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Physiology > Nerves > Flashcards

Nerves Flashcards

1
Q

Where are cell bodies for sympathetic neurons found?

A

T1-L3, thoracolumbar region

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2
Q

Where are cell bodies for parasympathetic neurons found?

A

In the cranial and sacral regions

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3
Q

Define: chronotropic

A

An effect that changes heart rate

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4
Q

Define: inotropic

A

An effect that changes the strength of muscular contraction

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5
Q

Are autonomic preganglionic axons of small/large diameter? Are they myelinated/unmyelinated? Do they conduct impulsues fast/slow?

A

Small, myelinated, slow

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6
Q

Are postganglionic axons of small/large diameter? Are they myelinated/unmyelinated? Do they conduct impulsues fast/slow?

A

Small, unmyelinated, slow

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7
Q

Are somatic axons of small/large diameter? Are they myelinated/unmyelinated? Do they conduct impulsues fast/slow?

A

Large, myelinated, fast

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8
Q

Do sympathetics or parasympathetics have greater divergence?

A

Sympathetics- contact 100 postganglionic neurons. Paras contact about 15

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9
Q

Define: en passant synapses

A

When a neuron makes multiple synapses. This is common for ANS neurons

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10
Q

What are three ways in which the sympathetic NS has broad effects?

A
  1. Divergence
  2. En passant synapses
  3. Stimulation of chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla causing the release of epi/norepi into the bloodstream
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11
Q

Preganglionic symps and paras signal with this neurotransmitter which acts on this receptor (and it is ionotropic/metabotropic)

A

Acetylcholine, N2 nicotinic cholinergic receptor, ionotropic

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12
Q

Somatic neurons signal with _____ neurotransmitter on ______ receptors which are (ionotropic/metabotropic)

A

Acetylcholine, N1 nicotinic cholinergic receptors, ionotropic

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13
Q

Postganglionic paras signal with _____ neurotransmitter on ______ receptors which are (ionotropic/metabotropic)

A

Acetylcholine, M muscarinic cholinergic receptors, metabotropic

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14
Q

Postganglionic symps signal with _____ neurotransmitter on ______ receptors which are (ionotropic/metabotropic)

A

Epininephrine and norepinephrine, a1, b1 and b2 adrenergic receptors, metabotropic

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15
Q

What are chromaffin cells?

A

Cells in the adrenal medulla with N2 receptors that release epinephrine and norepinephrine into the blood upon stimulation from preganglionic sympathetic neurons

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16
Q

Where are a1 adrenergic receptors found? What neurotransmitter preferentially binds them?

A

In the vasculature. Norepinephrine

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17
Q

Where are B adrenergic receptors found? What neurotransmitter preferentially binds them?

A

In the heart, lungs and liver. Epinephrine

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18
Q

What innervates eccrine sweat glands? What receptor do they have?

A

Postgang symps via acetylcholine. Muscarinic receptors

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19
Q

What do a1 adrenergic receptors cause release of in a cell?

A

Calcium (cytoplasmic concentration increases)

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20
Q

What do B1 and B2 adrenergic receptors cause production of in a cell?

A

cAMP

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21
Q

What do nicotinic cholinergic receptors cause in a cell?

A

Influx of sodium, efflux of potassium

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22
Q

What do M1, M3, M5 muscarinic cholinergic receptors cause in a cell?

A

Increased cytoplasmic calcium concentration

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23
Q

What do M2, M4 muscarinic cholinergic receptors cause in a cell?

A

Decreased cAMP production

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24
Q

What is a N1 receptor antagonist?

A

d-tubocurarine

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25
Q

What is a N2 receptor antagonist?

A

hexamethonium

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26
Q

What is an M receptor antagonist?

A

Atropine

27
Q

What is a propranolol?

A

A B1 adrenergic receptor antagonist

28
Q

What are the four phases of an action potential?

A

Rising (depolarizing) phase, overshoot phase, falling (reporlarizing) phase, undershoot phase

29
Q

Which ion is essential for the generation of an action potential (in most neurons)?

A

Sodium

30
Q

What ion causes the undershoot phase of the action potential?

A

Potassium

31
Q

What is the absolute refractory period? What creates it?

A

A period when no action potentials can be conducted in response to stimuli. Inactivation of Na+ channels.

32
Q

What is the relative refractory period? When does this occur?

A

When a cell can conduct an action potential but needs greater stimulation to do so because it is hyperpolarized. During the undershoot phase.

33
Q

Explain voltage clamp recording

A

A negative feedback loop prevents voltage from changing across a cell membrane by injecting a current equal and opposite to the current flowing through the voltage-gated channels.

34
Q

What two currents are involved in an action potential?

A

An early inward Na+ current and a late outward K+ current

35
Q

How does an action potential propagate?

