nerves and muscles Flashcards
gross structure of the brain
Meninges, sulcus, gyrus, cerebellum, cerebrum (4 lobes), diencephalon (thalamus and hypothalamus), brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla), cranial nerves
gross structure of the spinal cord
Grey vs. white matter, dorsal vs. ventral horn, dorsal root ganglion, spinal nerves, spinal tracts
describe the pairs of spinal nerves
31 pairs:
- 8 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 sacral
- 1 coccygeal
types of neuron
- afferent neurons = sensory (PNS)
- interneurons = CNS
- efferent neurons = (CNS)
describe neuron structure
dendrites
cell body
initial segment
axon
axon terminals
dendrite function
receives information
initial segment function
axon hilock triggers action potential
cell body function
contains nucleus
axon function
sends action potential
axon terminal function
releases neurotransmitter
oligodendrocytes function and location
form myelin sheath (CNS)
astroglia function and location
maintain external environment for neurons and form blood brain barrier (CNS)
microglia function and location
macrophages of the CNS
ependymal cells function and location
produce cerebrospinal fluid (CNS)
schwann cells function and location
form myelin sheath (PNS)
The resting membrane potential is dominated by what
the permeability of the resting membrane to K+
types of graded potential
generator potentials,
postsynaptic potentials,
end plate potentials,
pacemaker potentials
function of graded potentials
Their job is to decide when an action potential is fired
properties of graded potentials
Graded, decremental, depolarising or hyperpolarising, can summate
how are EPSPs generated
by opening Na+/K+ channels or closing leaky K+ channels
how are IPSPs generated
by opening Cl channels or opening K channels
example of demyelinating disease in CNS
Multiple sclerosis
example of demyelinating disease in PNS
Guillain-Barré syndrome
structure of the neuromuscular junction
terminal filled with vesicles containing acetylcholine (ACh)
process of neuromuscular transmission.
- action potential in motor neuron
- opens voltage gated Ca channels in presynaptic terminal
- fusion of veiscles
- ACh diffuses across synaptic cleft
- ACh binds to ACh nicotinic receptors
- this opens ligand-gated Na/K channels
- evokes end plate potential
- this always depolarises membrane to threshold
- which opens voltage gated sodium channels
- and evokes action potential
examples of excitatory neurotransmitters
glutamate, epinephrine and norepinephrine
examples of inhibitory neurotransmitters
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine and serotonin
what is meant by a receptor
A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific effect in the cell
function of an agonist
mimic the normal effect of the receptor
affinity and efficacy of a full agonist
full efficacy and full affinity
affinity and efficacy of a partial agonist
full affinity and partial efficacy
function of an antagonist
block normal action of receptor
affinity and efficacy of an antagonist
full affinity and no efficacy
relationship between agonist concentration and effect
an agonist in the presence of a competitive agonist will reach the same response but at a slower rate due to the effect of a competitive antagonist