Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Block 3 > Cells and Communication > Flashcards

Cells and Communication Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 functions of the nervous system?

A

Sensation

Integration

Activation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What 2 things does the function of the nervous system depend on?

A

Anatomical relationship between neurons

  • axon length
  • receptive fields
  • how many neurons

Interactions between neurons

  • mode of communication
  • chemical phenotype
  • how many transmitters
  • receptor density
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What 5 things can cause dysfunction of the nervous system?

A

Damage by trauma or disease

Neurons lose ability to produce transmitters

Neurons over/under-produce transmitters

Neurons fail to recognise transmitters

Effector organs fails to respond

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What 3 things can nervous system dysfunction manifest as?

A

Loss: sensation or function

Gain: appearance of a new feature

Change: alteration in behaviour/personality of perception

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 2 types of cells in the nervous system?

A

Neurons

Glia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 2 types of neurons?

A

Principal cells

Interneurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 5 types of glia?

A 
Astrocytes
Ependymal cells
Microglia
Oligodendroglia
Schwann cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which cell type is most likely to form tumours?

A

Glia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the 3 main groups of neurons?

A

Multipolar
Bipolar
(Pseudo) unipolar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the 4 common features of neurons?

A

Dendrites
Soma
Axon
Synaptic terminals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a dendrite?

A

The receptive field of the neurones, sensitive to neurotransmitter input

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a soma?

A

The metabolic and integrating centre of the neurone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an axon?

A

Rapid one-way communication between cell body and terminals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a synaptic terminal?

A

Release transmitters and communicate with other cells in a pathway or circuit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe astrocytes

A

Star-shaped cells which form a bridge between the neuron and blood vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe ependymal cells

A

Simple, ciliated, cuboidal cells that form the lining of the ventricular system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe microglia

A

Small glial cells, activated by trauma.

WBC for CNS, act by phagocytosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe oligodendroglia

A

Myelin producing cells, found in the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe Schwann cells

A

Myelin producing cells, found in the PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What disorder of myelination affects the CNS?

A

Multiple Sclerosis

Oligodendroglia

21
Q

What disorder of myelination affects the PNS?

A

Guilian Barre

Schwann cells

22
Q

Why are nerve impulses quicker along myelinated axons?

A

Action potentials jump the gaps

23
Q

What are the 2 types of synapses?

A

Chemical

Electrical

24
Q

Describe chemical synapses

A

Fast transmission (slower cell-cell, but can cope with higher frequency of activity)

Vesicles releases from presynaptic terminal

Act on receptors in postsynaptic terminal

Major drug target

25
Q

Describe electrical synapses

A

Slower transmission (faster cell-cell, but more effective at lower freqs)

Gap junctions

Small molecules and current
‘low-pass filter’

Synchrony

Up-and-coming drug target

26
Q

What type of synapses have gap junctions?

A

Electrical synapses

27
Q

Outline the 5 steps that occur at a neuromuscular junction

A

Action potentials trigger the exocytosis of acetylcholine (ACh) from the synaptic terminal

ACh crosses the cleft

Acts on (nicotinic) cholinergic receptors in the motor end plate

Initiates muscle contraction

Impulse carried through muscle via T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum

28
Q

What is myasthenia gravis?

A

Autoimmune disease affecting the NMJ. Circulating antibodies block Ach receptors, slowing muscle activity and reducing tone. Receptors don’t respond as well

29
Q

How do you test for myasthenia gravis?

A

Nerve conduction tests

Electromyography

30
Q

What is the major excitatory transmitter?

A

Glutamate

31
Q

What is the major inhibitory transmitter?

A

GABA

32
Q

Why is inhibition essential?

A

Otherwise a cell will fire at its own rate and not send a coded message to the next cell

33
Q

What 3 types of cell inhibition are there?

A

Direct inhibition

Lateral inhibition

Disinhibition

34
Q

Describe direct inhibition

A

Excitatory neurons have regular patterns of firing in absence of inhibition

Inhibition sculpts the firing into a coded pattern which can be read by the brain

35
Q

Describe lateral inhibition

A

Activation of excitatory cells also activates associated inhibitory cells

Inhibition acts on neighbouring cells to reduce activity

Strengthens response of cell directly stimulated

36
Q

Where is lateral inhibition usually seen?

A

Sensory pathways:

  • vision
  • touch
  • olfaction
37
Q

Describe disinhibition

A

Activation of inhibitory circuit leads to excitation

Pivotal role in Basal Ganglia circuitry – shapes motor function

38
Q

What does synchrony do?

A

Change the strength of the signal and the network level

Measured via EEG

There are pacemaker cells

39
Q

What is plasticity?

A

Up or down regulation of synaptic strength

40
Q

What are the 4 types of plasticity?

A

LTP and LTD

Synaptic morphology

Metabolic changes

Subunit changes

41
Q

Describe neurotransmitters (8)

A

Used by neurons for rapid cell-cell communication

Stored in vesicles in the presynaptic terminal

Released when the terminal is depolarised during an AP

Pass across the synaptic cleft

Activate receptors on the postsynaptic terminal

Binds to receptor

Excitatory propagates the signal onward

Inhibitory blocks onward propagation

42
Q

Describe neuromodulators (4)

A

Found in vesicles (or not), co-localised with NT

Act on receptors or membranes to indirectly alter neuronal activity

Changing sensitivity or kinetics of NT receptor

Also act on glial cells

43
Q

Which neurotransmitter is affected in Parkinson’s disease?

A

Dopamine

44
Q

Which neurotransmitter is affected in Alzheimer’s disease?

A

ACh

45
Q

Which neurotransmitter is affected in Alzheimer’s disease?

A

ACh

46
Q

Which neurotransmitter is affected in Huntington’s disease?

A

GABA

47
Q

What are the 2 types of receptors in the nervous system?

A

Ionotropic (linked to ion channels)

Metabotropic (GPCR)

Receptors are transmitter specific

48
Q

What are the four main types of cutaneous receptors?

A

Mechanoceptors - tactile sensation e.g. touch, pressure

Thermoceptors - temperature

Nociceptors - painful/noxious stimuli

Proprioceptors - changes in head and body position

49
Q

What mechanisms are involved in pathogenesis of neuronal and psychological disorders?

A

Altered neuronal activity

Altered synchrony

Cellular changes

Subcellular change

Genetic/Epigenetic changes

Block 3 (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions