Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

NSCI201 > Chapter 1 : Studying the Nervous system + Anatomy appendix > Flashcards

Chapter 1 : Studying the Nervous system + Anatomy appendix Flashcards

1
Q

Neuroscience is the study of…

A

how the nervous systems of humans are organized, how they develop and how they function to generate behaviour

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

Neural circuits are…

A

subsets of neurons and glia

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

Neural systems are made of…

A

many neural circuits

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

The three types of neural systems are:

A

SAM: sensory, associational, motor

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

Sensory neural systems report…

A

sensory information about the state of organism and environment (external/internal sensory info)

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

Motor neural systems…

A

organize and generate actions

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

Associational neural systems provide…

A

higher-order brain functions such as PA-MELT: perception, attention, memory, emotions, language, thinking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

A gene comprises which DNA sequences?

A

Coding DNA sequences and regulatory DNA sequences

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

Genomics is…

A

the analysis of complete DNA sequences (both coding and regulatory)

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

Genomics provided insight on what?

A

How nuclear DNA helps determine the assembly and operation of the brain and rest of nervous system

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

True or false: A single gene can encode information for a variety of protein products

A

True

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

True or false: The mutation of a single gene can lead to neurological or psychiatric disorders.

A

True

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

The central nervous system is made of…

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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

The peripheral nervous system is made of

A

Sensory neurons, somatic motor division, autonomic motor division

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

What theory did Golgi support?

A

The reticular theory

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

The reticular theory states that

A

all neurons formed a single, continuously connected network

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

What theory did Ramon y Cajal support?

A

The neuron doctrine

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

The neuron doctrine states that

A

neurons communicate at specialized contact points rather than trough physical continuity

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

What did Sherrington do?

A

He identified the points of communication between neurons as synapses

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

What scientific development provided the ultimate proof of the neuron doctrine and how?

A

The development of electron microscopy (1950s) because it allowed us to visualize synapses and confirm that neurons were discrete entities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the primary cells of the brain?

A

Neurons and glia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the roles of neurons?

A
  • process information
  • sense environmental changes
  • communicate changes to other neurons via electrical signaling
  • control bodily responses
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are the roles of glia?

A
  • support the signaling functions of neurons

- insulate, nourish, repair neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is an action potential?

A

All or nothin change in electrical potential across the neuronal cell membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

True or false: dendrites convey information

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

True or false: axons integrate information coming from dendrites and convert it to an electrical signal

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

True or false: axons only innervate one unique post-synaptic site

A

False: axons can branch to innervate multiple post-synaptic sites on multiple neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are neurotransmitters and what do they do?

A

Specialized molecules that are released from the presynaptic terminal, cross the synaptic cleft, and bind receptors in the post synaptic density

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are nodes of Ranvier?

A

Gaps in the myelination of axons where action potentials are generated/regenerated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Glia is greek for what word?

A

glue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What are the 6 functions of glia?

A
  • MAINTAINING the ionic milieu of neurons
  • MODULATING the rate of action potential propagation
  • MODULATING synaptic transmission by regulating neurotransmitter uptake at the synaptic cleft
  • REGULATING recovery from neural injury
  • INTERFACE between brain and immune system
  • FACILITATING flow of interstitial fluid through the brain during sleep
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are the types of glia?

A

SAMOSA: Schwann cells, Astrocytes, Microglia, Oligodendrocytes, (Glial) Stem Cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Where are the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes located?

A

Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the equivalent of oligodendrocytes in the PNS?

A

Schwann cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Where are Schwann cells located?

A

PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the role of oligodendrocytes?

A

Lay down myelin around axons, regulate speed of transmission of action potentials

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is the role of Schwann cells?

A

Provide myelin in the PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is the role of astrocytes?

A

Maintain appropriate chemical environment for neuronal signaling, including formation of the BBB

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

True or false:
Recent evidence suggests astrocytes secrete
substances to influence construction of new synaptic
connections

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is the role of microglia?

A
  • They are primarily scavenger cells that remove cellular debris from sites of injury or cell turnover
  • They also secrete signaling molecules, particularly cytokines (immune signaling molecules)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is the role of glial stem cells?

A

Proliferate and generate additional precursor cells or differentiated glia or neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is the role of afferent neurons?

A

Carry info toward the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What is the role of efferent neurons?

A

Carry info away from CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What is the role of interneurons?

A

Participate in local aspects of circuit function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Divergent neural circuit…

A

spread information

46
Q

Convergent neural circuit…

A

integrate information

47
Q

What are the two types of electrophysiological recordings?

A

Extracellular recording and intracellular recording

48
Q

What is extracellular recording?

A

An electrode is placed near a neuron and detects temporal patterns of action potetial activity

49
Q

What is intracellular recording?

A

An electrode is placed inside the neuron and detects smaller, graded changes in electrical potential that trigger action potentials

50
Q

What is calcium imaging?