A

Na+ ions entering a neuron passively flow down an axon, depolarizing different parts of the membrane and opening Na+ channels there

36
Q

How does myelination change action potential propagation?

A

Increased insulation and diameter and decreased capacitance all speed propagation. Potentials jump between nodes of ranvier in saltatory conduction

37
Q

What are dendrites specialized for?

A

Receiving synaptic signals

38
Q

What goes on in the cell soma of a neuron?

A

Housekeeping functions i.e. protein synthesis and degradation

39
Q

What does an axon do?

A

Transmits all-or-none action potentials

40
Q

What happens at the presynaptic terminal?

A

An electrical signal (action potential) is converted into a chemical one (neurotransmitter)

41
Q

Kinesin is a (+ or -) directed motor that moves along microtubules in a/an (anterograde/retrograde) fashion

A

+-end directed, anterograde transport of mitochondria and vesicles

42
Q

Dynein is a (+ or -) directed motor that moves along microtubules in a/an (anterograde/retrograde) fashion

A

(-)- end directed, retrograde transport of degraded vesicular membranes and toxins/viruses/growth factors

43
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of electrical synapses?

A

They are fast and synchronous. However, there is no directionality of transfer, little inhibitory signaling, and the mode is not very selective.

44
Q

What are the 7 steps for synaptic transmission at a chemical synapse

A

Neurotransmitter is made and packaged into vesicles-> an action potential arrives at the presynaptic terminal-> Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open and Ca2+ enters the cell-> Neurotransmitter vesicles fuse with the presynaptic cell membrane-> neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell-> response in the postsynaptic cell-> neurotransmitter taken up or degraded

45
Q

Name a V-SNARE involved in vesicular fusion at the nerve cell membrane

A

Synaptobrevin

46
Q

Name two T-SNAREs involved in vesicular fusion at the nerve cell membrane

A

SNAP-25 and Syntaxin

47
Q

Define: ionotropic receptor

A

A ligand-gated ion channel

48
Q

Define: metabotropic receptor

A

A G-protein coupled receptor

49
Q

Which receptor initiates a more rapid response, an ionotropic or a metabotropic receptor?

A

Ionotropic

50
Q

How does glutamate create excitatory post-synaptic potentials? (2 ways- fast and slow)

A

Fast- AMPA channels mediate Na+, K+ flow down their gradients, depolarizing the cell
Slow- In addition to AMPA, NMDA receptors allow Na+, K+, and Ca2+ to flow down their gradients, depolarizing the cell.

51
Q

How does GABA create inhibitory post-synaptic potentials?

A

GABA binding opens Cl- channels, allowing Cl- into a neuron and hyperpolarizing the cell

52
Q

Define summation as it relates to action potentials

A

If a neuron is stimulated at the end of an action potential by either the same neuron that caused the first action potential (temporal) or a different neuron (spatial), the depolarizations are additive and can create an action potential.

53
Q

What is pheochromocytoma? What are some effects of having this disease?

A

A tumor of the adrenal medulla (usually) that causes increased norepi (or epi or both) secretion. Can cause hypertension, heart palpitations, flushing, cold hands and feed, nausea, headaches.

54
Q

What is Horner’s syndrome? What are three effects of this disease?

A

A loss of sympathetic innervation of one side of the face. Ptosis (eyelid drooping), anhidrosis (lack of sweating) and miosis (partial constriction of the pupil).

55
Q

What are some examples of parasympathetic activation in the body?

A

Pupillary constriction, glandular secretion, decreased heart rate, bronchioconstriction, GI motility, erection, bladder/rectal emptying

56
Q

Where does the vagus nerve (Cr X) originate?

A

Dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve and the nucleus ambiguus. Both are in the medulla (brain stem)

57
Q

What is the nucleus tractus solitarius?

A

The major regulator of mean arterial pressure

58
Q

What does the myenteric plexus control?

A

GI motility

59
Q

What does the submucosal plexus control in the gut?

A

Secretion

60
Q

How does the sympathetic nervous system maintain homeostasis during exercise?

A

It redistributes blood by causing vasoconstriction of some capillary beds and vasodilation of others (i.e. heart, muscle)

61
Q

How does the parasympathetic nervous system maintain homeostasis during digestion?

A

It enhances motility by increasing wall muscle tone and decreasing sphincter tone. It also increases secretion from the stomach and pancreas.

62
Q

How does descending cortical control influence the autonomic nervous system?

A

Certain higher order functions are controlled by nuclei in the brain. Additionally, emotions or certain situations can cause autonomic responses (i.e. fear initiates the fight-or-flight response)

63
Q

What are some examples of when visceral afferents can overwhelm cortical function?

A

Hunger, nausea, dyspnea, visceral pain, bladder/bowel distension, hypothermia, hyperthermia

Physiology (13 decks)

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