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PreVet Anatomy > Module 2: The Nervous System > Flashcards

Module 2: The Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

The Nervous System

A

Coordinates both voluntary and involuntary activities of various systems of the body.
Broadly divided into 2 major systems = Central nervous system and Peripheral nervous system

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2
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

Includes the brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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Consists of nerves and structures (with some exceptions) that connect the CNS to all parts of the body

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4
Q

What is another way that the nervous systems can be classified by?

A

Classification based on the nervous system’s innovations and regulations of somatic and visceral structures→ Somatic nervous system (SNS) and Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

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5
Q

Somatic → “soma”

A

Refers to body

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6
Q

Visceral

A

Refers to organs

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7
Q

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

A

Mostly regulates muscular function

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8
Q

Autonomic nervous system

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Regulates visceral (organ) and some special functions
Further divided into Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems

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9
Q

How are the functions of the nervous system brought about, or mediated?

A

Mediated by different types of cells within the brain and spinal cord and other structures such as ganglia

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10
Q

Types of cells within the nervous system

A

2 broad types = neurons and glial cells

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11
Q

Neuron(s)

A
  1. A basic functional unit of the nervous system
  2. Mostly communicate with other cells via synapses
  3. Contains a cell body with a nucleus → “perikaryon”
  4. Two types of “processes” (finger-like projections from the cell body that can conduct and transmit signals)→Dendrite and Axon
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12
Q

Dendrite

A
  1. Transmits impulses aka signals towards the cell body
  2. There are generally multiple dendrites
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13
Q

Axon

A
  1. Transmits impulses aka signals away from the all body
  2. Always starts as a singular process from the cell body → may divide into multiple processes after traveling a distance from its origin
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14
Q

Types of neurons

A

3 types → based on the structure of the neuron’s processes
1. Unipolar (aka Pseudounipolar) 2. Bipolar 3. Multipolar

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15
Q

Unipolar aka Pseudounipolar neuron

A

Dendrite and axon combine into a single process toward the cell body

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16
Q

Bipolar neuron

A

Dendrites join together as a common trunk before reaching the cell body at a different site than the origin site of the axon

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17
Q

Multipolar neuron

A

A number of dendrites join the cell body at different points. Most neurons are multipolar

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18
Q

How does a neuron communicate with another neuron, aka communication between neurons?

A

Neurons communicate with each other via the formation of synapses and they transmit info in the form of action potentials a
Synapses= communicationi between one neuronal membrane to another
Communication is via transmission of signals that can be chemical or electrical signals.

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19
Q

Types of connections (synapses)

