Chapter 11: nervous system Flashcards
What are the 3 functions of the nervous system?
1) SENSORY INPUT: collection of stimuli
2) INTEGRATION: interpretation of the sensory information and decide response
3) MOTOR OUTPUT: activation of effector organs (muscles and glands) to produce a response
What type of neuron fulfills each of the three functions of the nervous system?
Sensory neurons receive stimuli
Interneurons (association neurons) interpret and decide
Motor neurons produce response
What are the 2 main divisions of the nervous system?
CNS = brain and spinal cord (integration and command)
PNS = paired spinal and cranial nerves that carry messages to and from the CNS
What are the 2 functional divisions of the PNS?
SENSORY (afferent) division
MOTOR (efferent) division
What are the 2 subdivisions under the sensory (afferent) division of the PNS?
somatic afferent fibers carry info away from skin, skeletal muscles, and joints
visceral afferent fibers carry info from visceral organs
What are the 2 subdivisions under the motor (efferent) division of the PNS?
Somatic (voluntary) nervous system:
- conscious control of skeletal muscles
Autonomic (involuntary) nervous system (ANS)
- unconscious control
- regulates smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
What are the two subdivisions of the ANS (autonomic (involuntary) nervous system)?
Sympathetic
Parasympathetic
What are the two major cell types of the nervous tissue?
NEURONS: excitable cells that carry info by transmitting electrical signals
NEUROGLIAL (accessory) cells that assist neurons
What are the 4 kinds of neuroglial cells in the CNS?
ASTROCYTES
MICROGLIA
EPENDYMAL cells
OLIGODENDROCYTES
What are astrocytes and what is there function?
They are the most abundant cell, they are star shaped and highly branched
- SUPPORT and ANCHOR the neurons to capillaries
- TRANSFER glucose from blood to neurons
- GUIDE GROWTH of young neurons - aid in synapse formation
- control ION CONTENT around neurons (remove excess K+)
- signal each other and influence neuron signals
What do microglia look like and what do they do?
Small ovoid cells with thorny processes
- MONITOR condition of neurons
- MIGRATE toward injured neurons
- convert to MACROPHAGES to phagocytize microorganisms and debris
What do ependymal cells look like and what do they do?
range in shape from squamous to columnar
- line the central cavities of the brain and spinal column
- cilia move the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)
- form the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER
What do oligodendrocytes look like and what do they do?
large branched cells
- Processes wrap around several nerve fibers, FORMING insulating MYELIN SHEATHS
- Gaps between are called NODES OF RANVIER
What are the 2 types of neuroglial cells in the PNS?
SATELLITE CELLS
SCHWANN CELLS
What do satellite cells do?
- surround neuron cell bodies in the PNS
- same role as astrocytes in CNS
- support, nurture, control environment around cell bodies
What do schwann cells do?
smaller than oligodendrocytes
- surround peripheral nerve fibers and form myelin sheaths
- gaps between cells called nodes of ranvier
- vital to regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers
What are the 5 special characteristics for neurons?
1) long lived (100 yrs plus)
2) amitotic (don’t divide, with a few exceptions)
3) high metabolic rate (depends on continuous supply of oxygen and glucose b/c it can’t store its own)
4) irritable - respond to stimuli
5) plasma membrane functions in electrical signaling
What are the two other names for the cell body of a neuron?
perikaryon or soma
What organelles do neurons lack?
centrioles (do not divide)
What is the rough ER of a neuron called? what is significant about this feature?
Nissl bodies:
- they are specialized while developed rough ER and are there because the neurons need to produce large numbers of proteins/neurotransmitters.
What is a cluster of cell bodies in the CNS called?
Nucleus
What is a cluster of cell bodies in the PNS called?
Ganglion
What are the two types of neural appendages?
dendrites - receive input
axon - the cells output
How many axons are there per neuron?
1
Where are stimuli integrated?
at the axon hump.
What is longer, an axon or a dendrite?
axons
What happens to an axon if it is cut? why?
it degenerates quickly because it has no ER or Golgi bodies and depends on transport of proteins from the neuron’s body
What makes up the myelin sheath?
proteins and lipids (think of cell membranes that are wrapped around the axon)
What are the functions of the myelin sheath?
- PROTECT and electrically INSULATE axon
- increase SPEED of nerve impulse
How are axons myelinated in the PNS?
many schwann cells wrap many times around the axon
- myelin sheath is made of concentric layers of Schwann cell membrane
- NEURILEMMA: peripheral bulge of Schwann cell cytoplasm (outer layer)
What is the neurilemma?
the peripheral bulge of schwann cell cytoplasm; the outer layer.
(because schwann cell, only in the PNS not CNS)
How is nerve tissue myelinated in the CNS?
formed by oligodendrocytes
- much larger than schwann cells
- each cell may myelinate multiple axons
- formed by the processes of oligodendrocytes, not the whole cell
contains nodes of ranvier, but no neurilemma
What makes up grey matter?
non-myelinated fibers