Chapter 1 : Studying the Nervous system + Anatomy appendix Flashcards
Neuroscience is the study of…
how the nervous systems of humans are organized, how they develop and how they function to generate behaviour
Neural circuits are…
subsets of neurons and glia
Neural systems are made of…
many neural circuits
The three types of neural systems are:
SAM: sensory, associational, motor
Sensory neural systems report…
sensory information about the state of organism and environment (external/internal sensory info)
Motor neural systems…
organize and generate actions
Associational neural systems provide…
higher-order brain functions such as PA-MELT: perception, attention, memory, emotions, language, thinking
A gene comprises which DNA sequences?
Coding DNA sequences and regulatory DNA sequences
Genomics is…
the analysis of complete DNA sequences (both coding and regulatory)
Genomics provided insight on what?
How nuclear DNA helps determine the assembly and operation of the brain and rest of nervous system
True or false: A single gene can encode information for a variety of protein products
True
True or false: The mutation of a single gene can lead to neurological or psychiatric disorders.
True
The central nervous system is made of…
The brain and the spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system is made of
Sensory neurons, somatic motor division, autonomic motor division
What theory did Golgi support?
The reticular theory
The reticular theory states that
all neurons formed a single, continuously connected network
What theory did Ramon y Cajal support?
The neuron doctrine
The neuron doctrine states that
neurons communicate at specialized contact points rather than trough physical continuity
What did Sherrington do?
He identified the points of communication between neurons as synapses
What scientific development provided the ultimate proof of the neuron doctrine and how?
The development of electron microscopy (1950s) because it allowed us to visualize synapses and confirm that neurons were discrete entities
What are the primary cells of the brain?
Neurons and glia
What are the roles of neurons?
- process information
- sense environmental changes
- communicate changes to other neurons via electrical signaling
- control bodily responses
What are the roles of glia?
- support the signaling functions of neurons
- insulate, nourish, repair neurons
What is an action potential?
All or nothin change in electrical potential across the neuronal cell membrane
True or false: dendrites convey information
True
True or false: axons integrate information coming from dendrites and convert it to an electrical signal
True
True or false: axons only innervate one unique post-synaptic site
False: axons can branch to innervate multiple post-synaptic sites on multiple neurons
What are neurotransmitters and what do they do?
Specialized molecules that are released from the presynaptic terminal, cross the synaptic cleft, and bind receptors in the post synaptic density
What are nodes of Ranvier?
Gaps in the myelination of axons where action potentials are generated/regenerated
Glia is greek for what word?
glue
What are the 6 functions of glia?
- 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
What are the types of glia?
SAMOSA: Schwann cells, Astrocytes, Microglia, Oligodendrocytes, (Glial) Stem Cells
Where are the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes located?
Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
What is the equivalent of oligodendrocytes in the PNS?
Schwann cells
Where are Schwann cells located?
PNS
What is the role of oligodendrocytes?
Lay down myelin around axons, regulate speed of transmission of action potentials
What is the role of Schwann cells?
Provide myelin in the PNS
What is the role of astrocytes?
Maintain appropriate chemical environment for neuronal signaling, including formation of the BBB
True or false:
Recent evidence suggests astrocytes secrete
substances to influence construction of new synaptic
connections
True
What is the role of microglia?
- 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)
What is the role of glial stem cells?
Proliferate and generate additional precursor cells or differentiated glia or neurons
What is the role of afferent neurons?
Carry info toward the CNS
What is the role of efferent neurons?
Carry info away from CNS
What is the role of interneurons?
Participate in local aspects of circuit function