A

Recording of transient changes in the concentration of calcium ions that are associated with action potential firing to infer changes in neural activity

51
Q

What are optogenetics?

A
  • Can assess physiology of neural circuits based on activity of neuronal populations
  • Inject bacteria (opsins) that , when they have a light on them, react bu transducing light energy into a chemical signal that activates channel proteins
52
Q

What is the role of sensory neural systems?

A

acquire and process information from the internal and external environment

53
Q

What is the role of motor systems?

A

respond to information by generating movement

54
Q

What is the role of association systems?

A

lie between input and output systems

55
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of neural systems?

A
  • unity of function
  • orderly representation of specific information at various levels
  • division of the function of the system into subsystems that are relayed and processed in parallel
56
Q

What are topographic maps?

A

Topographic maps reflect a point-to-point correspondence between the sensory periphery and neurons within CNS

57
Q

What is gray matter?

A

cell bodies in the brain, appear grey in freshly dissected brain

58
Q

what is a cortex?

A

thin sheet of neurons, usually at the brain’s surface

59
Q

what is a nucleus?

A

clearly distinguishable mass of neurons, usually deep in the brain

60
Q

what is substantia?

A

related neurons but with less distinct boundaries than a nucleus

61
Q

what is a locus?

A

small, well-defined group of cells

62
Q

what is a ganglion?

A

collection of neurons in the PNS. There is only the basal ganglia that is present in the CNS

63
Q

What is a nerve?

A

a bundle of axons in the PNS. Only nerve in the CNS is the optic
nerve

64
Q

What is white matter?

A

generic term for collection of axons; appear white from

myelination

65
Q

What is a tract?

A

collection of CNS axons having common origin and destination

66
Q

what is a bundle?

A

collection of axons that run together but do not necessarily have a
common origin/destination

67
Q

what is a capsule?

A

axon collection that connects cerebrum with brainstem

68
Q

what is a commissure?

A

axon collection that connects one side of the brain to the

other

69
Q

what is a leminiscus?

A

a tract that meanders through the brain like a ribbon

70
Q

What is the genetic analysis of the neural system?

A

Involves studying the genetic variation that shapes structure and function of the NS

71
Q

What are genome wide association studies (GWAS)>

A 
Large scale population
studies that assesses
statistical correlation
between genetic variation
and frequency of
clinically diagnoses
conditions to identify ‘risk
locus’ for a particular
condition
72
Q

What did Henry Molaison lose after the ablation of his hippocampus?

A

HM lost the ability to form new lasting autobiographical memory.

73
Q

What is tract tracing?

A

Consists of injecting a tracer that allows detailed assessments of connections between brain regions

74
Q

What are the two types of tract tracing?

A

Retrograde: you see where information comes from
Anterograde: you see where information goes

75
Q

What are the ways to do a functional analysis of neural systems?

A

Electrophysiological recording and functional brain imaging:

EEG, TMS, CT, fMRI

76
Q

What is the role of the cerebrum?

A

Generally receives and sends information to the contralateral side of the body

77
Q

What is the role of the cerebellum?

A

Also called tiny brain, it contains as many neurons as the cerebrum. It’s responsible for movement control

78
Q

What is the role of the brain stem?

A

It is a relay between cerebrum/cerebellum and spinal cord. It is responsible for basic vital functions such as breathing.

79
Q

How does sensory information travel to the spinal cord?

A

It is carried by afferent axons of the spinal nerves and enters the spinal cord via the dorsal roots

80
Q

How do motor commands leave the spinal cord?

A

They are carried by efferent axons and leave the spinal cord via the ventral roots

81
Q

What is inside the spinal cord?

A

The interior of the cord is formed by gray matter, surrounded by white matter

82
Q

What is the role of cervical and lumbosacral enlargements>

A 
They enlargements accommodate
the greater number of nerve cells and connections
required to process
information from upper and
lower limbs
83
Q

What are the 3 parts of the white matter of the spinal cord?

A

LVD (Louis Vuitton Dior): dorsal, lateral and ventral columns

84
Q

What do dorsal columns carry?

A

Ascending information from somatic mechanoreceptors

85
Q

What do lateral columns include?

A

Axons that travel from the cerebral cortex to interneurons and motor neurons in the ventral horns

86
Q

What do ventral columns carry?

A

Both ascending information about pain and temperature AND descending motor information from the brainstem and motor cortex

87
Q

What are the 2 parts of the gray matter of the spinal cord?

A

Dorsal and ventral horns

88
Q

What do neurons of the dorsal horns receive?

A

Sensory information that enters via the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves

89
Q

What do the ventral horns contain?

A

They contain the cell bodies of motor neurons that send axons via the ventral roots of spinal nerves to striated muscles

90
Q

What is the brainstem and cranial nerves?

A

Midbrain and pons & medulla

91
Q

What are the 3 fundamental functions of the brainstem and cranial nerves?

