Anatomy Flashcards
Nervous System
Major controlling, regulatory and communication system of the body
Central nervous sytem components
Brain & spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system components
Spinal nerves & cranial nerves
Nueron
An elongated cell that consists of cell body, which contains nucleus and a variable number of processes (axons & dendrites)
- Excitable tissue
Dendrites
Receive information
Usually short
Axon
Transmit information to the end and then too other cells
- Usually only one axon per neuron
- Usually long
Example of nerve fibres
Dendrites & axons
Function of neuroglia (supporting cells)
- Hold the neurons and their processes in place
- provide nourishment
- insulate them from their surroundings (preventing ‘leakage’ of the impulses they convey)
What is the conducting portion of a neuron?
Axon
Clusters of cell bodies are called?
Ganglions
Cluster of cell dendrites or axons (fibres) are called?
Nerves
The junction between neurons is?
A synapse
What type of neurons constitute most of the nervous system?
Interneurons
true or false - Glial cells make up 90% of CNS
True
Four types of glial cells in CNS?
- Astrocytes
- Oligodendrocytes (myelin)
- Ependymal cells
- Microglia
One type of glial cell in PNS
Schwann cells (myelin)
What happens to glial cells during foetal development?
Glial cells wrap themselves around the axon. They eventually lose most of their cytoplasm and what remains is layers of tightly packed lipid membranes
Gaps in myelin sheath occur at regular intervals, forming nodes of Ranvier
Gaps in myelin sheath occur at regular intervals, forming
Nodes of Ranvier
What type of glial cell is the most abundant?
Astrocytes
- formation of blood-brain barrier
- Physical support
- Neurotransmitter recycling
- Brain repair
Astrocytes
- Most abundant glial cell
- Formation of blood-brain barrier
- Physical support
- Brain repair
- Neurotransmitter recycling
Ependymal cells
Line internal cavities of CNS
Form CSF: cilia
neural stem cells (stroke rehabilitation)
Associated with ventricles in the brain
Microglia
CNS immune defence cells
10-15% of cells
Mop up anything that gets passed blood-brain barrier
Oligodendrocytes (CNS) & Schwann cells (PNS)
Form lipid based myelin sheaths around axons
Fast conduction of nerve impulses
Energy efficient
Nodes of Ranvier: help current impulse
What is a nerve?
A nerve is a visible collection of neuronal fibres held together by connective tissue
No cell body
Found only in PNS
True or false:
Nerves exist in CNS & PNS
False, nerves only exist in PNS (called tracts in CNS)
What is a bundle of axons called in CNS?
Tract
Forebrain includes:
Telencephalon
Diencephalon
Telencephalon includes:
Cerebrum
Diencephalon includes:
Thalamus & Hypothalamus
Midbrain includes:
Mesencephalon
Hindbrain includes
Metencephalon & Myencephalon
Metencephalon includes
Pons & cerebellum
Myencephalon includes:
Medulla oblongata
Medulla oblongata: Location & function
Swollen tip of spinal cord
- Nerve impulses arise here:
- Stimulates intercostal muscles & diaphragm makes breathing possible
- Regulates heartbeat
- Regulate the diameter of arterioles thus adjusting blood flow
Pons: function?
Transverse bar-like structure with nerve fibre tracts that are continued into cerebellum
Relay station carrying signals from various parts of the cerebral cortex to the cerebellum.
Nerve impulses coming from the eyes, ears and touch receptors are sent to the cerebellum
Cerebellum: Function
- Coordinates body movements
Cephalon =
Head
Mesencephalon
Mid brain
Corpus callosum
White matter
Communication of right and left hemisphere of cerebrum
What is the largest part of the brain?
Cerebrum
What separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum?
Transverse fissure
What separates the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum?
Longitudinal fissure
Ridges (in brain) are called
Gyri
Sulci are
Grooves in the brain
Grey and white matter in spinal cord
Grey on inside
White on outside
i.e. White cortex
Grey and white matter in brain stem
Grey on inside
White on outside
i.e. White cortex
Grey and white matter in cerebrum
Grey on outside
White on inside
i.e. Grey cortex