Lecture 1 - Intro to Neurophysiology Flashcards
What is Nervous System Structure?
Anatomy
What is Nervous System Function
Physiology
What does the CNS contain?
Brain and Spinal Cord
What does the PNS contain?
Peripheral Nerves and Ganglia
What is the minimal functional unit of the nervous system?
Neuron
What is a fundamental concept?
The nervous system is made up of discrete individual cells
What are the two things neurons do?
- Conduct “Electrical” signals - Action Potentials
- Release “Chemical” signals - Neurotransmitters
What is the 1st and 2nd function of the nervous system?
1.) Control of Movement and some functions = Motor Nerves
2.) Detection of External Stimuli = Sensory nerves
What is the 3rd function of the Nervous System?
Integration of Neuronal Activity and Connections “Circuitry”; Association Nerves (Interneurons)
What are Association Neurons responsible for?
Behaviour, Thought, Emotions
What is a Neuron?
Basic Functional Unit of the Nervous System
What are Dendrites?
Receive information from sensory receptors (or from other cells) and send it to the cell body
What are Axons?
Deliver electrical signals from the cell body to another neuron or an effector organ (e.g, a muscle)
How does a neuron “move information”
By conducting electrical impulses called Action Potentials from one physical location to another, then converting the electrical impulse into a chemical impulse at a synapse.
What is Functional Classification based on?
The direction in which they conduct impulses.
What way do “sensory” neurons conduct impulses?
From sensory receptors into the CNS
Where are “Association” or “Interneurons” located in?
Entirely within the CNS and help integrate CNS functions
What way do “Motor” neurons conduct impulses from?
Sensory receptors out of the CNS (to effector organs like muscles or glands)
What is a Somatic Motor Neuron?
Reflex and Voluntary Control of Skeletal Muscles
What is Autonomic Motor Neurons?
Involuntary Control of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands.
What can Autonomic Neurons be further divided into?
The parasympathetic and sympathetic system
What do Interneurons do?
Send signals from one neuron to another
What are the 4 Structural Classifications of Neurons?
Pseudopolar (unipolar), Bipolar, Multipolar, Anaxonic
What are Pseudounipolar?
Sensory, 1 process that splits
What are Bipolar?
Retinal and Cochlear, 2 processes
What are Multipolar?
Most common, many dendrites; one axon
What are Anaxonic?
Some CNS neurons, no obvious axon
On average how many supporting cells are there in the brain?
10^11 - 10^12
