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Foundations Of Medicine > Nerves > Flashcards

Nerves Flashcards

1
Q

What are the divisions of the nervous system

A
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2
Q

What are the different parts of the brain

A

(12 cranial)

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3
Q

What are the different parts of the spinal cord

A
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4
Q

Describe the structure of the spinal cord

A
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5
Q

What is the general structure of a neuron

A
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6
Q

What are the different types of neurons

A
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7
Q

What is the distribution of nerves In the spine

A

Roots: EITHER sensory OR motor
Spinal nerves: sensory AND motor
Rami: sensory AND motor

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8
Q

What is the morphology of neurons

A
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9
Q

What is glia

A

Non-neuronal cells of brain and nervous system

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10
Q

What are the different types of glia

A

CNS
Peripheral NS (PNS)

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11
Q

Describe the glia of the CNS

A

Astrocytes - Maintain external environment for neurons
Surround blood vessels and form blood brain barrier
Ependymal - Produce cerebrospinal fluid
Microglia - Macrophages of the CNS, remove infection
Oligodendrocytes - Form myelin sheaths in the CNS

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12
Q

What are the different types of membrane potentials

A

Action potentials
Transmit signals over long distances

Graded potentials
Decide when action potential should be fired

Resting membrane potentials
Keeps cell ready to respond

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13
Q

Describe the resting membrane potential

A

Inside of cell negative relative to outside (potential difference)
Most neurons at -70mV

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14
Q

How is a resting membrane potential created

A

Dominated by permeability of resting membrane to K+
K+ continually leaks out channels down conc. gradient, established by Na+/K+ pump
Reason resting membrane potential is close to K+ equilibrium potential
Close because some other leaky channels

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15
Q

How is the size of membrane potential determained

A

Size of initial concentration gradient

Small conc.gradient
= small resting membrane potential

Large conc. gradient
= large resting membrane potential
Need lots of K+ to leak out to reach equilibrium

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16
Q

What is the conc. of K+, Na+, Cl-

A
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17
Q

What is a graded potential

A

Membrane potential that determines when action potential is fired

18
Q

What are the different types of graded potentials

A

Generator potentials - sensory receptors
Postsynaptic potentials - synapses
End plate potentials - At neuromuscular junction
Pacemaker potentials - In pacemaker tissues

19
Q

What size response to graded potentials give

A

Size proportional to size of stimuli

20
Q

What are the properties of a graded potential

A

Decremental, get smaller as they move along membrane
Depolarising or hyperpolarising
Summate (add together)

21
Q

Explain how EPSPs are generated

A

Opening Na+/K+ channels or closing leaky K+ channels to depolarise membrane

22
Q

Explain how IPSP are generated

A

Opening Cl- channels or opening K+ channels, hyperpolarising

23
Q

What is the role of synaptic integration in neuronal function

A

Summation of synaptic inputs to decide if initial segment will reach threshold
Axo-dendritic, Axo-somatic, Axo-axonic synapses

24
Q

How is an action potential generated

A

Voltage-gated Na+ channels mediate depolarising
Voltage-gated K+ channels mediate repolarising and hyperpolarising

25
Q

What are the different properties of action potentials

A

Threshold value
‘All or nothing’
Self propagating
Refractory period
Travel slowly
Encoded stimulus intensity varies in firing frequency not amplitude

26
Q

Describe the action of different channels during action potential

A
27
Q

How does myelination increase the speed of action potentials

A

Increased membrane resistance (less current leaks out membrane)
Decreased membrane capacitance (less current wasted charging membrane)

28
Q

What are the consequences of demyelinating diseases

A

Attack myelin sheath
Decreased membrane resistance (more current leaks out membrane)
Increased membrane capacitance (more current wasted charging membrane)
Conduction fails

29
Q

What are the different types of nerve fibres

A
30
Q

What is the function of nodes of Ranvier

A

Action potential jumps from one node to the next, saltatory conduction

31
Q

What is the neuromuscular junction

A

Synapse between motor neuron and skeletal muscle
First step in triggering muscle contraction is to evoke action potential in skeletal muscle membrane (the sarcolemma)

32
Q

What is the structure of the neuromuscular junction

A

Presynaptic terminal filled with vesicles containing acetylcholine (ACh)
Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic end plate of the skeletal muscle fibre

33
Q

What is the process of neuromuscular transmission Slide 1

A
34
Q

What is the process of neuromuscular transmission Slide 2

A
35
Q

What is the process of neuromuscular transmission Slide 3

A
36
Q

What are the key characteristics of the neuromuscular junction

A

Ligand-gated Na+/K+ channels evoke end plate potential
Very large graded potential, always big enough to reach threshold
No synaptic integration
Post-junctional folds increase number of voltage-gated Na+ channels close to where it is evoked

37
Q

What are the different classes of neurotransmitters

A

Amines
Amino acids
Peptides
Purines
Gases

38
Q

What are the different postsynaptical potentials

A

Fast EPSPs (ionotropic)
Slow EPSPs (metabotropic)
Fast IPSPs (ionotropic)
Slow IPSPs (metabotropic)

39
Q

What are the different pathways in transmission

A

Monosynaptic reflex - Afferent (sensory) synapses directly to efferent (motor)
Polysynaptic reflex - Afferent synapses to interneurons, interneurons synapses to efferent

40
Q

Describe inhibitory reflex pathways

A

Introduces inhibitory neurotransmitters

41
Q

Describe the ultrastructure of synapses between neurons

A
42
Q

What is synapse plasticity

A

Changes in strength of synapses
Can be activity-dependent

Different synaptic plasticity:
Long-term potentiation/depression

Foundations Of Medicine (28 decks)

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