Chapter 11: Fundamentals Of The Nervous System And Nervous Tissue Flashcards
What are the 3 overlapping functions of the nervous system?
1) Sensory input
2) Integration
3) Motor output
Sensory input
Information gathered by sensory receptors about internal and external changes
Integration
Processing and interpretation of sensory input
Motor output
Activation of effector organs (muscles and glands) produces a response
What 2 parts is the nervous stern spit into?
1) Central NS
2) Peripheral NS
Central NS
Contains brain and spinal cord of dorsal body cavity
- Integration and control center
• interprets sensory input and dictates motor output
Peripheral NS
Contains nerves that extend from brain and spinal cord
- Spinal nerves
- Cranial nerves
What are the 2 functional divisions of the peripheral NS?
1) Sensory (afferent) division
2) Motor (efferent) division
Sensory (afferent) division
Convey impulses to CNS
- Somatic sensory fibers
- Visceral sensory fibers
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
Transmits impulses from CNS to effector organs
Two divisions:
1) Somatic NS
2) Autonomous NS
Somatic NS
Function: conduct impulses from CNS to skeletal muscle
• Voluntary
Autonomous NS
Function: regulates smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands
• Involuntary
2 Functional Subdivisions:
1) Sympathetic
2) Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
Fight or flight
Parasympathetic
Resting; homeostasis; daily activities
What are the 2 cell types in the nervous tissue?
1) Neuroglia (glial cells)
2) Neurons (nerve cells)
Neuroglia (glial cells)
Small cells that surround and wrap delicate neurons
Neurons (nerve cells)
Excitable cells that transmit electrical signals
What are the 4 main neuroglia that support CNS neurons?
- Astrocytes
- Microglial cells
- Ependymal cells
- Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
- “star-like”
- Location: cling to neurons, synaptic endings and capillaries
- Function: exchanges between capillaries and neurons
Microglial cells
- Small, ovoid cells w/ thorny processes
* Function: touch and monitor neurons; migrate toward injured neurons
Ependymal cells
- Location: line the central cavities
* Function: forms semi-permeable barrier between cerebrospinal fluid in cavities and tissue fluid bathing
Oligodendrocytes
Function: wrap around CNS nerve fibers, forming insulating myelin sheaths in thicker nerve fibers
Myelin
A mixture of proteins and phospholipids forming a whitish insulating sheath around many nerve fibers, increasing the speed of the impulses
What are the 2 major neuroglia cells found in the PNS?
1) Satellite cells
2) Schwann cells
Satellite cells
- Location: surround neuron cell bodies in PNS
* Function: similar to astrocytes of CNS
Schwann cells
• Location: surround all peripheral nerve fibers and form myelin sheaths in thicker fibers
• Function: similar to oligodendrocytes
(Vital to regeneration of damaged peripheral nerve fibers)
Nuclei
Clusters of neuron cell bodies in CNS
Ganglia
Clusters of neuron cell bodies in PNS
Tracts
Bundles of neuron processes in CNS
Nerves
Bundles of neuron processes in PNS
What are the 2 types of processes?
1) Dendrites
2) Axon
Dendrites
Convey incoming messages toward cell body
Axon hillock
A cone-shaped area that the axon of each neuron starts
Nerve fibers
Long axons
Axon terminals
Distal endings
Describe myelin in the PNS
Myelin sheath gaps
- gaps between adjacent Schwann cells
Describe myelin in the CNS
- White matter
* Gray matter
White matter
Regions of brain and spinal cord with dense collections of myelinated fibers (usually fiber tracts)
Gray matter
Mostly neuron cell bodies and myelinated fibers