Chapter 11 Flashcards
The Nervous System
Controlling and communication system of body
Cells communicate via electrical and chemical signals
-Rapid
-Specific
-Usually cause almost immediate responses
Functions of Nervous System
Sensory Input -Information Integration -Processing Motor Output -Activation
Divisions of Nervous System
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Contents -Brain -Spinal Cord Location -Dorsal Body Cavity Function -Integration and control center --Interprets sensory input and dictates motor output
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Contents -Spinal nerves to and from spinal cord -Cranial nerves to and from brain Location -Outside brain and spinal cord
2 Functional Divisions Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Sensory (afferent) division
Motor (efferent) division
Sensory (Afferent) Division of PNS
- Somatic sensory fibers- convey impulses from skin, skeletal muscles, and joints to CNS
- Visceral sensory fibers- convey impulses from visceral organs to CNS
Motor (Efferent) Division of PNS
Transmits impulses from CNS to effector organs
-Muscles and Glands
2 Divisions of Motor (Efferent) Division
Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
Motor Division of PNS: Somatic Nervous System of PNS
Somatic motor nerve fibers
- Conducts impulses from CNS to skeletal muscle
- Voluntary nervous system
- -Conscious control of skeletal muscles
Motor Division of PNS: Autonomic Nervous System
Visceral motor nerve fibers Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands Involuntary nervous systems Two functional Subdivisions -Sympathetic -Parasympathetic
Histology of Nervous Tissue
Higher cellular: little extracellular space
-tightly packed
Two principle cell types
-Neuroglia- Small cell that wraps delicate neurons
-Neurons (nerve cells)- Nerve cells, functional unit
Histology of Nervous Tissue: Neuroglia
Astrocytes (CNS) Microglial Cells (CNS) Satellite Cells (PNS) Schwann Cells (PNS)
Astrocytes
Most abundant, versatile, and highly branched glial cells
Cling to neurons, synaptic endings, and capillaries
Astrocytes Function
- Support and brace neurons
- Play role in exchanges
- Guide migration of young neurons
- Control chemical environment around neurons
- Respond to nerve impulses and neurotransmitters
- Influence neuronal functioning
Microglial Cells
- Small, ovoid cells with thorny processes that touch and monitor neurons
- Migrates toward injured neurons
- Can transform to phagocytize microorganisms and neuronal debris
Satellite Cells
Surround neuron cell bodies in PNS
Function to similar to astrocytes
Schwann Cells
Surround all peripheral nerve fibers and form myelin sheaths in thicker nerve fibers
Regeneration
Neurons
Definition -Structural unit of nervous system Function -Conduct impulses Extreme longevity -100 years or more Amitotic- with few exceptions High metabolic rate All have cell body and one or more processes
Neuron Cell Body (Soma)
Center of neuron
-Synthesizes proteins, membranes, and other chemicals
Spherical nucleus with nucleolus
Most neuron cell bodies in CNS
-Nuclei- clusters of neuron cell bodies in CNS
Ganglia- lie along nerves in PNS
-Most common in Spinal Cord
Neuron Processes
Armlike processes extend from body Tracts -Bundles of neuron processes in CNS Nerves -Bundles of neuron processes in PNS Two types of Processes -Dendrites -Axons
Dendrites
In motor neurons
-Hundreds of short, tapering, diffusely branched processes
Receptive (input) region of neuron
-Convey incoming messages toward cell body as graded potentials (short distance signals)
Axon: Structure
One axon per cell -In some axon short or absent -In other most of length of cell -Some 1 meter long Long axons called nerve fibers Branches profusely at end (terminus) Distal endings call axon terminals
Axon: Functional Characteristics
Conducting region of neuron
Generates nerve impulses
Transmits the Axon Terminal
-Secretory region
-Neurotransmitters released into extracellular space
Carries on many conversations with different neurons at same time
Lacks rough ER and Golgi Apparatus
-Relies on cell body to renew proteins and membrane
-Efficient transport mechanisms
-Quickly decay if cut or damaged
Transport Along the Axon
Molecules and organelles are moved along axons
- Anterograde
- Retrograde
Anterograde
Away from cell body Examples -Mitochondria -Cytoskeleton elements -Membrane components -Enzymes
Retrograde
Toward body cell Examples -Organelles to be degraded -Signal molecules -Viruses - Bacterial toxins
Myelin Sheath
Composed of myelin
-Whitish, protein-lipoid substance
Segmented sheath around most long or large-diameter axons
-Myelinated Fibers
Nonnyelinated fibers conduct impulses more slowly
2 Functions of Myelin
Protects and electrically insulates axon
Increases speed of nerve impulses transmission
Myelin in PNS
Formed by Schwann Cells
-Jelly roll
-One cell forms one segment of myelin sheath
Myelin Sheath
-Concentric layers of Schwann Cells around axon
Myelination in PNS
Myelin Sheath gaps
-Gaps between adjacent Schwann cells
-Sites where axon collaterals can emerge
Myelin sheath gaps between adjacent Schwann Cells
-Sites where axon collaterals can emerge
Nonmyelinated fibers
Myelination in CNS
Can wrap up to 60 axons at once
Myelin Sheath gap is present
No outer collar of perinuclear cytoplasm
Thinnest fibers are unmyelinated
White Matter
-Regions of brain and spinal cord with dense collections of myelinated fibers
-Usually fiber tracts
Gray Matter
-Mostly neuron cell bodies and nonmyelinated fibers
Structural Classification of Neurons
Multipolar- 3 or more processes
- 1 axon, other dendrites
- Most common: major neuron in CNS
Functional Classification of Neurons
Grouped by direction in which nerve impulse travels relative to CNS 3 Types -Sensory (Afferent) -Motor (Efferent) -Interneurons
Functional Classifications of Neurons: Sensory
- Transmit impulses from sensory receptors toward CNS
- Cell bodies in ganglia in PNS
Functional Classifications of Neurons: Motor
- Carry impulses from CNS to effectors
- Most cell bodies in CNS
Functional Classifications of Neurons: Interneurons
- Lie between motor and sensory neurons
- Shuttle signals through CNS pathways
- 99% of body’s neurons
- Most confined in CNS
Membrane Potential
- Excitability
- Respond to adequate stimulus by generating an action potential
- -Action Potential- Nerve Impulse
- Impulse is the same as each neuron
Voltage
A measure of potential energy generated by separated charge
- Volts (V) or Milivolts (mV)
- Called Potential Difference
- Greater charge difference between points = higher voltage
Current
Flow of electrical charge (ions) between two points
Resistance
Hindrance to charge flow
- Insulator
- Conductor
Ohm’s Law
The relationship of voltage, current, resistance
Current= voltage/resistance
-Current is directly proportional to voltage
-Current inversely related to resistance
-No net current flow between points with same potential
Role of Membrane Ion Channels
Large proteins: Ion channels
Two main types of ion channels
-Leakage (nongated) Channels
-Gated Channels