Brain anatomy Flashcards
What are iontropic receptors?
Ligand-gated ion channels
What are metabolic receptors?
G-protein coupled receptors
What three things make a neurotransmitter a neurotransmitter?
- Molecule must be synthesised and stored in the presynaptic neurone to be released
- Molecule must be released upon stimulation
- Once released, it must produce a response in the postsynaptic cell
What are the stages of neurotransmission?
- Action potential arrives at presynaptic neurone
- Voltage gated calcium channels open
- Calcium increase leads to fusion between the synaptic vesicle and pre-synaptic membrane
- Neurotransmitters released due to exocytosis
- Diffuses across synaptic cleft and binds
- Action is terminated
How do ligand-gated ion channels work?
Bind to receptor, leading to opening of ion channel
Sodium ions flow into the cell causing an action potential response
How do g-protein coupled receptors work?
Bind to receptor, g-proteins activate effector protein, effector protein opens ion channels
What does GABA do?
Inhibitory neurotrasmitter leading to hyperpolarisation
What does glutamate do?
Excitatory neurotransmitter, with an important role in learning and memory
What does acetylcholine do?
Important for the neuromuscular junction and memory
What does dopamine do?
Important role in motivation, reward and movement
What does serotonin do?
Important role in sleep, mood, and emotional behaviours
What does noradrenaline do?
Important for ‘fight or flight response’, attention, arousal and sleep
What is the role of the frontal lobe?
Voluntary movement, expressive language, and executive function
What is the role of the parietal lobe?
Sensory input, emotion, and association
What is the role of the temporal lobe?
Auditory processing and memory encoding
What is the role of the occipital lobe?
Processing of visual input, and interpretation of visual data
What is the role of the basal ganglia?
Motor tasks and reward processing
What is the role of the thalamus?
Relays information (sensory and motor)
What is the hypothalamus?
Releases hormones to maintain the body
What does corticotropin do?
Releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
What two inhibitory hormones are produced by the hypothalamus?
Dopamine and somatostatin
What hormone is released by the pituitary gland?
Melatonin to regulate the sleep cycle
What can blockages in CSF ventricles lead to?
Backup of CSF leading to enlarged ventricles that press on the brain leading to obstructive hydrocephalus
What three things make up the meninges of the brain?
Pia mater, dura mater, and arachnoid mater
What are the three main areas of the brainstem?
Midbrain, pons, and medulla
What is the role of the midbrain?
Movement and processing
How does the substantia nigra create movement?
Full of dopaminergic neurones
What is the role of the pons?
Movement
What is the role of the medulla?
Autonomic processes and reflexes
What are the symptoms of 3rd nerve palsy?
Eye looks down and out
Unable to adduct eye