an antagonist
  • Dopamine then stays in the synaptic cleft and continues to stimulate the receptors

Higher Human Biology Unit 3 (5 decks)

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