Lecture 2 Incomplete

Question 1

What does the structure of the Nervous System consist of?

Answer 1

The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Question 2

What is in the C.N.S?

Answer 2

The brain and spinal chord: DECISION MAKER

Question 3

What is in the P.N.S?

Answer 3

The Somatic N.S and Autonomic N.S: COMMUNICATOR

Question 4

P.N.S: What does the Somatic Nervous system do?

Answer 4

Controls voluntary control of skeletal muscles

Question 5

P.N.S: What does the Autonomic Nervous system do?

Answer 5

Controls glands and muscles of internal organs
Automatic
E.g., heartbeat, digestion (not aware of these tasks)

Question 6

The Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 6

•	Sympathetic nervous system
-“Fight or flight”
-Increase heartbeat and blood pressure
•	Parasympathetic nervous system
-Conserves energy
-Decrease heartbeat and blood pressure

Question 7

Overview of Neurophysiology

Answer 7

• What are the parts of a neuron?
• How do neurons communicate?
• What are neurotransmitters, and what do they do?
• How do drugs influence neural communication?

Question 8

The Neuron

Answer 8

1. Cell Body
2. Dendrites- listeners
3. Axon- speakers
4. Axon terminals

Question 9

The importance of Myelin

Answer 9

• Each neuron’s axon is wrapped by a myelin sheath
-Supplied by surrounding glial cells- the nutrient provider
• At each Node of Ranvier (uninsulated section), the electrical pulse has to jump and the pulse loses strength
• Fatty insulation of myelin helps the impulse gain its strength
• What happens when the myelin is compromised?
-Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Question 10

How do Neurons communicate?

Answer 10

• Gaps between neurons- Synapses
o Chemical Messengers that travel this gap- Neurotransmitters
• Neurotransmitters are uniquely shaped
o Can only bind to certain receiving dendrites

Question 11

Excitation and Inhibition

Answer 11

• Cells fire or not (all-or-none)
• Receiving excitatory signals make it more likely to fire
• Receiving inhibitory signals make it less likely to fire

Question 12

How do drugs interact with the communication of neurons?

Answer 12

•	Drugs affect brain chemistry at synapses
o	Stimulate or mimic the effects
•	Example: Black Widow Spider venom
o	Increases release of Ach
o	Violent muscle contradictions
•	Drugs affect brain chemistry at synapses
o	Inhibit the effects
•	Botulin
o	Blocks release of Ach
o	Causes paralysis
•	Curare
o	Blocks Ach receptor site
o	Causes paralysis

Question 13

Phrenology

Answer 13

• Bumps on skull reveal mental abilities and traits
• Skull readings
• WRONG!
- But right idea that various brain regions has particular functions