Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
The peripheral nervous system includes the:
A) Inhibitory System
B) Excitatory System
C) Endocrine System
D) Autonomic System
D) Autonomic System
Source: CPDT 2025 handbook example
Grey Matter is
Neuronal Bodies - Brain Cells
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Brain and the Spinal Cord make up the
The Central Nervous System
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
White Matter
Neuronal tracts - axons and dendrites
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Peripheral Nervous System is made up of
Sensory and Motor Nerves
Skin, heart, lungs, eyes, digestive
Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic (fight/flight)
Parasympathetic (maintenance)
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
True or false the Sympathetic Nervous System is always associated with threats and danger
False. While it does control fight or flight response, it also allows you to get up, walk, and perform inane actions.
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The primary Cerebral Hemispheres are
- Olfactory Lobe (Smell)
- Frontal Lobe (Regulation)
- Parietal Lobe (Sensory)
- Temporal Lobe (Memory/Emotion)
- Occipital Lobe (Sight)
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Executive function: planning, sequencing
Preparation and organization of action
Short term/working memory
Impulse Control
Primary Motor Cortex (conscious movement)
The Frontal Lobe aka Frontal Cortex
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Damage to the Primary Motor Cortex may result in
Impairment in how the animal moves.
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Spatial attention and orientation
Visual Organization
The Parietal Lobes
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Damage to the Parietal Lobe can cause
Visual or spatial deficits
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which system processes information related to Touch, Pressure, Temperature, Pain and Body Position
The Somatosensory System
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Primary Auditory Cortex, responsible for recognizing and organizing sound is in which lobe?
The Temporal Lobe
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Damage to the Temporal Lobe may cause
Inhibited communication and auditory understanding.
You would be able to hear noises but may have difficulty interpreting their meaning.
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Understanding WHAT something is comes from which brain lobe
The Temporal lobe
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Understanding WHERE something is comes from which brain lobe
The Parietal Lobe
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Subcortical Structures include
Basal Ganglia
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The central relay station for all incoming and outgoing information associated with the cortex
The Thalamus
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Severe damage to the Thalamus would cause
Coma and death, you cannot survive without it.
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Hypothalamus controls
Homeostasis
Heart rate, temperature, water balance, appetite, blood pressure, sex drive
Secretion of Oxytocin and Vasopressin
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) which triggers the Pituitary to release ACTH which controls the release of cortisol
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Cerebellum controls
Coordination of movement and balance
Fine motor control
Learning motor behaviors
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Pituitary gland controls the following
Circadian/Annual cycles, reproductive cycles
Release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Lutenizing hormone (LH)
Growth Hormones (GH)
Thyroid stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Brain Stem contains
Cranial nerves
Cerebellum
Structures associated with major neurotransmitter systems
Raphe Nuclei (serotonin)
Locus Coeruleus (norepinephrine)
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Cerebellum deficits may exhibit
Tremors, loss of or inhibited motor function
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Limbic System contains
Cingulate Gyrus
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Basal Ganglia
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
A common moniker for the Limbic System is
The “lizard brain”
There is a hypothesis that this structure has been preserved through the evolution of most vertebrates.
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Declarative memory is
Learning and memory of facts and episodic events.
Hippocampus
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Cortisol is bound to receptors in the
Hippocampus
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Compulsive behavior may be due to dysregulation in the
Basal Ganglia
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The Amygdala regulates
Emotional or affective significance to incoming sensory stimuli
Formation of somatic and automatic responses
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
What is the one sense that bypasses the Thalamus and goes straight to the cortex for processing?
The sense of smell.
Receptors in the nasal epithelium transmit directly to the primary Olfactory cortex.
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with fight or flight?
Adrenaline
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with concentration?
Noradrenaline
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with reward/reinforcement and movement?
Dopamine
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood and impulse control?
Serotonin
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with calming?
GABA
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with cognition and learning?
Acetylcholine
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with memory?
Glutamate
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with euphoria?
Endorphins
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
What neurotransmitter is most associated with attention, vigilance, learning, memory, anxiety and pain?
Norepinephrine
Source: Raising Canine Neurology Lecture
The HPA axis is
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
A crucial neuroendocrine system that regulates stress and ultimately releases cortisol.
Source: AiD - Bites of Biology Tim Lewis, DVM
Hypothalamus - releases CRF
⬇️
Anterior Pituitary - releases ACTH
⬇️
Adrenal Gland - Releases Cortisol
The HPA Axis
Fight or Flight response but also critical for just getting energy/signals to move around.
In stress processing, when a threat is perceived, the ______ sends signals to the ______
In stress processing, when a threat is perceived, the amygdala sends signals to the hypothalamus
True or False: When the amygdala kicks in with a threat response, it is unlikely that a dog will respond to a cue immediately.
True. For at least 1 seconds but up to 3, 4 or 5 seconds, any audio cues will not be processed by the brain as the amygdala shunts information away from the frontal cortex and into the HPA axis.
Source: AiD Bites of Biology, Dr. Tim Lewis DVM
The act of biting the back of the neck of a victim is called
Cervical Separation
Resiliency refers to
The ability to recover from stress or over arousal. Dogs with high resiliency will recover composure quickly from a heightened state of arousal/stress/HPA response.
Source: Michael Shikashio
Nikolaas Tinbergen
Behavioral Ethology
What function does the Nervous System perform?
