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PSYCO 275 > Chapter 3: Anatomy of the Nervous System > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Anatomy of the Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What does the CNS contain?

A

The skull and the spinal cord

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2
Q

What does the PNS contain?

A

Everything outside of the skull and spine

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3
Q

Where is the somatic NS? What does it do?

A

In the PNS. Interacts with the external environment.

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4
Q

Where is the autonomic NS? What does it do?

A

In the PNS. Regulates the body’s internal environment.

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5
Q

What are afferent nerves?

A

Nerves that carry signals towards the CNS.

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6
Q

What are efferent nerves?

A

Nerves that carry signals away from the CNS.

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7
Q

Where are the sympathetic nerves located?

A

Located in the thoracic and lumbar spine.

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8
Q

Where are the parasympathetic nerves located?

A

Located in the brain and sacral spine.

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9
Q

What does the fact that parasympathetic/sympathetic nerves are “two-stage” neural paths mean?

A

The neurons project from the CNS and only go part of the way to the target organs before they synapse on other neurons that finish the journey.W

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10
Q

What is the difference between the two stages of the parasympathetic and sympathetic neural paths and their respective second-stage neurons?

A

Parasympathetic: the transfer happens very close to the target (second-stage neurons are very short)
Sympathetic: the transfer happens far away from the target (second-stage neurons are relatively long)

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11
Q

What are the parasympathetic and sympathetic NS’s responsible for?

A

Parasympathetic: psychological relaxation/fight or flight(think: para-lyzed)
Sympathetic: psychological arousal/rest and digest

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12
Q

Where do most PNS nerves project from? What is the exception?

A

Most PNS nerves project from the spinal cord.

Exception: the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, which project from the brain

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13
Q

What are the 12 pairs of cranial nerves?

A 
olfactory
optic
oculomotor
trochlear
trigeminal
abducens
facial
vestibulocochlear
glossopharyngeal
vagus
spinal accessory
hypoglossal
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14
Q

How do the functions of cranial nerves give information and clues about possible diagnoses for patients?

A

Because the nerves are located in specific areas of the brain and have specific functions, disruptions of particular nerve functions can show location and extent of problems in the brain.

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15
Q

What 3 things are the brain and spinal cord protected by?

A

Bone and 3 meninges (protective membranes), cerebrospinal fluid

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16
Q

What are the 3 meninges?

A

Outer: dura mater
Middle: arachnoid membrane/subarachnoid space
Inner: pia mater

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17
Q

Where is cerebrospinal fluid likely produced?

A

The choroid plexuses

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18
Q

What is the blood-brain barrier?

A

A filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood to the brain and spinal cord tissue, blocking the passage of certain substances.

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19
Q

Which cranial nerves are purely sensory?

A

Olfactory and Optic

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20
Q

Which cranial nerves are the longest?

A

Vagus

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21
Q

A tumor near the ____ ____ can produce hydrocephalus.

A

Cerebral aqueduct

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22
Q

What are the two types of cells in the nervous system?

A

Neurons and glial cells.

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23
Q

What is the neuron cell membrane composed of?

A

A lipid bilayer, embedded with protein molelcules

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24
Q

What is a multipolar neuron?

A

The most common neuron, with more than two processes extending from its cell body.

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25
Q

What is a unipolar neuron?

A

A neuron with one process extending from its cell body.

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26
Q

What is a bipolar neuron?

A

A neuron with two processes extending from its cell body.

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27
Q

What are interneurons? What is their function?

A

Neurons with a short axon or no axon at all. They integrate neural activity within a single brain structure, rather than conduct signals from one to another.

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28
Q

What are the two kinds of gross neural structures in the nervous system?

A

Those composed of cell bodies, those composed of axons.

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29
Q

In the CNS, what are cell body clusters called?

A

Nuclei

30
Q

In the PNS, what are cell body clusters called?

A

Ganglia

31
Q

In the CNS, what are bundles of axons called?

A

Tracts

32
Q

In the PNS, what are bundles of axons called?

A

Nerves

33
Q

What are oligodendrocytes?

