BIOL2051 “Principles Of Neuroscience” Flashcards

(46 cards)

1
Q

What is the PNS made up of? (general)

A

Cranial nerves
Spinal nerves
Ganglia (dorsal root ganglia and autonomic ganglia)

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2
Q

What is the CNS? (general)

A

Brain
Spinal cord
Control centre for info processing, responding to sensory info

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3
Q

Neurones (general)

A

Receive stimuli
Transmit nerve impulses or action potentials
activate muscles

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4
Q

Define a neurone

A

The functional units of the nervous system, organised into a functional network capable of:
- Response to stimuli
- Information processing
- Communication (?)

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5
Q

Function of dendrites

A

Collect electrical signals and carry input to cell body

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6
Q

Function of cell body/soma of a neurone

A

Integrates signals and generates action potential

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7
Q

Function of axons

A

Transmit signals over long distances from the cell body to the axon terminals

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8
Q

List 4 ways in which neurones are organised

A

Nerve nets
Cephalisation
CNS
PNS

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9
Q

What are invertebrate nervous systems specialised for?

A

Stimulus/response, receptor/effector
Reflexes, conditioned responses

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10
Q

What are nerve nets?

A

Definition (kind of): simplest form of nervous system found in some invertebrates (such as hydras, jellyfish, etc.)

Individual nerve cells exist in a net-like formation scattered in layers of body wall. Neurones exist in a ‘loose network’ to allow for contraction and expansion of the body cavity

Nerve nets lack distinct central or peripheral regions, and anything that resembles a brain

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11
Q

What can/can’t nerve nets do?

A

Nerve nets have no associative activity, only reflexes (with action potentials)

However, neurones can carry:
- Info from sensory organs that detect touch, light, or other changes in the environment
- These neurones in turn contact neurones that control movement of the organism, such as swimming

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12
Q

Describe the structure of the nervous system found in species such as sea stars (echinoderms)

A

Display some centralisation of the nervous system

A ring of neurones is located in the centre with simple bundles of neurones (radial nerves) extending from the ring to the tip of each arm

Radial nerves form nerve nets, permitting coordinated movement of each arm and the tube feet located on the surface of the arm

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13
Q

Cephalisation and formation of the primitive brain

A

In animals with bilateral symmetry, there is a clustering of neurones into ‘ganglia’ near head of animal to form more complex systems to integrate incoming/outgoing signals (sight, hearing, taste, etc.)

Nerve cords and trunks:
- With bilateral symmetry (flatworms, etc.), 2 nerve cords run down the length of the body
- This system allows more complex control of muscles for movement

Distinct PNS and CNS regions:
- Connections required between PNS and CNS, but PNS can act autonomously in some cases
- Invertebrates lack myelin but AP propagation overcome by increasing diameter of axons (giant squid axons)

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14
Q

Summarise the different nervous systems (/list them)

A

Giant neurones and axons - no myelin
Nerve nets - APs, reflexes
Ganglia chains (in molluscs, worms, arthropods)
- Head ganglia are fused/cephalisation
- Specialisation of cells (receptors - eyes, etc.)
Brain (& spinal cord) - organisation of CNS (vertebrates)

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15
Q

What do all vertebrate nervous systems contain? (general)

A

Sophisticated sensory mechanisms
Clear differentiation of CNS and PNS as well as sensory and motor nerves
Elaboration of brain structure, etc.

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16
Q

3 general regions of the brain, and which specific brain regions make them

A

Forebrain:
- Cerebrum
- Optic structures
- Olfactory lobe

Midbrain

Hindbrain: coordination of motor reflexes in vertebrates; regulation of autonomic processes
- Brainstem - pons
- Medulla
- Cerebellum

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17
Q

What are sulci?

A

Infoldings of the cerebral hemispheres that form ‘valleys’ between the gyri

Singular = sulcus

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18
Q

What are gyri?

A

Ridges of the infolded cerebral cortex

Singular = gyrus

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19
Q

Brain areas based on development

A

Forebrain:
Prosencephalon
- Telecephalon (cerebrum)
- Diencephalon (thalamus, & hypothalamus)

Midbrain:
Mesencephalon

Hindbrain:
Rhombencephalon
- Myelencephalon (medulla)
- Metencephalon (pons & cerebellum)

20
Q

Name the four lobes of the cerebrum

A

Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe

21
Q

Functional areas of the cerebrum

A

Motor: primary motor and premotor in FRONTAL LOBE

Sensory: primary somatosensory and somatosensory association areas in PARIETAL LOBE

Vision: primary viual and visual association areas in OCCIPITAL LOBE

Auditory: primary auditory & auditory association areas in TEMPORAL LOBE

22
Q

What are the 7 major parts of the human CNS?

