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HL10521 - Human Physiology > Lecture 4 - Nervous System > Flashcards

Lecture 4 - Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What is in the CNS

A

Brain and Spinal Cord

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2
Q

What is in the PNS

A

Composed of nerves that connect the brain or spinal cord with muscles, glands and sense organs

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3
Q

What are neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers released from neurons in response to electrical signals

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4
Q

What are processes

A

Long extensions that connect neuron’s to each other (dendrites, axon etc…)

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5
Q

What Is the Soma

A

Cell body containing nucleus and ribosomes - protein synthesis

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6
Q

What are Dendrites

A

Branched outgrowths receive inputs

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7
Q

What are Dendritic Spines

A

Knob-like outgrowths
increase the surface area, contain ribosomes

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8
Q

What is the axon

A

Sometimes called the “nerve fiber”
is a long process extending from the soma that carries output to target cells

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9
Q

What is axon collateral

A

Signal that can go sideways

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10
Q

What is an axon terminal

A

End of the branch

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11
Q

What are Varicosities

A

bulging areas where
signal can be released

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12
Q

What is the range for an axon length

A

μm to > 1m
(eg. spinal cord down to toe)

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13
Q

What are neuron’s wrapped in?

A

Myelin

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14
Q

What is Myelin

A

20-200 layers of modified plasma membrane, speeding up transduction signalling

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15
Q

What is myelin made of in the CNS

A

Oligodendrocytes

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16
Q

What is myelin made of in the PNS

A

Schwann Cells

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17
Q

What are the gaps in Myelin called

A

Nodes of Ranvier

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18
Q

What is axonal transport and its purpose

A

To maintain structure and function, organelles must move >1m between the soma and the
axon terminals

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19
Q

What is anterograde movement

A

Kinesins: from cell body to axon terminals (e.g., nutrients, neurotransmitter
filled vesicles)

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20
Q

What is Retrograde movement

A

Dyneins: axon terminals to cell body (e.g., recycled membrane vesicles, growth factors)

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21
Q

What are the 3 classes of neurons

A

Afferent, Efferent, Interneurons

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22
Q

What do afferent neurons do

A

Convey information from tissues/organs TOWARDS the CNS

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23
Q

What do efferent neutrons do

A

Convey information AWAY from the CNS to effector cells

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24
Q

What do interneurons do

A

Convey information WITHIN the CNS (>99% all neurone)

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25
Q

What is a synapse

A

Anatomically specialised junction between neurons

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26
Q

What are nerves

A

Groups of afferent and efferent neutrons together with connective tissue and blood vessels

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27
Q

What do glial cells do

A

“glue”, surround soma, axon, dendrites and provide physical and metabolic support

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28
Q

What types of glial cells are there

A

Astrocytes
Microglial cells
Ependymal cells

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29
Q

What do Astrocytes do

A

Regulate extracellular fluid
by removing potassium and
neurotransmitters

  • stimulate epithelial cells
    to form tight junctions:
    blood brain barrier
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30
Q

What do microglial cells do

A
  • Specialised macrophage-
    like cells (remove
    pathogens, dead/damaged
    neurons)
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31
Q

What do Ependymal cells do

A

In fluid filled cavities, regulate flow of
cerebrospinal fluid

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32
Q

What is the name for a group of axons
traveling together in
the CNS

A

Pathway or a tract

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33
Q

What is a commissure

A

If the group of axons
links the right and left
halves of the CNS

34
Q

What are ganglia

A

The cell bodies of neurons with similar
functions in the PNS

35
Q

What is a nerve

A

A group of many axons traveling together to and from the same
general location in the peripheral nervous system

(there are no nerves in the CNS)

36
Q

What is the larger component of the forebrain

A

Cerebrum

37
Q

What is the central core of the forebrain called

A

Diencephalon

38
Q

Where is grey matter located

A

Outer shell of the cerebral cortex - giving brain a grey appearance

39
Q

What is the inner layer of the cerebral cortex made from

A

White matter - myelinated fibre tracts

40
Q

What do subcortical nuclei do

A

important role in movement/posture
[basal nuclei most
predominant]

41
Q

What are corpus callosum

A

Each cortex area is separated by a deep longitudinal division, but are connected by a massive bundle of nerve fibers

42
Q

What are brain ridges called

A

Gyri (gyrus si.)

43
Q

What are brain grooves called

A

Sulci (sulcus si.)