A

A type of glial cell with extensions that wrap around the axons of neurons in the CNS to form a myelin sheath.

34
Q

What is the purpose of a myelin sheath?

A

To increase the speed and efficiency of axonal conduction.

35
Q

What are Schwann cells?

A

A type of glial cell that occurs only in the PNS, with only one axon segment each.

36
Q

What do microglia do?

A

Respond to injury/disease by multiplying, engulfing debris and triggering inflammation.

37
Q

What are astrocytes?

A

Star-shaped glial cells in the CNS.

38
Q

What is a Golgi stain?

A

A stain that allows one to see a single neuron in its entirety.

39
Q

What is a Nissl stain?

A

A stain that binds only to neuron cell bodies. Allows one to see the number of neurons in an area.

40
Q

What is electron microscopy?

A

A technique that allows one to examine the internal structure of neurons.

41
Q

What are the two types of neuroanatomical tracing?

A

Anterograde and retrograde

42
Q

What are anterograde tracing methods used for?

A

To trace the paths of axons projecting away from cell bodies and towards the brain.

43
Q

What are retrograde tracing methods used for?

A

To trace the paths of axons projecting towards cell bodies and away from the brain.

44
Q

What does anterior mean?

A

Towards the nose-end.

45
Q

What does posterior mean?

A

Towards the tail-end.

46
Q

What does dorsal mean?

A

Towards the back or top of head.

47
Q

What does ventral mean?

A

Towards the chest or bottom of head.

48
Q

What does medial mean?

A

Towards the center line of the body.

49
Q

What does lateral mean?

A

Away from the center line of the body and toward the extremities.

50
Q

What are the terms superior and inferior used for?

A

Humans specifically. The top and bottom of the head, respectively.

51
Q

What does proximal mean?

A

Close.

52
Q

What does distal mean?

A

Far.

53
Q

What is the difference between glia and neurons?

A

Glia can regenerate, support neurons, and they are more numerous.
Neurons cannot regenerate, have multiple types of processes, and require glia to survive.

54
Q

Which glia provide myelin in the CNS and PNS?

A

CNS: oligodendrocytes
PNS: Schwann cells

55
Q

What are clusters of cell bodies called in the CNS and PNS?

A

CNS: nuclei
PNS: ganglia

56
Q

What are bundles of axons called in the CNS and PNS?

A

CNS: tracts
PNS: nerves

57
Q

What do axial sections look like?

A

Cutting the brain between the top and bottom.

58
Q

What do coronal sections look like?

A

Cutting the brain between the front and back.

59
Q

What do sagittal sections look like?

A

Cutting the brain between the right and left sides.

60
Q

What is a cross-section?

A

A piece of the brain cut at a right angle.

61
Q

What is a mid-sagittal section?

A

Cutting the brain to separate the right and left hemispheres.

62
Q

What is gray matter composed of?

A

Cell bodies and unmyelinated interneurons

63
Q

What is white matter composed of?

A

Myelinated axons

64
Q

What are the dorsal and ventral arms of the spinal gray matter called?

A

Dorsal horns and ventral horns.

65
Q

What are the dorsal root ganglia?

A

Structures just outside the spinal cord that are composed of the cell bodies of dorsal root axons.

66
Q

How many levels of the spine are the spinal nerves attached at?

A

31 levels.

67
Q

What is the difference between dorsal root axons and ventral root axons? (3 characteristics for each)

A

While dorsal are afferent, unipolar neurons with their bodies just outside of the spinal cord, ventral are efferent, multipolar neurons with their cell bodies inside the horns.

68
Q

What is the order of the 6 swellings in the developing brain?

A 
Telencephalon
Diencephalon
Mesencephalon
Metencephalon
Myelencephalon
69
Q

What is the myelencephalon?

A

AKA he medulla, it’s composed mostly of tracts carrying signals between the rest of the brain and the body.

70
Q

What is the reticular formation?

A

A part of the medulla. A complex network of nuclei in the brain stem core that contains motor programs that regulates complex species

PSYCO 275 (2 decks)

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