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PSYC255 > Chapter 3 (MT1) > Flashcards

Chapter 3 (MT1) Flashcards

Functional Units of Nervous System

1
Q

What are the cells of the nervous system?

A

Neurons
Glia

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2
Q

Neuron Theory

A

(1) Neurons are the nervous system’s functional units (Cajal)
(2) Interactions between neurons enables behaviour
(3) The more neurons, the more complex it’s behaviour

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3
Q

Golgi stain

A

Silver chromate, the first stain that allowed us to see the distinct parts of a neuron

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4
Q

Amount of neurons and glia

A

Neurons (vary in size/shape, most about 0.02 mm wide) - 86 billion
Glia - 87 billion

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5
Q

What is the information-processing unit of the nervous system?

A

Neurons - aquire information, store it, interpret it, pass info. to other neurons to produce behaviour
(regulate body processes)

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6
Q

What is the hallmark of nervous system functioning?

A

Neuroplasticity

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7
Q

Describe structure of the neuron

A

Dendrites (with dendritic spines)
Cell body (nucleus, axon hillock leads to axon)
Axon (singular), which separates into axon collaterals, then telodendria with terminal buttons

Axons may communicate with several dendrites, and form a synapse between terminal button (end foot) and dendritic spine

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8
Q

Describe flow of info in neuron

A

Dendrites collect info from other neurons (collecting info.)

Travels to cell body where it is processed (integrating info.)

Passed to axon, then to the terminal where it is passed to dendrites of target neuron (sending info.)

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9
Q

Three types of neurons

A

Sensory neurons
Interneurons
Motor neurons

(Input, association, output)

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10
Q

Sensory neuron (examples and function)

A

Bipolar neuron (retina)
Somatosensory neuron (skin, muscle)

Carry information from sensory receptors in/on the body to the spinal cord

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11
Q

Interneuron, or association cells (examples and function)

A

Stellate cell (thalamus)
Pyramidal cell (cortex)
Purkinje cell (cerebellum)

Associate sensory and motor activity within the CNS

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12
Q

Motor neuron (examples and function)

A

Motor neuron (spinal cord)

Send signals from brain and spinal cord (CNS) to the muscles

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13
Q

How do neurons communicate?

A

Excitation and inhibition
Turn on (excite) or turn off (inhibit) other neurons

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14
Q

Glia

A

Nervous system’s support cells (glue)
Helps neurons deliver messages, providing support, nutrients, protection, and sometimes binding neurons together

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15
Q

Five types of glial cells

A

Ependymal cell
Astrocyte
Microglial cell
Oligodendroglial cell
Schwann cell

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16
Q

What does a large cell body typically correspond to in neurons?

A

Long extensions - transmitting info over a large distance, reaching distant parts of the nervous system

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17
Q

Ependymal cell

A

Small ovoid, secretes cerebrospinal fluid

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18
Q

Astrocyte

A

Star shaped
Contributes to neuronal nutrition, support, and repair
Helps form blood-brain barrier
Contributes to healing scarring after injury

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19
Q

Microglial cell

A

Small, derived from blood
Helps remove dead tissue

20
Q

Oligodendroglial cell

A

Forms myelin around CNS axons in brain and spinal cord

21
Q

Schwann cell

A

Forms myelin around peripheral nerves

22
Q

Blood-brain barrier

A

Protective partition between blood vessels and brain

Prevents substances from entering brain through blood vessel walls (toxins and antibiotics - brain infections difficult to treat)

23
Q

Element

A

Naturally occuring substance

24
Q

Atom

A

Smallest quantity of an element that retains the properties of the element
(contains nucleus (protons, neutrons) and electrons in orbitals)

25
Q

Molecule

A

Smallest unit of a substance that contain all of the substances’ properties (when atoms bind)

26
Q

Cell membrane

A

Envelops the neuron’s contents - contributes to forming the cell body, dendrites/spines, and axons/terminals

Boundary around intracellular component

27
Q

What does cell membrane do?

A

Separates intracellular and extracellular fluid (CSF)

Regulates movement of substances into and out of the cell via. proteins embedded in the cell membrane

28
Q

Nucleus (purpose)

A

Stores and copies the blueprints (genes) for making proteins

29
Q

Gene

A

DNA segment that encodes the synthesis of a particular protein (chromosomes contain genes)

30
Q

How many chromosomes does the human somatic (body) have?

A

23 pairs (46 chromosomes)
Each chromosome has thousands of genes (book of blueprints)

31
Q

What does each chromosome have?

A

A double stranded molecule of DNA, with each strand having a sequence of four nucleotide bases

32
Q

What are the four nucleotide bases?

A

Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)

A binds to T
C binds to G

33
Q

Process for protein synthesis

A

DNA (template strand) unwinds to expose it’s bases, which serves as a template to attract free-floating nucleotides to form a complementary strand of mRNA (transcription)

mRNA leaves the nucleus and comes into contact with the ribosomes in the endoplasmic reticulum. Ribosomes translate the bases of the mRNA info specific amino acid chain which forms the protein or polypeptide chain (translation)

34
Q

Genotype and phenotype

A

Genotype = genetic makeup
Phenotype = physical and behavioural traits

35
Q

Mendelian genetics

A

Gregor Mendel - research led to the concept of the gene
Studies how genes influence traits
Epigenetics studies how the environment influences gene expression

36
Q

What is the significance of chromosomes 1 - 22 as well as 23?

A

1 - 22 = autosomes (contain genes that contribute most of our physical appearance and behaviour)
23 = sex chromosomes (contribute our physical and behavioural sexual characteristics)

1 = biggest, 21 = smallest

37
Q

Allele

A

Two copies of a gene

38
Q

Dominant vs recessive allele

A

Dominant = member of the gene pair that is routinely expressed

Recessive = member of gene pair that is routinely unexpressed

39
Q

Homozygous vs hetereozygous

A

Homozygous = having two identical alleles for a trait
Heterozygous = having two different alleles for the same trait

40
Q

Tay-Sachs disease

A

Caused by recessive allele (two copies needed to express)

Inherited birth defect caused by loss of genes that encode the enzyme necessary for breaking down certain fatty substances
Appears 4 to 6 months after birth; results in intellectual disability, physical changes, and death by about age 5

41
Q

Huntington’s disease

A

Dominant (only one copy needed)

Autosomal disorder, causes motor and cognitive defects
Neurodegenerative (worsens over time)

Caused by an increase in the number of CAG (cytosine-adenine- guanine) repeats on chromosome 4
The buildup of an abnormal version of the Huntington protein kills brain cells, especially in the basal ganglia and the cortex.

42
Q

Down syndrome

A

Extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy), results in:

Intellectual impairment, heart defects, respiratory infections, Leukemia, Alzheimer’s

43
Q

Genetic engineering (and approaches)

A

Modification of a gene, adding/removing a gene from a genome

Selective breeding, cloning, transgenic techniques

44
Q

Cloning

A

Producing an offspring that is genetically identical to another animal (can preserve valuable traits study influences of heredity/environment, produce new tissue/organs for transplant)

45
Q

Transgenic technique

A

Introduction or removal of genes into or out of an embryo
(Knock-in to add, knock-out to inactivate)

Manual process

46
Q

CRISPR

A

Produces an RNA sequence that identifies DNA - which can be cut, deleted, and replaced

Automated, like programming

47
Q

Phenotypic plasticity

A

The capacity for an individual to develop multiple phenotypes due to the genome’s capacity to express many phenotypes and epigenetics (environmental conditions)

The extent of phenotypic variation given the same genotype is remarkable

PSYC255 (10 decks)

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