A

Cerebrum
Diencephalon
Brain stem
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla
Spinal cord

23
Q

What is grey matter?

A

Cell bodies of neurones reside in the grey matter

Has a pinkish/grey colour in the brain, and is a major component of the CNS

24
Q

What is white matter?

A

Myelinated axons reside in white matter

These axons connect different parts of the grey matter to each other

25
What are the 3 brain planes?
Coronal (slice vertically from ear to ear) Sagittal (slice vertically from front to back of head) Horizontal/axial (what it says on the tin)
26
If you look at someone from their left side (they are facing the left), what are each of the directions in the head?
North = superior East = posterior South = inferior West = anterior
27
If you look at someone from their left side (they are facing the left), what are the directions in the brain?
Dorsal = back of brain Caudal = south/brain stem Ventral = towards the mouth Rostral = forehead
28
Which 3 things protect the CNS?
Bone (skull & vertebral column) Meninges CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)
29
Meninges & each of the layers
Meninges: encloses the brain and spinal cord, and their blood vessels 3 protective tissue layers: Dura - superficial most and strongest, usually in contact with bone Arachnoid - adhered closely to dura, web-like in appearance Pia - deepest layer, in direct contact with CNS tissue
30
CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)
Clear, cell-free fluid produced by the choroid plexus (ependymal cells) that circulates in the subarachnoid space
31
What is the subarachnoid space?
The space between the arachnoid and pia matter
32
Which areas does afferent input to the (neo)cortex come from?
Ascending info from the thalmus Ascending info from the brainstem and other parts of the forebrain, also the hypothalamus Axons travelling between hemispheres (commisural fibres) Info from the ipsilateral cortex
33
Output from the neocortex
Is excitatory from pyramidal cells (uses excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate, etc.) - All parts of cortex project to thalamus - Axons from motor & somatosensory cortices project to basal ganglia - Axons project to brainstem (nuclei) & spinal cord - Axons project to contralateral hemisphere; axons project to ipsilateral hemisphere
34
Functions of the brain
Serves as aconduit for ascending & descending tracts connecting the spinal cord to higher centres (cerebrum, cerebellum) Contains important relex centres associated with control of respiration, heart rate & blood pressure, & consciousness Contains cranial nerve nuclei
35
Functions of the cerebellum
Integrates ascending (proprioceptive information, feeds back to cerebral cortex to refine movement Modifies movement (compares sensory info with pre-motor inifo) Maintenance of upright posture Maintenance of the tension or firmness (i.e., tone) of the muscle Aids the cerebral cortex in planning sequential mmovements to make smooth progressions from one movement to the next Synergy of movement - motor coordination Balance
36
Cerebellar input
Spinal cord Cerebellar cortex Vestibular system Motor systems in neocortex
37
Cerebellar output
Vestibular systems Brain stem Muscle spindles Motor & pre-motor cortices
38
Spinal cord (general)
2 way impulse conduction pathway and reflex centre 31 pairs of spinal nerves in total
39
Name the sections of spine
Cervical (C1 - C8) Thoracic (T1 - T12) Lumbar (L1 - L5) Sacral (S1 - S5) Coccygeal (Co)
40
Dorsal root
Posterior Through which afferent fibres enter (sensory) Contains dorsal root ganglion (DRG) with the cell bodies of the afferent fibres
41
Ventral root
Anterior Through which the efferent fibres leave Their cell bodies are within the spinal cord
42
Reflexes
Survival mechanism Inherited ('hard-wired'), pre-set behaviour that does not require learning, practice, or experience Simplest type of animal behaviour Performed without conscious thought; usually rapid, automatic/involuntary responses to stimuli Usually follow specific pattern
43
Reflex arc
Receptor (site of stimulus) --> sensory neurone (transmits stimulus) --> integration centre (can be mono or polysynaptic) --> motor neurone (conducts impulse to effector) --> effector (muscle or gland)
44
Spinal reflex
Somatic spinal reflexes provide info on integrity of the reflex pathway and degree of excitability of the spinal cord
45
Polysynaptic reflexes
Involves multiple synapses between sensory axons, interneurones, and motor neurones - Interneurones control more than 1 muscle group - Produce either EPSPs or IPSPs
46
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) (general)
2 divisions responsible for maintenance of homeostasis (sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions) Both systems are continuously active under normal conditions, with each having discreet and independent functions (antagonistic functions) ANS together with endocrine system controls body's interal organs, thus controlling the circulation of blood, activity of the GI tract, & body temp' Innervates smooth msucle, cardiac muscle, & glands of internal organs (involuntary)