Chapter 11: Fundamentals of the Nervous System Flashcards
Nervous System Functions
receive sensor info (sensory input); process and interpret sensory input (integration); generate a response (motor output via muscles or glands)
Effectors are..
muscles or glands
What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?
central nervous system (CNS)- brain and spinal cord only; peripheral nervous system (PNS)- other nerves that are not the brain and spinal cord, cranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia
CNS
interprets sensory input; dictates motor output based on reflexes, current conditions, and past experiences
PNS
links all parts of the body to central nervous system
What are the two types of nervous tissue cells?
neuroglia (glial) cells and neurons
Neuroglia Cells
glial cells; support cells; 10x more abundant than neurons
What are the four types of glial cells in the CNS?
astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
most numerous and diverse type; interconnected via gap junctions; assist in exchanges between capilaries and neurons
Microglial Cells
defensive cells of CNS; transform into a type of macrophage that phagocytizes invading microorganisms
Ependymal Cells
ciliated cells that line central cavities of the brian and spinal cord; help CIRCULATE cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Oligodendrocytes
have processes that wrap around thick axons in the CNS forming thick myelin sheaths
What are the two types of glial cells in the PNS?
satellite cells and schwann cells
Satellite Cells
flattened cells that surround cell bodies of neurons in the PNS; thought to have same functions as astrocytes
Schwann Cells
surround thick axons in PNS forming thick myelin sheaths; functionally similar to oligodendrocytes
Neurons
nerve cells; the structural/functional units of the nervous system
Characteristics of Neurons
excitable; extremely long lived; amitotic (lose ability to divide); very high metabolic rate (require continuous supply of oxygen and glucose)
Structure of Neurons
all have a cell body and one or more processes
Neuron Cell Body
contains typical organelles; very large nucleus with distinct nucleolus, abundant mitochondria; most neuron cell bodies are in the CNS
Nuclei
cluster of cell bodies found in CNS
Ganglia
clusters of cell bodies found in PNS
Neuron Processes
extend from cell bodies; include dendrites and axon
Dendrite
main receptive region; 1 or more per neuron; convery INCOMING information (graded potentials) TOWARD CELL BODY
Axon
conducting region (generally conducts action potentials); only ONE per neuron
Nerve
cluster of axons in the PNS
Tract
cluster of axons in the CNS
Most long or large axons are…
Myelinated; covered with a fatty myelin sheath
Myelin Sheaths
protects and insulates AXONS; increases speed of action potential; formed by oligodendrocytes (CNS) or schwann cells (PNS)
ADD HOW MYELIN SHEATHS FORM
Dendrites are…
NEVER myelinated
Structural Classification of Neurons
based on number of processes extending from cell body; includes mulipolar, bipolar, and unipolar
Multipolar Neurons
many processes; all are dendrites except for single axon; most common and major type
Bipolar Neurons
two processes; 1 dendrite and 1 axon; rare, found in some special sensory organs