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Year 1 Neurology > Cells and Communications > Flashcards

Cells and Communications Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 functions of the nervous system? How are these functions achieved?

A

Sensation - Receptors detect changes in the environment and provide information to the CNS Integration - Input from environment is processed and integrated by the CNS. Decisions are made and responses formulated Activation - Response forwarded to the appropriate muscles and glands

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2
Q

What is the function of the nervous system dependent on?

A

Anatomical relationships between neurons (Axon length, type of neuron, amount of neurons in circuit) Interactions between neurons (Mode of communication, receptor density, number of transmitters)

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3
Q

Give 5 reasons why there may be dysfunction of the nervous system

A

Damage by trauma or disease Neurons loose the ability to produce transmitters Neurons over or under produce transmitters Neurons fail to recognise transmitters Effector organs fail to respond

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4
Q

How can dysfunction of the nervous system manifest in a patient?

A

Loss of sensation or function Gain of a new feature Change in behaviour, personality or perception

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5
Q

What are the two main cell types in the nervous system?

A

Neurons Glia

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6
Q

Give two examples of neurons

A

Principle cells Inter-neurons

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7
Q

Give 5 examples of Glia

A

Astrocytes Ependymal cells Microglia Oliodendroglia Schwann cells

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8
Q

Which cell type in the nervous system commonly malfunctions and forms tumours?

A

Glia cells

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9
Q

What are the three main groups of neurons, and why are they classified in this way?

A

Multipolar Bipolar Unipolar Classified according to the number of processes in and out of the neuron

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10
Q

What is the function of a dendrite?

A

Receptive field of the neurons. Sensitive to neurotransmitter input

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11
Q

What is the Soma of a neuron?

A

The metabolic and integrating centre. Also may be called the cell body

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12
Q

What is the function of an axon?

A

Rapid one way communication between the cell body and the axon terminals

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13
Q

What is the function of synaptic terminals?

A

Releases transmitters and communicates with other cells in a pathway or circuit

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14
Q

Name 4 common features of all neurons?

A

Dendrites, Soma, Axon, Synaptic terminals

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15
Q

What are the functions and features of an Astrocyte?

A

Form a bridge between the neuron and blood vessels. Structure, homeostasis and neuro-vascular communication. Large star shaped cell with multiple dendritic processes.

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16
Q

What are the functions and features of an Ependymal cell?

A

Form the lining of the ventricular system. Production and movement of CSF. Simple ciliated cuboidal epithelial cells.

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17
Q

What are the functions and features of Microglia?

A

Immune response (WBC’s of the CNS). Activated on trauma. Small glial cells with multiple processes. Over activation can cause problems in the CNS.

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18
Q

What are the functions and features of Oligodendroglia?

A

Myelin producing cells found in the CNS. Myelination and insulation of the axons. Large with broad processes.

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19
Q

What are the functions and features of Schwann cells?

A

Mylein producing cells in the PNS. Myelination and insulation of the axons. Large with broad processes.

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20
Q

What is the resting membrane potential in a neuron?

A

-70mV

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21
Q

What is the threshold potential in a neuron and what happens at this point?

A

-55mV All sodium channels open and there is a surge of sodium into the cell

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22
Q

The balance of what ions cause a action potential to fire in a neuron. How does this differ to a cardiac or a muscle cell?

A

Sodium and Potassium In a muscle or Cardiac cell there is also Calcium involved

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23
Q

Name the 6 phases in action potential firing

A

Rest Depolarisation AP firing Repolarisation Refractory period After-hyperpolarisation

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24
Q

What is Saltatory conduction?

A

The propagation of an action potential along a mylenated axon, from one node of Ranvier to another. This allows for faster transmission of the action potential, and therefore speeds up communication.

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25
Q

Name two Myelination disorders and what causes them

A

Multiple Sclerosis - Dysfunction in Oligodendrocytes in the CNS Guillian Barre - Dysfunction in Schwann cells in the PNS

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26
Q

What age is Myelination completed in the spinal cord and what is this important for?

