Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

MCAT - Biology > MCAT Biology Ch13: The Nervous System > Flashcards

MCAT Biology Ch13: The Nervous System Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
MCAT flashcards AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

cell body

A

specialized name - soma

nucleus, ER, and ribosomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

neurons

A

each carry out its own function

variety of diff. types

most mamm. insulated by myelin => prevent signal loss

not phys. connect, slight space between

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

dendrities

A

majority of neuron

receive information

transmit info to cell body => integrated at axon hillock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

axon hillock

A

info integrated from cell body

enlargement at the begin of the axon

provides a connection between cell body and axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

axon

A

nerve fiber specialized to carry electrical message

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

oligodendrocytes

A

myelin produced by this in CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

myelin

A

produced by Schwann cells in periphery and oligodendrocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

nodes of Ranvier

A

small breaks in myelin sheath of axon membrane

critical to proper signal conduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

nerve terminal (synaptic bouton)

A

end of axon

enlarged and flattened to max. neurotransmission to next neuron

ensure proper production of neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

synaptic cleft (synapse)

A

neurotransmitter released from axon terminal traverses the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on second neuron

many common drugs modify this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ways to remove neurotransmitters from synaptic cleft

A

depends on type of neurotransmitter involved

  1. broken down by enzymatic rxns
  2. use reuptake carriers to be recycled into presynaptic neuron
  3. diffuse out of the area
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

diff between electrical and chemical transmission

A

w/in - electricity

between - chem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

afferent neuron

A

neurons that carry info from periphery to brain or spinal cord

sensory neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

efferent neuron

A

motor neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

interneuron

A

only involved in local circuits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

nerves

A

many axons together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

types of nerves

A

sensory, motor, or mixed

possible for disease to affect only motor and sensory neurons

refers to type of info they carry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

mixed nerves

A

carry both sensory and motor info

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

two components of CNS

A

brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

brain

A

protected by protective skull

responsible for integration of sensory info, coordination of motor movement, and cognition

myelination presence distinguish between gray and white matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

division of brain

A

forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

forebrain

A

broken down into telencephalon and diencephalon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

telencephalon

A

part of forebrain

large portion if cerebral cortex

consists of left and right hemisphere

each hemisphere is indie, however comm. through corpus collosum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

cerebral cortex

A

large portion of telencephalon

highly convoluted gray matter on surface of brain

responsible for highest-level functioning in nervous system, including creative thought and future planning

integrate sensory info and controls movement

inc. folds (gyri) in here => higher-level cognitive functions carried out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

corpus collosum

A

hemis of telencephalon comm. through this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

diencephalon

A

below and inside telencephalon

consists of thalamus and hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

thalamus

A

gateway to brain

all ascending sensory info passed through thalamus before begin relayed to cortex.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

midbrain

A

relay point between more peripheral structures and forebrain

passes sensory and visual info to forebrain, while receiving motor instructions from forebrain and passing them to hindbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

hindbrain

A

involuntary functions

made up of cerebellum, pons, and medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

cerebellum

A

checks that motor signal sent from cortex is in agreement w/ sensory info coming from body

helps cerebellum to adjust to new situation

alcohol affect on cerebellum => people stagger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

medulla

A

most highly conserved part of brain

responsible for modulating ventilation and heart rate and GI tone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

spinal cord

A

hindbrain also connected to this

all structures below neck receive sensory and motor innervation here

sensory info enters here on dorsal side, whereas motor signals leave from ventral surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

hemispheres of telencephalon

A

each section sectioned in lobes:

  1. frontal
  2. parietal
  3. occipital
  4. temporal

each lobes has diff. function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

4 sections of spinal cord

A

cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

frotebra.

m base of skull to coccyx

runs through column w/ nerves entering and exiting at teach vertebra

integrating and distributing nerve signals for brain

can participate in simple reflex areas of their own

both gray and white matter (contains axons) in cross section

there are axons of motor and sensory neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

vertebral column

A

protect spinal cord

series of bone (vertebrae) that form a hollow column

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

sensory neurons of spinal cord

A

bring info in from periphery and enter on dorsal (back) side of spinal cord

cell bodies found in dorsal root ganglia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

dorsal root ganglia

A

cell bodies of sensory neurons of spinal cord found here.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

motor neurons of spinal cord

A

exit the spinal cord ventrally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

brain stem

A

most primitive part of brain

conserved from simple organisms

drive basic functions from breathing to heart beating

ex: resp. system driven by chemoreceptors in brain that are sensitive to CO2 levels.