A

Axosomatic vs. Axodendritic vs. Axoaxonic

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20
Q

Axosomatic synapse

A

Connection between an axon of one neuron and a cell body of another neuron

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21
Q

Axodendritic synapse

A

Connection between an axon of one neuron and a dendrite of another neuron

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22
Q

Axoaxonic synapse

A

Connection between an axon of one neuron and an axon of another neuron

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23
Q

Neuronal aggregations

A

Aggregations of cell bodies

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24
Q

Nuclei

A

Aggregations of cell bodies in the brain

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Ganglia
Aggregations of cell bodies in the peripheral nerves
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Glia aka glial cells
Cells that support neurons by providing nutrition to neurons and help with "neurotransmission" → they do not directly participate in neurotransmission These cells produce "myelin"
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Myelin
Surrounds nerve fibers and provide insulation, protection, and support Produced by glial cells
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Types of glia
3 types of glial cells in the CNS: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia → a general classification)
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Astrocytes
Typically star-shaped Found in the brain and spinal cord Identified by the presence of "glial fibrillary acidic protein" (GFAP) Involved in multivarions functions that are critical for CNS function → includes: metabolic support for neurons, maintenance of blood-brain barrier, repair of injury to the nervous system, regulating ion concentrations, etc.
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Oligodendrocytes
Mainly provide support to axons of the CNS by producing myelin sheath.
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Microglia
Cells of immune origin → very critical for the CNS's immune defense mechanism Several types → have the ability to make structural changes to enable them to participate in immune functions of the CNS
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Structure of the Spinal Cord (CNS)
Spinal cord = cylindrical structure running between the hindbrain to the lumbar vertebrae Contains fibre tracts (white matter) and cell bodies (grey matter) Dorsal and ventral nerve roots emerge from the spinal cord on each side → merge to form the spinal nerves = contain both sensory and motor fibres
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White matter
Fibre tracts that carry information to and from the brain
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Grey matter
Cell bodies that are either interneurons or motor neurons that give rise to motor fibres
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Sensory neurons (cell bodies) for the spinal cord
Generally located in the dorsal root ganglion Their dendrites carry the sensory info from the periphery to the cell body → then through the axons (dorsal root) towards the dorsal horn of the spinal cord = afferent aka towards the spinal cord
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Motor neurons of the spinal card
Typically located in the ventral horn of spinal cord Their axons travel through the ventral root = efferent aka away from the spinalcord → and join the dorsal roots, forming the spinal nerve The spinal nerve exits via the intervertebral foramen (an opening between 2 vertebrae)→ splits into dorsal and ventral branches → provides innervation to muscles
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Spinal cord segments
Divided into: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, and Caudal Cross-section of the spinal cord is very similar among the segments
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Enlargements along the length of the spinal cord
There are 2 enlargements = the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral areas These enlargements give rise to the brachial and lumbosacral plexus respectively
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Cervicothoracic area
Between the last 3 or 4 cervical spinal card segments and the first 2 or 3 thoracic segments This enlargement gives rise to the brachial plexus
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Lumbosacral area
Between the last 3 lumbar spinal cord segments and the first 2 sacral segments This enlargement gives rise to the lumbosacral plexus
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Brachial plexus
Gives rise to nerves that innervates the forelimb (and other areas)
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Lumbosacral plexus
Gives rise to nerves that innervates the hindlimb (and other areas)
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Anatomical structure of the brain (CNS)
3 gross divisions: 1. Hindbrain (rhombencephalon = metencephalon + myelencephelon), 2. Midbrain (mesencephalon), 3. Forebrain ( diencephalon + telencephalon)
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Hindbrain aka rhombencephalon
Consists of the medulla oblongata aka myelencephaton; the pons aka ventral mesencephalon; the cerebellum aka dorsal mesencephalon
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Medulla oblongata aka myelencephalon
Causally continues as the spinal cord
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Cerebellum aka dorsal metencephalon
A globular mass of neural tissue connected to the brain stem by 3 peduncles It is separated from the cerebral hemisphere by a transverse fissures →physicallyseparated by "tentorium cerebelli” Consists of 2 lateral hemispheres and a narrow middle portion (aka median ridge) called "vermis" Role: controls balance and is responsible for coordinating postural and locomotor activities
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Midbrain aka mesencephalon
Made of crura cerebra, tectum, tegmentum, and cerebral peduncle
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Forebrain
Comprised of the diencephalon and the telencephalon
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Diencephalon
The anterior-most portion of the brainstem Its most ventral part = the hypothalamus Also includes the thalamus and the epithalamus
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Hypothalamus
Subdivided into a number of discrete regions Regulates most of the central and neuroendocrine functions in the body
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Epithalamus
Includes the pineal gland
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Thalamus
The relay and integration center of the brain
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Telencephalon
Formed by the two cerebral hemispheres
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Cranial nerves and types of innervations
Cranial nerves can be classified into groups based on 3 types of innervation: 1. Nerves responsible for special senses 2. Nerves that provide innervation to head muscles 3. Nerves that provide innervation to structures originating from the pharyngeal arch
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Traditional classification of cranial nerves
Traditionally, cranial nerves have been grouped in a numerical order from anterior to posterior aka rostrocaudally based on their origin from the brain There are 12 cranial nerves
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Olfactory nerves (CN I)
Role: olfactory nerve fibers pierce through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone of the nasal cavity Origin: the olfactory bulb of the brain
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Optic nerve (CN II)
Role: vision Origin: the diencephalon Structure: connects the diencephalon with the eye retina → the optic tracts cross over at the optic chasm → the optic nerve exits via the optic foramen in the skull
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Occulomotor nerve (CN III)
Structure; contains both somatic and autonomic fibers (visceral efferent → parasympathetic) → this nerve exits from the midbrain (both components) close to the midline Role of its somatic component: provides motor innervation to some of the muscles of the eyeball → dorsal, medial, and ventral recti muscles → levator palpebrae superioris and the ventral oblique
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Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Role: innervates the dorsal oblique muscle of the eyeball Origin: arises from the midbrain Structure: one of the smallest of the 12 cranial nerves; starts @ the midbrain → innervates the eyeball's dorsal oblique muscle → exits via the orbital fissure of the skull
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Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Role: provides motor innervation to muscles of mandibular (lower jaw) origin Structure: the largest sensory nerve among cranial nerves; 3 divisions of the nerve: ophthalmic (pertaining to eye), maxillary (pertaining to upper jaw), and mandibular (pertaining to lower jaw) Mandibular nerve exits via the oval foramen of skull Ophthalmic nerve exits via the orbital fissure of the skull Maxillary nerve exits via the round foramen of the skull
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Abducent nerve (CN VI)
Role: innervates the lateral rectus and retractor bulbi muscles of the eyeball → draws the eyeball into the socket Structure: starts from the caudal brainstem → exits the skull via the orbital fissure
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Facial nerve (CN VII)
Role: its somatic component innervates muscles of facial expression Structure; starts from the brain stem → exits the skull via the stylomastoid foramen. Also has a parasympathetic component
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Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
Role: responsible for the special senses related to vestibular (the ear's location and movement perception functions) and cochlear (the ear's auditory part) function Structure: starts from the brain stem
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Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Role: provides sensory innervation tothe tongue's mucosa and the pharyngeal regions; also provides some motor innervation to the pharyngeal region Structure: originates @ the brain stem; has bothparasympathetic and somatic sensory and motor components
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Vagus nerve (CN X)
Structure: contains visceral afferent, parasympathetic, and somatic efferent (motor) fibers Role of the parasympathetic fibers: parasympathetic innervation to visceral organs in the thoracic and abdominal area Role of the visceral afferent fibers: make up most the fibers in vagus nerves → provide afferent information from the viscera to the brain Role of the small motor component: provides innervation to the laryngeal muscles
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Accessory nerve (CN XI)
Structure: starts from the brain stem → divides into dorsal and ventral branches Role of the dorsal branch = innervates muscles in the neck → brachiocephalicus, omotransversarius, trapezius Role of the ventral branch = innervates sternocephalicus
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Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Role: provides motor innervation to muscles of the tongue Structure: starts from the brain stem → exits the skull via hypoglossal canal

PreVet Anatomy (11 decks)

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