- Receive Information
- Organize Information
- Generate Behavioral Response
The Nervous System is made up of
Central Nervous System
Brain & Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Sensory (afferent)
External (senses)
Internal (hunger, etc)
Motor (efferent)
Somatic (voluntary/reflexive eg muscles)
Autonomic (involuntary eg heart)
Sympathetic (arousal/fight/flight)
Parasympathetic (rest & digest)
Name the two kinds of Nerve Cells
Neurons (like a telephone wire)
Glial Cells (everything maintaining the “wire”)
In Neurology Summation refers to
Multiple synaptic signals are sent and in combination are enough to cause a behavioral action.
One single synapse firing will not cause action in the body, it is the Summation of multiple synapses or repeated firing of one synapse that will prompt action in the body.
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
What are the two categories of neurotransmitters?
Excitatory (continue info flow)
Inhibitory (stop info flow)
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
Dopamine facilitates
- Pleasure/Reward
- Muscular Control
- Attention*
- Activity Levels*
Is both excitatory and inhibitory
*Attention, specifically as dopamine facilitates the learning of what is important to pay attention to in the context of if that thing will be likely to be rewarding.
*Activity Level, higher drive animals tend to have more baseline dopamine
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
Glutamate facilitates
- Learning
- Memory
- Motor Control
Excitatory
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
GABA facilitates
- Tranquilization
Slows the body/brain back down to baseline
Inhibitory
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
Serotonin facilitates
- Sleep Cycles
- Decreased Anxiety
- Decreased Depression
- Pain Management
- Reduces Aggression
- Reduces Impulsivity
- Crucial for learning association to punishment (decreasing behavior)
Inhibitory
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
The Corpus Callosum facilitates
Communication and coordination of sensory input between both hemispheres in the brain.
Potentiation in Neurology refers to
The strengthening of neural pathways/connections
What part of the brain is associated with impulse control?
The Frontal Lobe
Source: Raising Canine Dog Anatomy
Dogs are red green color blind which means they best see which colors?
Blue and Yellow
True or false: dogs can see better in low light than humans
True
Dogs can see detect movement at what distance?
900 meters away
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy based on a study done with GSDs
What is the hertz range for dog hearing?
47,000-65,000 hertz compared to humans at 16,000-20,000.
They hear higher frequencies than us and and lower volume noises (15 decibels before we will detect the noise)
What is are Turbinate Bones?
Specialized olfactory sensors in dogs to pick up smells.
12% of incoming air is diverted from the lungs to the Turbinates for scenting.
Scent is the only sense that skips the Thalamus and goes right to the Limbic System and Frontal Lobe.
Also important for thermoregulation.
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
In heavy panting to control temperature, dogs breathe only in the upper respiratory system to avoid
Hyperventilating
Source; Raising Canine Anatomy
The Vomernasal Organ (Jacobson’s Organ)
Above soft palate, has additional olfactory sensors. Picks up pheromones.
May prompt a flehmen response /tounging scent to the Vomernasal Organ, teeth chatter.
True or false: dogs are born with all the neurons they will ever have.
True. The Brain does grow to be around 10x bigger (depending on breed) from neonatal to mature, but all of that growth is attributed to the growth of connective pathways (synapses, dendrites) from learning.
50% of total brain growth happens in the first 8 weeks of life.
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
Sort of like an old fashioned switch board operator the, ______ , takes all info (except olfactory) and forwards it to the appropriate part of the brain for processing (and if it’s important)
The Thalamus, part of the Limbic System
Cyngulate Gyrus
Facilitates play behavior and reproductive/maternal behavior
The Endocrine System secretes
Hormones
Hormones are released by ______ into _______ and affect _______. Effects are _____
Hormones are released by glands into the bloodstream and affect organs. Effects are long lasting.
The Papez Circuit is
A model for describing how a stimulus is processed into emotion through the brain.
Source: Raising Canine Anatomy
Neurotransmitters are released by _____ into ______ and affect ______. Effects are ____
Neurotransmitters are released by neurons into the synaptic cleft and affect neurons. Effects are instantaneous.
Estrogen
Female sex hormone. Produced in the ovaries. Readies the body for reproduction and prompts behaviors related to reproduction.
Testosterone
Male sex hormone (androgen). Produced in the hypothalamus. Causes male physiological development. Triggers male sexual behavior and territorial aggression.
Adrenaline
Immediate stress response. Readies body for action. Produced by the Sympathetic part of the Autonomic Nervous System.
Noradrenaline
Part of the fight or flight immediate stress response, but primary function is to maintain blood pressure - increasing heart rate, constricting blood flow to other systems.
Main stress hormone, released by HPA Axis.
Cortisol
What is the standard body temperature for dogs?
A) 97-99.5°
B) 99.5-102.5°
C) 102.2°-104.5°
D) 98.6-100°
B) 99.5-102.5°
What is the normal resting respiratory rate for a dog?
Between 10-30 breaths per minute
Normal resting heart rate for dogs ranges from ________ BPM but can vary depending on breed, age and activity level.
60-140 BPM
Puppies can have higher resting heart rates sometimes up to 160-200 BPM
Small breeds tend to have higher resting BPM while large breeds have lower resting BPM.
Central Nervous System
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Brain Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nervous System
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Sensory Division Motor Division
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Visceral Somatic Visceral Somatic
Sensory Sensory Motor Motor
Division Division Division Division
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Sympathetic Parasympathetic