A

Completed at 18 months. Essential in the spinal cord for control of motor function

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27
Q

What are the two types of synaptic transmission?

A

Chemical Electrical

28
Q

How do chemical synapses work?

A

Action potential reaches the axon terminal and depolarises the membrane causing voltage gaited sodium channels to open Sodium ions enter the cell, causing the pre-synaptic membrane to further depolarise This causes voltage gaited calcium channels to open and calcium to enter the cell This initiates a signalling sequence that causes the vesicle and pre-synaptic membrane to fuse Neurotransmitters released across the synaptic junction Neurotransmitters act on receptors in the postsynaptic terminal MAJOR DRUG TARGET

29
Q

How do electrical synapses work?

A

Pre-synaptic and Post-synaptic terminal join via channel proteins to form gap junction, resulting in a narrow gap between the membranes Allows currents to pass directly through the synapse and also allows molecules carrying the current through Can be bi-directional

30
Q

How do chemical and electrical synapses differ in transmission times?

A

Chemical = Fast transmission, slower cell to cell transmission but can cope with a higher frequency of activity Electrical = Slower transmission, faster cell to cell contact, but more effective at lower frequencies

31
Q

How is communication achieved between the nervous system and muscles?

A

Communication is achieved via the neuromuscular junction. Propergation of an action potential triggers exocyosis of Ach from the synaptic terminal Ach crosses the cleft and acts on cholinergic receptors in the motor end plate This initiates muscle contraction Impulse is carried through the muscle via T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulium

32
Q

What is the cause of Myaesthenia Gravis? How is it investigated?

A

Autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction Circulating anti-bodies block Ach receptors, causing them to not work properly; thereby stopping communication Slows muscle activity and reduces tone investigated using nerve conduction tests and electromyography

33
Q

What are the two main chemical transmitters used in the CNS? Are they excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Glutamate = Major excitatory trasmitter GABA = Major inhibitory transmitter

34
Q

Why is inhibition essential in communication of the nervous system? Name the 3 types of inhibition in the CNS

A

Key for coding of signal and activity in order to get a pattern Direct inhibition Lateral inhibition Dis-inhibition

35
Q

What factors does communication of the nervous system rely on? How do these factors help communication?

A

Inhibition = coding Synchrony = co-ordinates activity Plasticity = changes the strength of the signal

36
Q

How does direct inhibition aid in communication in the CNS? Give a example of a drug that can alter this

A

Excitatory neurons have regular firing in the absence of inhibition Inhibition produces patterns of activity (coding) Coding carries the information and can be read by the brain LSD increases firing of excitatory neurons, making it a good drug for depression Drugs that increase firing can lead to loss of coding and therefore can decrease the effectiveness of the brain and lead to psychological side effects

37
Q

How does lateral inhibition aid in communication in the CNS? What pathways is this type of inhibition normally found in?

A

Activation of excitatory cells also activates associated inhibitory cells Inhibition acts on neighbouring cells to reduce activity This strengthens the response of the cell directly stimulated Lateral inhibition can be seen in sensory pathways: Vision Touch Olfaction

38
Q

How does Dis-inhibition aid in communication in the CNS? Where is this process key in the CNS?

A

Activation of a inhibitory circuit leads to excitation Inhibition of a inhibitory cell results in excitation of the excitatory cell (2 negatives make a positive) This types of inhibition plays a vital role in the basal ganglia, as it shapes motor function

39
Q

How does synchrony modify communication in the CNS?

A

It changes strength at a network level This occurs cell to cell via gap junctions

40
Q

How is synchrony investigated?

A

Using a Electroencephalography (EEG)

41
Q

How does plasticity modify communication in the CNS?

A

Plasticity changes strength at a neuronal level It is the up or down regulation of synaptic strength, thereby making neurons change their behaviour

42
Q

What is the benefit of plasticity occurring at the level of a synapse? Name 3 ways this can occur

A

When changes occurring at the level of the synapse in order to regulate synaptic strength, this allows east reactivation of a circuit should a event ever happen again Changes in size (no of neurotransmitters receptors/vesicles etc) Changes in perforation (increase in receptor recycling/transmission) Change in independent synaptic release sites

43
Q

What is the difference between Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators?

