L1 – Overview of the Central Nervous System Flashcards by Max Kam

Difference between glutamate and GABA action in synapses?

Glutamate = excitatory transmitter

GABA = inhibitory neurotransmitter

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List some postsynaptic receptor types for Glutamate and GABA?

All postsynaptic neurons are ion channels 
Glutamate:
- AMPA receptor 
- NDMA receptor 
- Kainite receptor

GABA:
- Cl- ion channels

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Differences in the action between GABAergic and Glutamatergic synapses?

GABA = Inhibitory postsynaptic potential = postsynaptic neuron hyperpolarization

Glutamate = Excitatory postsynaptic potential = postsynaptic neuron depolarizes

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Difference between sensation and perception ?

Sensation = OBJECTIVE sensory physiology, involves interaction with sense organ, adequate stimulus at receptor for excitation, central processing for integration

Perception = SUBJECTIVE sensory physiology. Involves integration of conscious subject, subject the impression with experience, reason and personality

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Explain the pathology of epilepsy at the neuron level.

Epilepsy: excitation-inhibition imbalance in motor cortex (precentral gyrus)

> > spread of abnormal synchronized cortical discharge (repetitive firing)

> > seizure, convulsion

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Explain the efect of ‘angel dust’/ PCP on the brain?

phencyclidine piperidine (PCP / ‘angel dust’ = recreational dissociative drug)

> > blocks NMDA receptors for glutamate (excitatory) on neuronal membrane

> > abnormal synaptic function (no Na+, Ca2+ influx)

> > behavior mimics schizophrenia

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Define the somatic senses. (4)

Touch
Body position/ Proprioception
Temp.
Pain

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Define the special senses. (5)

Taste 
Smell 
Hearing 
Balance 
Vision

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List the organelles responsible for the somatic senses in the skin?

Mechanical stimuli delivered to skin activate several mechanoreceptors simultaneously but to different degree

Touch: Meissner’s Corpuscle
Pain, temperature: free nerve ending
Pressure: Merkel’s disk
Vibration: Pacinian corpuscle & Ruffini’s ending

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Difference between neural pathway for touch/ vibration/ position versus pathway for temp/pain?

Touch/ Vibration/ Position:
Dorsal root ganglion cells synapse at medulla at cuneate nucleus and medial leminscus

Pain/ Temp:
Dorsal root ganglion cells synapse at spinal cord

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List the neural pathway for peripheral sensation?

Receptor ending
Afferent fiber (either mechanosensory or pain/temp)
Dorsal root ganglion cells (either synapse at medulla or spinal cord)
Midbrain
Synapse at VPN complex of thalamus
Cerebrum somatosensory cortex

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What is a topographic body map?

organization of body senses into 2D cortical columns

Map around the somatosensory cortex with distorted body surface for tactile sensibility

Areas of high acuity are magnified on the body map

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Difference between the control of pain withdrawal and reflexive motor control?

Pain withdrawal: does not require supraspinal control, execution at the spinal level

Reflexive: Requires supraspinal control/ central integration before motor output

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Describe the pathway of ipsilateral and contralateral pain stumulus to a leg.

Ipsilateral:
Flexors contract to move foot away from painful stimulus, extensors inhibited

Contralateral:
Crosses extensor reflex: Extensors contract and weight shift to other leg, Flexors inhibited on other leg

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Which reflexes involve supraspinal control?

Plantar reflex

Used to test CST function

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What are the main neural areas for motor control?

Cerebellum
Basal ganglia
Cerebral motor cortex

What are the lateral and Ventromedial pathways for voluntary motor control?

Lateral: Pathway via Red Nucleus, Corticospinal tract

Ventromedial: Pathway via Reticular nuclei, Pathway via Superior colliculus and vestibular nucleus

List some surgery outcomes of Prefrontal Lobotomy?

 cannot concentrate
 ill-tempered
 loss of emotional thought
 difficulty in planning &amp; working towards goals
 personality change
 lowering of moral standard

List some functions of the Right hemisphere?

 Left hand 
 Musical and artistic ability 
 Perception of space 
 Imagination and fantasizing 
 Body control and awareness

List some functions of the Left hemisphere?

 Right hand 
 Logical thinking 
 Language ability 
 Writing 
 Science and math work

Areas of the brain involved with the limbic system? Function of the system?

Hippocampus, Amygdala

Learning, memory
Sleep, wakefulness
Emotion

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Pupil (eye)

Sym: Thoracic sympathetic chain: Dilate

Parasym: CNIII: Constrict

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Salivation, tearing (lacrimal, salivary glands)

Sym: Thoracic sympathetic chain: Inhibit secretion
Parasym: CN VII and CN IX: Stimulate secretion

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Blood vessels

Sym: Thoracic sympathetic chain: Constrict vessels
Parasym: CNX: Dilate (in gut)

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Airway

Sym: Thoracic sym. chain: Relax airway Parasym: CN X: Constrict airway

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Heart

Sym: Thoracic sym. chain: Increase HR Parasym: CN X: Decrease HR

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Glucose homeostasis (Liver)

Sym: Thoracic collateral ganglia: Increase glucose production Parasym CN X: Decrease ''

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Digestion (stomach)

Sym: Thoracic collateral ganglia: Inhibits digestion Parasym: CN X: Increase digestion

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Pancreatic secretions

Sym: n/a Parasym: Stimulate

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Adrenal medulla secretions (NE)

Sym: Thoracic sym. chain: Stimulate NE release Parasym: n/a

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Urinary bladder

Sym: Lumbar sym. chain: Relaxes bladder Parasym: Sacral nerves: Contract bladder

Pathway and difference in action between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation on: Reproductive organs

Sym: Lumbar sym. chain: Stimulate orgasm Parasym: Sacral nerves: Stimulate sexual arousal

Symptoms of Alzheimer's?

Impaired learning and memory Disoriented time and place Poor judgement Language impairment

A brief overview of pathology of AD?

Extreme shrinkage of hippocampus, accumulation of Amyloid plaque and Tau fragment causing loss of brain cells

Pathology of Parkinson's?

Apoptosis of dopamine neurons in substantia nigra > Lack of dopamine release > Disrupted firing to basal ganglia (Striatum: caudate nucleus, putamen) > Movement disorders

Action of Heroin on neurons?

Heroin acts on opioid receptors on GABAergive neurons > Inhibit release of GABA to GABA receptor on dopamine neuron > Less conversion of tyrosine to dopamine in dopamine neuron for release to D1/D2 like receptors > Less generation of cAMP on postsynaptic neuron

Action of cocaine on neurons?

Cocaine binds to uptake transporter on dopamine neuron > Enhance dopamine effect on D1/D2 like receptors > More cAMP production in postsynaptic neuron