Lecture Quiz 6 Flashcards
What does the nervous system provide for the body?
coordination and communication
What three things does the nervous system include?
sensory input
integration
motor output
What is the central nervous system defined as?
center of integration and communication
consists of the brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system defined as?
serves as communication lines between the CNS and the rest of the body
What does afferent PNS do?
carries impulses from receptors to CNS
contains somatic and visceral branches
What does efferent PNS do?
carries impulses from CNS to effector organs
What are the two branches of efferent PNS?
somatic/voluntary branch - to skeletal muscles
autonomic/involuntary - to internal organs: smooth and cardiac muscles and glands
What are the two branches of autonomic PNS?
sympathetic - nervous system prepares the body for the emergency situations
parasympathetic - nervous system regulates all non-emergency bodily functions (rest and digest) and energy storage
What is contained in the cell body of a neuron?
contains nucleus and organelles
Describe dendrites
short multiple cylindrical processes that carry impulses towards the body
Describe axons
a long process that carries impulses away from the body of the neuron
arises from the body of a neuron at the axon hillock, which is where action potential is generated
end of axon widens forming synaptic knob, which is where neurotransmitter is stored in vesicles
Describe unipolar neurons
have only one process extending from the body and divides into two axons - peripheral and central
Where are unipolar neurons found?
these are sensory neurons found in dorsal root ganglia and cranial nerve ganglia
Describe bipolar neurons?
Have a long dendrite and axon and a centrally located body
Where are bipolar neurons found?
rare
only found in special senses
eye, olfactory
Describe multipolar neurons
have multiple short dendrites and a single long axon
most common type of neuron in CNS
What is the functional classification of neurons?
sensory - afferent neurons
motor - efferent neurons
interneurons - associated neurons
What happens for every 1 neuron traveling toward the CNS?
10 neurons traveling away from CNS
200,000 traveling within the CNS
What is a reflex and what does it involve?
the hard-wired, unconscious rapid response to external stimulus
involves spinal nerves and effector cell electrical impulses
When does a reflex occur?
when an immediate response is required
What are the components of a reflex arc?
receptor sensory neuron integration center motor neuron effector organ
Briefly describe an electric current
a flow of electrons
flows from region of negative charge to a region of positive charge
What is it called when two regions possess a charge difference relative to each other?
they have a potential difference
units = volts
What is resting potential
the potential difference across the cell membrane at rest
the inner surface of the membrane is negatively charged
outer surface is positively charged
this is actively maintained by the cell
Describe how resting potential is maintained by the cell
ion concentration inside and outside the cell is not the same
cells are relatively low on Na and high on K and anions
Na and K diffuse across the membrane in hopes to equalize their concentrations - anions are too big to diffuse
ATP dependent Na/K pump returns diffused ions back, thus maintaining their gradient
loss of K>gain of Na - inner surface is negatively charged and outer surface is positively charged
potential difference is generated
K ions are responsible for the resting potential
What is it called when a system contains two regions which possess a potential difference?
System is said to be polarized
What is resting membrane potential?
-70mVolts
polarized
What happens if the membrane potential decreases and the inner surface becomes less negative?
this is called depolarization
ex: Na+ enters the cell
What happens if membrane potential increases?
the inner surface becomes even more negative
hyperpolarized
ex: K+ leaves the cell
What is action potential?
Nerve impulse
a brief, transient reversal of membrane polarity from -70mV to +30mV that propagates along the cell membrane
this is the principle way neurons communicate
What cells are able to generate action potential?
neurons and muscle cells
Where is action potential generated?
axon hillock
What does change in permeability of a membrane cause and why does this occur?
the concentration of ions is changed, therefore membrane polarity is changed
this occurs due to voltage-gated channels
Describe m-gates
activation gates
closed at membrane potential less than -55mV
open at membrane potential more than -55mV