Chapter 2 - Functional Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Phrenology
studying the shape of the head
Gross neuroanatomy
features of the nervous system visible to the naked
central nervous system (CNS
consists of the brain and spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system
all parts of the nervous system found outside the skull and spinal column
peripheral nervous system three components:
The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves, or bundles of axons, and has three components: 1. Cranial nerves–connected to the brain 2. Spinal nerves–also called somatic nerves, connected to the spinal cord 3. Autonomic nervous system–primarily controls glands and internal organs
Spinal nerves or somatic nerves two distinct branches, or roots:
Spinal nerves or somatic nerves–31 pairs Each spinal nerve is the fusion of two distinct branches, or roots: 1. Dorsal (back) root–carries sensory information from the body to the spinal cord 2. Ventral (front) root–carries motor information from the spinal cord to the muscles
Preganglionic neurons
run from the CNS to the autonomic ganglia.
Postganglionic neurons
run from the autonomic ganglia to targets in the body.
autonomic ganglia
A Group of neurons that are located outside the CNS.
The autonomic nervous system And the three major divisions:
spans the central and peripheral nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system has three major divisions: 1. Sympathetic nervous system 2. Parasympathetic nervous system 3. Enteric nervous system
Neurons
or nerve cells, are the most important part of the nervous system
Glial cells
provide support for neurons.
Neuron doctrine
states that: The brain is composed of independent cells. Information is transmitted from cell to cell across synapses.
A neuron has four zones
- Input zone–receives information from other cells through dendrites 2. Integration zone–cell body (or soma) region where inputs are combined and transformed 3. Conduction zone–single axon leads away from the cell body and transmits the electrical impulse 4. Output zone–axon terminals at the end of the axon communicate activity to other cells
Functions of Neurons
- Motoneurons (motor neurons) stimulate muscles or glands. 2. Sensory neurons respond to environmental stimuli, such as light, odor, or touch. 3. Interneurons receive input from and send input to other neurons
Glial Cells Four types
Glial cells support neuronal activity 1. Astrocytes–star-shaped cells with many processes that receive neuronal input and monitor activity 2. Microglial cells, or microglia–small cells that remove debris from injured cells 3. Oligodendrocytes are glial cells that form myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord. 4. Schwann cells provide myelin to cells outside the brain and spinal cord. Glial cells respond to injury by edema, or swelling, and are also susceptible to tumors.
Myelination
Myelination–the process in which glial cells wrap axons with a fatty sheath, myelin, to insulate and speed conduction
Nodes of Ranvier
gaps between sections of myelin where the axon is exposed
Multiple sclerosis
a demyelinating disease
Synapses three components
Synapses have three components: 1. Presynaptic membrane–on the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron 2. Postsynaptic membrane–on the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic neuron 3. Synaptic cleft–a gap that separates the membranes
Golgi stains
fill the whole cell, including details, but only stain a small proportion of neurons. Fluorescent molecule injections give a similar result.
Nissl stains
outline all cell bodies because the dyes are attracted to RNA, which encircles the nucleus.
glial cells
Also called glia or neuroglia. Nonneuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain. Glial cells are of clinical interest for several reasons. Unlike neurons, glial cells continue to divide throughout life, and consequently they form many of the types of tumors that arise in the brain. Some glial cells, especially astrocytes, respond to brain injury by changing in size—that is, by swelling.
neuron doctrine
The hypothesis that the brain is composed of separate cells that are distinct structurally, metabolically, and functionally. 1) the brain is composed of separate neurons and other cells that are independent structurally, metabolically, and functionally; and (2) Information is transmitted from cell to cell across tiny gaps.






