44
Q

What are the 2 types of cell in the cerebral cortex

A

Pyramidal cells (major output, excitation)
Non-pyramidal cells (Major input cells, receive signals)

45
Q

What are the 4 parts of the brain

A

Frontal, Temporal, Occipital Parietal

46
Q

What are the Sections of the forebrain

A

Cerebrum and Diencephalon

47
Q

What are the parts of the brainstem

A

Midbrain, Pons, Medulla oblongata

48
Q

What are cerebral ventricles

A

The brain also contains four interconnected cavities which are
filled with cerebrospinal fluid

49
Q

What does the diencephalon contain

A

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus

50
Q

What is the thalamus

A

Collection of several large nuclei
Role of General arousal
Controlling movement/posture
Focusing Attention

51
Q

What are nuclei

A

The cell bodies of neurons with similar
functions in the CNS

52
Q

What is the Hypothalamus

A

1% of the brain mass
Homeostatic regulation of internal environment

53
Q

What does the Epithalamus do

A

Controls biological rhythms
(via pineal gland - produces melatonin)

54
Q

What are the roles of the hypothalamus

A

master command center for neural and endocrine coordination

Behaviours having to do with preservation of the individual (e.g. eating and drinking)

Behaviours to do with preservation of the species (e.g. reproduction)

55
Q

Where does the Hypothalamus lie

A

Directly above and is connected to the pituitary gland

56
Q

What dies the pituitary gland do

A

Master gland - controlling several hormones, including thyroid, adrenal, ovaries and testicles

57
Q

What does the Cerebellum do

A

Cerebellum does not initiate
voluntary movements:

an important center for coordinating movements
and for controlling posture and
balance.

receives information from the
muscles and joints, skin, eyes and
ears and the parts of the brain
involved in control of movement

58
Q

What does the brainstem do

A

It receives and integrates input from all regions of the central nervous
system and is involved with
- motor functions
- cardiovascular, respiratory control, swallowing
- regulates sleep, wakefulness and attention, eye movement

59
Q

How is the brain protected

A

Cranium
Meninges - Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, pia mater

60
Q

What is the job of the meninges

A
  1. Cover and protect the CNS
  2. Protect blood vessels and enclose the venous sinuses
  3. Contain cerebrospinal fluid
  4. Form partitions in the skull
61
Q

What does Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do

A

protects and cushions
the structures

62
Q

What is the blood-brain barrier

A

A protective mechanism that helps maintain a stable environment for the brain.
Capillaries are the least permeable in the body: a very selective barrier. Things that are highly lipid-
soluble cross easily.

63
Q

What are the Dorsal Horns (Spinal Cord)

A

Grey matter projecting toward
the back of the body

64
Q

What are ventral horns (spinal cord)

A

Grey matter oriented toward the
front of the body

65
Q

Where do afferent fibres arrive at the spinal cord enter from the peripheral nerves

A

Dorsal Roots (slide22)

66
Q

Where do efferent fibres exit the spinal cord from

A

Ventral roots (slide22)

67
Q

What nerves comprise the PMS

A

43 total pairs
12 pairs of Cranial (table 6-8 vanders)
31 pairs of spinal nerves (designated by vertebral levels where they exit

68
Q

Where are the 31 pairs of spinal nerves

A

8 cervical neurones (control: muscles and glands, input: neck, shoulders, arms, hands)

12 Thoracic (chest and upper abdomen)

5 Lumbar (lower abdomen, hips, legs)

5 Sacral (genitals, Lower digestive tract)

1 Coccygeal (tail bone

69
Q

What is the PNS separated into

A

Somatic and Autonomic nervous system

70
Q

Somatic vs Autonomic

A

Slide 25

71
Q

Parasympathetic vs sympathetic

A

Slide 25

72
Q

Where do neurons leave the CNS from in the sympathetic nervous system

A

Thoracic and lumbar regions

73
Q

Where do neurons leave the CNS from in the parasympathetic nervous system

A

Brainstem and Sacral region

74
Q

Where are the ganglia located in the sympathetic nervous system

A

Close to spinal cord (sympathetic trunk)

75
Q

Where are the ganglia located in the parasympathetic nervous system

A

Ganglia within or close to organs they innervate

76
Q

What is dual innervation

A

Some tissues/organs are innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous system

77
Q

What is the difference in response of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

A

S - tends to respond as a single unit
PS - tends to activate specific organs in patterns tailored to each situation

78
Q

What does the sympathetic system increase under physical or psychological stress

A

Fight or flight response

79
Q

What does the parasympathetic nervous system increase in activity

A

Rest or digest

80
Q

Revisit A level Resting membrane flashcards

A
81
Q

Slide 31

A

HL10521 - Human Physiology (11 decks)

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