A
  1. Target and source cranial nerves that deal with sensory and motor function of head & neck
  2. A throughway for (ascending sensory tracts, head&neck, descending motor tracts from forebrain, local pathway linking eye movement centers)
  3. regulating levels of consciousness through extensive forebrain projections
92
Q

Structure of Brainstem and cranial nerves

A
  • brainstem structures are tightly packed
  • cranial nerve nuclei in brainstem are the target of cranial sensory nerves and the source of cranial motor nerves
  • there is a seperation of sensory and motor nuclei in the brain stem (sensory nuclei - laterally) (motor nuclei - medially)
93
Q

Lateral surface of the brain

A

Lateral fissure separates temporal lobe from frontal & parietal lobes
• Central sulcus separates frontal and parietal lobes
• Parieto-occipital sulcus separate parietal and occipital lobes

94
Q

Lateral surface of the brain (ii)

A
  • Precentral gyrus locates motor cortex
  • Postcentral gyrus locates somatic sensory cortex
  • Insula cortex is hidden beneath frontal and temporal lobes
95
Q

Dorsal and ventral surfaces of the brain

A
  • Bilateral symmetry of cerebral hemispheres
  • Corpus callosum bridges the two hemispheres, carrying axons originating from:
    • neurons in cerebral cortex of each hemisphere to
      contact target neurons in the opposite cortical region
96
Q

Midsagittal surface of the brain

A
  • Calcarinesulcuslocates primary visual cortex
  • Cingulate gyrus is part of limbic system
  • Corpuscallosum
97
Q

Components of the diencephalon

A
  • Components of diencephalon:
  • Thalamus- relay of sensory and motor signal to relevant primary cortical cortex and also distributer of high order signals from one part of cortical area to another.
  • Hypothalamus- homeostatic and reproductive functions
98
Q

The thalamus: a cortical relay

A
  • The sensory pathways from the eye, ear, and skin all relay in the thalamus before terminating in the cerebral cortex
  • ~50 nuclear subdivisions maintain distinct inputs & outputs
99
Q

How does the thalamus receive input?

A

• Receives input from throughout brain and spinal cord
• Sends axons to different cortical areas
◼ Sends information back to brain stem via internal capsule and basal ganglia

100
Q

Explain the internal anatomy of forebrain

A
  • Amygdala located in front of hippocampus
  • Basal ganglia: caudate, putamen & globus pallidus
  • Anteriorcommissure- axon tract connecting the two hemispheres
  • Internalcapsule-major pathway linking cerebral cortex to brain & spinal cord
101
Q

What causes major blood vessels to be damaged?

A
  • Damage to major blood vessels by trauma or stroke results in combinations of functional deficits caused by
  • Local cell death
  • Disruption of axons passing through area of vascular
    damage
  • Neurons are highly sensitive to oxygen (& glucose) deprivation because they have a high metabolic rate
102
Q

What happens if major blood vessels are damaged?

A
  • Even brief loss of blood supply (ischemia) can cause cellular changes that may end in cell death
  • Prolonged loss of blood supply leads to cell death & degeneration
  • A ‘stroke’ refers to the death or dysfunction of brain tissue that follows compromised blood supply
103
Q

What is the role of the blood brain barrier? (BBB)

A
  • BBB protects the brain from toxins & fluctuations in ionic milieu
  • Interface between walls of capillaries and surrounding tissue are observed throughout the body
  • In the brain, tight junctions form between capillary endothelial cells that are not seen elsewhere in the body
104
Q

How do molecules enter the brain?

A
  • To enter the brain, molecules must move through endothelial membranes:
    - Lipid soluble
    - Actively transported e.g. glucose
105
Q

What are the the two meniges?

A
  1. Aranchinoid membrane

2. Pia mater

106
Q

What is the arachinoid membrane?

A

middle layer of the menige with a web like consistency from the greek word ‘spider’

107
Q

What happens if blood vessels pass between the dura and arachnoid membranes?

A
  • can cause subdural hematomas

- fluid build here is dangerous because it puts pressure on CNS

108
Q

What is the Pia mater?

A

inner layer adheres closely to the brain and includes many vessels; latin for ‘gentle mother’

separated from the arachnoid by the subarachnoid space containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

109
Q

What are ventricles?

A
  • canals through the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid

(CSF)

110
Q

What is CSF - cerebrospinal fluid?

A
  • CSF is produced by the choroid plexus, special tissue lining the ventricles of the brain
  • CSF turnover multiple times daily
  • flows into the subarachnoid space by small openings along the dorsal midline of the forebrain, where it is absorbed by subarachnoid villi into the blood
111
Q

What is the Glymphatic system of the brain?

A
  • The brains waste clearance system
  • CSF passes from arterial perivascular space through the substance of the brain
  • The CSF rinses metabolic waste and discarded proteins
  • The waste-carrying CSF passes out of the brain via the perivascular space surrounding veins
  • CSF flow increases during sleep when extracellular spaces expand

NSCI201 (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions