MNSR 12 Flashcards
The function of a nervous system is:
To coordinate the activity of the muscles
To monitor the organs
To construct and stop input from the senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste)
To initiate actions
Cells that receive sensations are called…
receptors, e.g. nerves of the olfactory bulb
Cells that make the appropriate response are called…
effectors, e.g. Knee-jerk reflex (Patellar tendon reflex)
What are the two sub divisions of the nervous system and what’s in there?
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain
Spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
All other nerves and neurons that do not lie within the CNS
Tissues of the body develop from three primary germ layers:
Ectoderm, Endoderm, and Mesoderm
What is the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
Develops from a specialized region of ectoderm called the neural plate.
Development of the neural system called “neurulation”.
Some mesodermal cells form a hollow tube in the midline which by day 22-24 forms a…
solid cylinder of cells (notochord)
The notochord drives…
neurulation
What is neurulation?
Induction of overlying ectoderm to form the neural tube (which will become brain and spinal cord).
Malformations of the neural tube are known as…
Neural Tube Disorders (NTDs)
Most common tube defects include…
Anencephaly (head)
Encephalocele (Head)
Spina bifida (spine)
What are Folic Acid Supplements?
Supplementation prevents neural tube defects.
Also known as Natural B vitamin (vitamin B9).
First isolated from spinach leaves.
Needed to synthesize DNA bases.
~70% reduction in NTDs with 400mg/daily (100% RDA) periconceptional use.
The PNS is divided into…
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
The ANS is divided into…
Sympathetic, Parasympathetic, and Enteric
The SNS…
Includes all neurons connected with the muscles, sense organs and skin.
Deals with sensory information (Afferent nerves) from sense receptors to spinal chord.
Controls the movement of the body (Efferent nerves) from spinal chord to muscles
The structural and functional unit of the nervous system is the…
neuron.
The neuron consists of…
Dendrites
Soma (cell body)
Axon
Synaptic terminal
Within the soma is a…
large and usually centrally placed nucleus.
What is the cytoplasm of the neuron called?
Perikaryon
Within the cytoplasm (perikaryon) we find:
Nissl bodies:
- Formed of large aggregations of rough ER
- Site of protein synthesis
Microfilaments called neurofilaments
Microtubules called neurotubules
- Found in the axons and dendrites
In general dendrites are short so around <…
<1 mm
Axons may be up to _______ in length.
1 meter
Longest nerve is the…
Sciatic nerve (ischiatic nerve).
Damage to the Sciatic nerve called…
sciatica
Essentially there are three types of neurons:
Pseudo-unipolar – sensory.
Bipolar – specialised. sensory neurons found in the retina, inner ear and olfactory mucosa.
Multipolar - the most common.
Describe the pseudounipolar (unipolar) neuron:
Sensory neuron in the PNS
- Connects sensory organ to the spinal cord
A single process extending from the soma
One long dendrite (exception!)
One short axon
- Connects to the spinal cord
The dendrite of a pseudo-unipolar neuron is structurally and functionally an axon.
Myelinated
Describe the bipolar neuron:
Transmission of specialized senses (e.g. eye)
One dendrite
One axon
Part of the sensory pathway
Smell, sight, taste, hearing and vestibular functions
Describe the multipolar neuron:
Many dendrites
One single axon (usually long and may branch)
Large amounts of information received
Largely based in the CNS
Motor neurons (efferent)
Interneurons
Most of the nerve cell bodies (soma {singular}, somata {Plural}) are situated within…
the walls of the central nervous system (e.g. grey matter of spinal cord).
Where they are not, they form…
ganglia (singular = ganglion), a mass of nerve cell bodies and dendritic structures.
The ______ is in essence a fusion of many ganglia.
brain