Exam 3 Flashcards
The nervous system uses electrochemical signals called what?
impulses
How are nerve impulses transmitted?
via cells called neurons
What other cells do neurons support?
glia cells
What are the 3 major regions of a neuron?
- dendrites -> receive signals from other cells
- soma -> houses organelles
- axon -> transmits signals AWAY from soma
Dendrites receive what type of potential?
graded potentials from sensory receptors/neurons
Axons transmit what type of potential?
action potentials that travel from axon hillock to terminals
Which potential can be either excitatory or inhibitory and may not cause a neuron to fire?
can be either
What type of potential is always excitatory and can cause a neuron to fire?
action potential
What is an afferent neuron?
- rely on sensory receptor activities
- dendrites lie in PNS
- transmits signals to synapses in CNS
What is an interneuron?
- limited to CNS
- integrate & interpret signals
What are efferent neurons?
- send out motor neurons
- dendrites lie in CNS
- synapses lie in PNS
- act on motor (muscles) or chemical effectors (glands)
What are the functions of the astrocytes & satellite cells in neurons?
- transport nutrients & metabolic wastes
- maintain conc. of chemicals in nervous tissue
- trigger formation of blood brain barrier
What are the cells of the CNS?
- ependymal
- astrocytes
- microglia
- oligodendrocytes
What are the cells of the PNS?
satellite & schwann cells
What is the function of oligodendrocytes?
- insulate axons
- form processes that surround segments of axons in myelin
What is the function of Schwann cells?
each cell wraps around an axon creating a singular myelin sheath
What is the function of microglia?
- derived from macrophages early in development
- engulf & destroy damaged tissue, cells, & foreign invaders
What is the function of ependymal cells?
- line ventricles & central canal of the CNS
- works with blood vessels & filter blood plasma to produce CSF
What is a membrane potential?
difference in electrical charge across the cell membrane
What type of protein drives potential?
transport proteins
What does the NA+/K+ pump drive in & what does it drive out?
3 Na+ in & 2 K+ out
What are the 2 types of gradients created by the Na+/K+ pump?
conc. & electrical gradients
How can we get from -50mV to -70mV?
- negative cystolic proteins
- Na+ & K+ leakage channels in the membrane (more effective)
What is the value of resting potential?
-70mV
What stimuli CAN trigger a graded potential?
- change in voltage
- presence of an environmental chemical
- presence of a neurotransmitter
- mechanical pressure
What rushes in when a graded potential occurs?
Na+
What isthe term to describe a membrane potential being less negative?
depolarization
What is a decremental signal?
when a signal weakens as it moves farther away
When is a threshold reached?
when potential rises to -55mV
What happens when a threshold is reached?
- triggers a series of voltage gated Na+ channels in area near axon hillock
- cell becomes 600x more permeable to Na+ & K+
- action potential is formed
What is an overshoot?
a balanced membrane potential that continues until 30mV potential is reached
What is repolarization?
when the membrane potential is negative
What is hyperpolarization?
when the charge passes -70mV
What are the 7 steps of an action potential formation?
- stimulus causes a graded potential
- when threshold is reached (-55mV), Na+ channels open
- Na+ floods into cell & depolarizes it
- at overshoot (+30mV) Na+ channels are blocked & K+ open
- K+ floods out of the cell & repolarizes/hyperpolarizes it
- action potential travels down the axon
- Ca2+ channels open & enters the cell & neurotransmitter is released
What causes an action potential to travel down an axon?
Na+ rushing in causing neighboring channels to open
What is an absolute refractory/downtime period?
when Na+ is prevented from passing through while the region repolarizes
What is a relative refractory/downtime period?
when it takes more Na+ influx to reach threshold
What speeds up propagation?
myelination
What are Nodes of Ranvier?
areas b/w myelin
What occurs at the axon terminal?
Ca+ floods in
What can the influx of Ca+ in the axon terminal cause?
- triggers depolarization in post-synaptic cells
- triggers exocytosis of neurotransmitters
What type of gap lies b/w cells?
synaptic cleft
What occurs if a neurotransmitter is inhibitory?
causes K+ or Cl- to rush into the cell
Endorphins are most likely what?
inhibitory neurotransmitter
What are the 2 ways a neurotransmitter can be removed?
- degraded by Ach-terase
- taken up by neuron that released it (ex:serotonin)
What are the 2 divisions of the nervous system?
- CNS -> brain & spinal cord
- PNS -> sensory & motors; all other nerves
How does the PNS communicate with the CNS?
sends sensory info in & receives motor info out
What type of neuron enters via the dorsal root ganglion?
afferent = sensory response
What type of neuron exits ventrally via ventral root ganglion?
efferent neuron = motor response
What matter does the CNS have?
- white matter -> composed of myelinated neurons
- grey matter -> cell bodies & interneurons
What matter transmits signals to/from the brain?
white
What is the only nervous system that has NO interneurons and everything is myelinated?
PNS
What are the 3 layers of protection of the CNS?
- bone -> skull & vertebrae
- meninges -> membrane b/w bone & brain
- cerebrospinal fluid -> provides support & nutrients
What is the order of the layers of the meninges from top to bottom?
dura -> arachnoid -> pia
What does dura matter connect to?
bone
What is dura matter?
- forms a layer of tough fibrous connective tissue
- houses venous sinuses for blood return from CNS
What is arachnoid matter?
- avascular layer
- surrounds subarachnoid space that houses CSF
What does pia matter attach to?
brain
What is pia matter?
- lines inside & outside of CNS
- contains blood vessels that branch from arteries
- forms plexuses in brain ventricles
- lies on top of brain & spinal cord
Where does CSF lie?
in subarachnoid space b/w arachnoid & pia
What are the 3 functions of CSF?
- transfers nutrients, O2, & waste for the CNS
- cushions brain & protects it
- supports brain so it doesn’t rest on bone
Where does CSF travel?
- travels through aqueducts b/w ventricles
- connects central canal of spinal cord
- passes into suarachnoid
- forced into blood of dural sinuses
What type of glial cell forms CSF?
ependymal cells
What is the blood- brain barrier?
- barrier b/w vessels traveling around the brain & brain
- prevents materials from passing
Capillaries are connected by what type of junction in the blood-brain barrier?
tight
What cells surround the capillaries in the brain?
- pericytes
- astrocytes
- microglia
What is the purpose of the 3 cells surrounding the capillaries in the brain?
to prevent pathogens & non-lipid soluble molecules from crossing into the neural tissue
What are the 4 components of the brain?
- cerebrum -> sensory & motor; memory & reasoning
- diencephalon -> processes & delivers sensory info
- cerebellum -> movement & balance
- brainstem -> connects spinal cord to brain
What connects the 2 hemispheres of the cerebrum?
ant. & post. commisures -> bundles of axons
What is the name of the thick band of axons traveling through the cerebrum hemispheres?
corpus callosum
What part of the brain sets humans apart from other animals?
an outer cortex in the cerebrum