40
Q

PNS

A

12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves

41
Q

peripheral innervation divided into

A

somatic (SNS) and automatic (ANS) nervous system

42
Q

SNS

A

voluntary movement

interface between neuron and muscle (w/o synapse) as neuromuscular junction

responsible for providing us w/ reflexes

don’t require input or integration from brain to function

43
Q

two types of reflex arcs of SNS

A

monosynaptic and polysynaptic

usually serves as protective purpose

44
Q

monosynaptic reflex of SNS

A

single synapse between sensory neuron that received the info and the motor neurons that responds

45
Q

knee jerk (monosynaptic reflex of SNS)

A

patellar tendon stretched => info travels up sensory neuon => spinal cord => interface w/ motor neuro => contract quadriceps muscle => straightening

response is contraction

46
Q

polysynaptic reflex of SNS

A

at least one interneuron between sensory and motor neuron

47
Q

withdrawal reflex (polysynaptic reflex of SNS) ex: stepping on tack

A

jerk up => monosynaptic => maintain balance => incoming sensory info on leg jerked up => interneuron in spinal cord => motor neuron for supporting leg

48
Q

ANS

A

involuntary nervous system

exerts great control over BP, ventilation dynamics, urination, digestion

can regulate each organ individually

can also have coordinated effects

49
Q

primary diff. between SNS and ANS

A

ANS - two-neuron system

50
Q

two neurons in ANS

A

preganglionic andc neuron

two work in series to transmit msgs

51
Q

preganglionic neuron

A

first neuron of ANS

soma in CNS, whereas its axon travels to ganglion in PNS => synapses on cell body of postganglionic neurons => affects target tissue

52
Q

preganglionic neuron

A

second neuron

soma in CNS, whereas its axon travels to ganglion in PNS => synapses on cell body of postganglionic neurons => affects target tissue

53
Q

division of ANS

A

sympathetic and parasympathetic

54
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

fight or flight

increase blood flow to heart and skeletal muscle

dec. blood flow to GI tract and kidney

inc breathing and heart rate => supply oxygen meet demands of contracting skeletal muscles

pupils dilate

pregang neuron use acetylcholine; can also cause release of epinephrine
postgang neuron use norepinephrine

55
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

inc. blood flow to organs of digestion and excretion w/ concomitant dec. in flow to skeletal muscle and heart

heart and ventilation rate would dec.

56
Q

vagus nerve

A

one of 12 cranial nerves

responsible for many of parasympathetic effects in thoracic and abdominal cavities.

use acetylcholine as neurontransmitter at both pre/postgang.

57
Q

3 varieties of sensory neurons

A

interoceptors, proprioceptors, and exteroceptors

58
Q

interoceptors

A

sensory neurons monitor internal environment

59
Q

proprioceptors

A

sensory neurons monitor for our position sense

60
Q

exteroceptors

A

sensory neurons monitor external environment

61
Q

nociceptors

A

sense pain and relay info to brain

62
Q

eye

A

specialized organ that detects light (in form of photons)

most exposed of eye is covered by sclera

63
Q

sclera

A

most exposed of eye is covered by a thick layer

not cont. around the eye

64
Q

choroid

A

eye is supplied w/ nutrients and O2 by this

directly under sclera

65
Q

retina

A

innermost layer of eye

contains photoreptors that transduce the light into electricla info the brain can process

