Intergrative mechanism part 1 Neuronal control

Question 1

Basic functions of the nervous system.

Answer 1

Motor functions: control of sketelal muscle (movement, posture, maintaining tone)
Sensory functions: vision, hearing, smell, taste, somatosensation– touch, pressure, vibration, pain, temperature
Automatic functions: reflexes, control of circulation, respiration and digestion

Question 2

Higher functions of the nervous system.

Answer 2

• Cognition– thinking functions of the brain –learning, planning, problem-solving, memory and language. •Emotions– feelings
• Consciousness– awareness of being a person

Question 3

Give some examples of neurological disorders related to dysfunction

Answer 3

• Vascular disorders e.g. stroke, brain haemorrhage •Infectionse.g. meningitis, encephalitis, polio
• Structural disorders e.g. brain or spinal cord injury or tumours, carpal tunnel syndrome
• Nerve hyperactivity e.g. epilepsy, migraine
• Degeneration e.g. Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease

Question 4

Explain in principle how neuronal control occurs

Answer 4

All neurons have three basic functions:

1. Receive signals
2. Integrate incoming signals
3. Communicate signals to target cells

• The interactions between multiple neurons is known as a neural circuitor network
• Neural circuits:•process incoming information and carry out a response.
• can be simple - composed of only a few neurons, or more complex - involving multiple neurons.

•The nervous system consists of lots of neural circuits working together.

Question 5

What are the 3 classes of neurones in the neural circuit?

Answer 5

Afferent neurons:
•transmit signals towards the Central Nervous System (CNS)
•that connect to sense organs or directly respond to sensory stimulation are sensory neurons

Efferent neurons:
•transmit signals towards the periphery (i.e. away from the CNS)
•that synapse with muscles are motor neurons
•responsible for glandular secretion are sometimes termed secretomotor

Interneurons (most cells):
•transform input to output•make up the networks between afferent and efferent neurons

An example of a neural circuit is the knee jerk reflex