A

Neurotransmitters act directly to alter neuronal activity Neuromodultors act on receptors or membranes to indirectly alter neuronal activity

44
Q

Describe the role and function of neurotransmitters in cell to cell communication. Indicate the difference between inhibitory and excitatory propagation

A

Neurotransmitters are used by neurons for rapid cell to cell communication. They are stored in the vesicles in the presynaptic terminal Nerve impulse arrives and calcium channels open Terminal is depolarised Calcium binds to the synaptic vesicle Synaptic vesicle fuses with pre-synaptic membrane Neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the ligand-gaited channel on the post-synaptic terminal Sodium enters the channel Action potential is generated Excitatory neurons propagate the signal onward, whereas inhibitory neurons block onwards propagation

45
Q

How do neuromodulators alter neuronal activity? What do neuromodulators act on?

A

Neuromodulators are co-localised with neurotransmitters. Found in vesicles. They act on receptors or membranes to indirectly alter neuronal activity by changing the sensitivity or kinetics of a neurotransmitter receptor Neuromodulators can also act on glial cells

46
Q

Name 2 excitatory neurotransmitters

A

Glutamate Aspartate

47
Q

Name 2 inhibitory neurotransmitters

A

GABA Glycine

48
Q

What is the main role of Adrenaline and Nora-adrenaline?

A

Stress and arousal

49
Q

What is the main role of dopamine?

A

Motivation/motor function

50
Q

Give 2 examples of neuromodulators and their roles

A

Vasopressin = osmoregualtion Somatostatin = Growth

51
Q

Give 3 examples of modulatory transmitters

A

NO CO ATP

52
Q

What are most neurological disorders linked to?

A

A change transmitter efficacy. Some can result for a single transmitter alteration, however in the majority of cases multiple pathways will be affected

53
Q

Name 3 disorders associated with 5HT

A

Migraine Fibromyaligia Depression

54
Q

What disease is associated with GABA?

A

Huntington’s

55
Q

What neurotransmitter is associated with Alzheimer’s?

A

Acetylcholine

56
Q

Name 2 disorders associated with Dopamine

A

Parkinson’s Schizophrenia

57
Q

If activation of one class of neuron can have knock on effects on other pathways, explain how Noradrenaline levels can indirectly affect GABA activity

A

Noradrenaline alters 5HT activity 5HT levels alter Dopamine activity Dopamine levels alter Acetlycholine activity Acetylcholine levels alter GABA activity

58
Q

Name 2 types of general receptors in the nervous system

A

Ionotropic G-protein linked receptors

59
Q

What are the roles of specialised receptors in the nervous system?

A

General and sensory sensation Responsive to particular stimuli Transduce physical to electrical energy

60
Q

Give 4 types of specialised receptors in the nervous system and their functions.

A

Mechanoreceptors = tactile sensation Thermoreceptors = temperature changes Nociceptors = painful/noxious stimuli Proprioceptors = detect changes in head and boy position

61
Q

What is a channelopathy?

A

Mutations in channel sub-units that cause a change in kinetics or sensitivity

62
Q

Give an example of a disorder caused by channelopathies, and a disorder that can cause channelopathies.

A

Developmental forms of epilepsy are caused Autoimmune disorders can cause

63
Q

How many types of subtype receptor is a drug normally targeted at?

A

One

64
Q

What is a polyvalent drug? Name a benefit of them

A

A non-selective drug, that can have effects on multiple sub-type receptors Have fewer side effects in the CNS

65
Q

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

A

Altered neuronal activity Altered synchrony Cellular changes Subcellular changes Genetic/Epigenetic changes

66
Q

What is the aim when treating neuronal and psychological disorders?

A

To restore balance leading to a good quality of life

Year 1 Neurology (26 decks)

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