66
Q

light passage through eye

A

light rays through cornea => pupil => iris => lens => cillary muscles => photoreceptors of retina => turned into electrical signal => signal to bipolar cells => retinal ganglion cells => optic nerve =>

67
Q

cornea

A

transparent structure that bends and focuses it

68
Q

iris

A

muscular, pigmented

adjust amount of light entering eye by altering the diameter of pupil (more light available => greater degree of constriction)

69
Q

lens

A

does fine focusing in eye

70
Q

cillary muscles

A

can adjust thickness of lens, which focuses the image on retina

71
Q

two types of photoreceptors

A

rods and cones

72
Q

rods

A

transmission of black and white images

respond to low intensity illumination => night vision

only one pigment (rhodopsin)

73
Q

cones

A

come in 3 varieties and manage color images

each type contains a pigment that absorbs a diff. wavelength of light => red, green, blue

74
Q

rhodopsin

A

rods only have this one pigment (explains only respond to black and white)

75
Q

color blindness

A

lacking of 1, 2, or 3 of sets of cones

total = commonly due to complete lack of cones

76
Q

bipolar cell

A

relay info to retina ganglion cells

77
Q

optic nerve

A

axons of ganglion cells bundle to form this

exits the back of the eye

78
Q

blind spot

A

since optic nerve takes up space on back of eye => displaces photoreceptors => there this is at site of exodus

since we have two eyes => rarely problem since each eye compensate for blind spot of other

79
Q

aqueous humor

A

eye filled w/ this fluid to simplify the transmission of light to the retina

secreted near iris at base of the eye => anterior chamber => exits => venuous blood

80
Q

glaucoma

A

can’t adequately drain aq. humor

=>if pressure builds in anterior chamber => vitreous humor => inc. pressure on optic nerve => can permanelty damage optic nerve => blindness

81
Q

Ear

A

transduces sound waves (mech disturbances of pressure) => electric signals => brains

houses certain nerves that help coordinate balance

82
Q

Sound to Ear pathway

A

speaker generates long. waves => outer ear => tympanic membrane => oval window => depolarize hair cells of cochlea => electrical signal the nervous system can interpret => AP from hair cells => auditory nerve to brain

83
Q

outer ear

A

consists of auricle and auditory canal

collects waves and channels them to tympanic membrane

84
Q

tympanic membrane

A

beginning of middle ear, which also includes ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) => 3 bones transmit information

vibrates due to sound waves pushing on it => ossicles move back and forth

three ones

85
Q

middle ear

A

includes ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes)

86
Q

oval window

A

made up of cochlea and semicircular canals

87
Q

semilunar canal (ear)

A

important for balance

three per ear

brain can integrate signal from each canal and maintain balance as well as interpret sudden acceleration and deceleration

88
Q

endolymph

A

canals are filled w/ this fluid

movement through canals puts pressure on hair cells inside

89
Q

two chem senses

A

taste and smell

they take chem moleculse from environment and turn into electrical signals

90
Q

olfaction

A

for smell

91
Q

gustation

A

for taste

92
Q

location of taste receptors/buds

A

tongue, soft palate, and epiglottis

composed of approx. 40 epithelial cells

outer surface contains a taste pore , from which microvilli, or taste hairs, protrude.

receptor surface are on taste hairs

interwoven around is a network of nerve fibers that they stimulate

neurons transmit gustatory info to brainstem via three cranial nerves

93
Q

4 kinds of taste sensations

A

sour, salty, sweet, bitter

respond preferentially

94
Q

olfactory receptors

A

found in olfactory membrane, in upper part of nostril, about 5 cm^2

specialized neurons from which olfactory hairs, or cilia, project; cilia form dense mat in upper nasal mucosa.

strong smell hardly noticeable after a while since these are overpowered, and after constant stimulation, will desensitize to a given stimulus.

95
Q

odor path in nose

A

odor => nasal cavity => receptors in cilia => depolarizing olfactory receptors => olfactory nerves (axons from olfactory receptors join to form this) => olfactory bulbs in base of brain

MCAT - Biology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions