Nervous System 1 - Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

Identify the subdivisions of the nervous system?

A
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2
Q

List the basic functions of the nervous system?

A

Sensory Input:
Sensory receptors detect internal & external stimuli.

Integration:
Processes and interprets sensory input and decides what should be done at each moment.

Motor Output:
The nervous system causes an appropriate response by activating effector organs (muscles and/or glands).

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3
Q

What is the role of sensory & afferent neurons?

A

Sensory afferent neurons:
Carry this information via the cranial and spinal nerves to the brain and spinal cord.

Motor afferent neurons:
Motor efferent neurons carry this information from the brain and spinal cord to effector organs via the cranial and spinal nerves.

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4
Q

Label this image of the nervous system?

A
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5
Q

What is the role of the CNS and where is it located?

A

Role:
The command centre of the nervous system that integrates and processes nervous information.

Location:
Protected by the dorsal body cavities:
- Brain is housed within the skull, - Spinal cord is housed within the vertebral canal.

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6
Q

What does the CNS include and where are they located?

A

Nuclei:
- Collections of specialised neuronal cell bodies.
- Located within the grey matter of the brain and spinal cord.

Fibre tracts:
- Bundles of axons within the white matter of the brain and spinal cord.

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7
Q

What are nerves within the PNS and how many pairs of nerves are there in the body?

A

Nerves:
- Bundles of axons that extend from the brain (cranial nerves) and spinal cord (spinal nerves).
- 12 pairs of cranial nerves exiting from the skull foramina.
- 31 pairs of spinal nerves exiting from the intervertebral foramina.

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8
Q

What are plexuses?

A
  • Plexuses are networks of nerves.
  • Main plexuses = cervical, brachial, lumbar, sacral and enteric.
  • Plexuses give off terminal branches that innervate body structures.
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9
Q

What is ganglia, where are they located and what are their function?

A

What is ganglia:
Collections of neuronal cell bodies located outside the CNS.

Location:
Found throughout the body.

Function:
Carry nerve signals to and from the CNS.

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10
Q

What is the sensory (afferent) nervous system responsible for?

A

Detects stimuli and transmits information from sensory receptors to the CNS.
***Afferent = input.

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11
Q

What are the 2 subdivisions of the sensory nervous system?

A

Somatic sensory subdivision.
Autonomic (visceral) sensory subdivision.

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12
Q

What is the somatic sensory subdivision responsible for and what is its main function?

A
  • Responsible for sensory input that is consciously perceived from sensory receptors
    *** Voluntary functions.
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13
Q

What are examples of what the somatic sensory subdivision transmits?

A
  • The general somatic senses (touch, pressure, vibration, temperature and proprioception).
  • The special senses (vision, hearing, balance and smell).
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14
Q

What is the autonomic (visceral) sensory subdivision responsible for and what is its main function?

A
  • Responsible for sensory input that is not consciously perceived from sensory receptors in viscera.
    *** Involuntary functions.
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15
Q

What are examples of what the autonomic (visceral) sensory subdivision transmits?

A
  • Stretch of an organ wall (e.g. wall).
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16
Q

What is the motor (efferent) nervous system responsible for?

A

Responsible for transmitting motor impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles or glands).
***Efferent = output.

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17
Q

What are the 2 subdivisions of the motor (efferent) nervous system?

A

Somatic motor subdivision
Autonomic (visceral) motor subdivision

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18
Q

What is the somatic motor division responsible for and what is its main general function?

A
  • Responsible for motor output that is consciously or voluntarily controlled.
    *** Voluntary functions.
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19
Q

What is the autonomic (visceral) motor subdivision responsible for and what is its main general function?

A
  • Responsible for motor output that is not consciously or is involuntarily controlled.
    *** Involuntary functions.
20
Q

Describe the basic characteristics of neurons?

H
E

A

High metabolic rate:
Their survival depends on the continuous and abundant supply of glucose and oxygen.

Extreme longevity:
Neurons functions optimally for a lifetime.

21
Q

Describe the basic characteristics of neurons?

E
EC

A

Excitable:
Neurons respond to stimuli such as chemicals, stretch or pressure changes.

Exhibit conductivity:
Electrical charge is quickly propagated along their plasma membrane.

22
Q

Describe the basic characteristics of neurons?

N

A

Nonmitotic:
Since neurons are the communicating links of the nervous system, most lose their ability to divide and produce new neurons.

23
Q

Label the structural component of a neuron?

A
24
Q

What do all neurons contain?

A

A cell body, an axon and one or more slender processes called dendrites.

25
Q

What are dendrites responsible for?

A

They are responsible for receiving signals from other neurons (i.e. conducting electrical signals from other neurons towards the cell body).
*** More dendrites = more information that neuron can receive.

26
Q

What does the cell body of neurons contain?

A

The cell body contains the typical organelles found in all cells (rich in mitochondria, ribosomes and rough ER).

27
Q

What are clusters of neuronal cell bodies called inside and outside the CNS called?

A

Inside = nuclei.
Outside = ganglia.

28
Q

What is the function of an axon in a neuron?

A

It generates nerve impulses and transmits them away from the cell body towards another cell.

29
Q

What is the function of the whitish, fatty, segmented myelin sheath that covers an axon?

A

This protects and electrically insulates axons and increases the speed of nerve impulse transmission along them.

30
Q

What are the 2 types of axons and how do they conduct nerve impulses?

A

Myelinated axons:
Conduct nerve impulses rapidly.

Unmyelinated axons:
Conduct impulses more slowly.

31
Q

Label photomicrograph of a large motor neuron below?

A
32
Q

What are the 3 structural types of neurons and give a brief description of them?

A

Multipolar:
Have many processes - one axon and many dendrites.

Unipolar:
Have a single short process.

Bipolar:
Have two processes - and axon and one dendrite.

33
Q

Finish the sentence:

All motor neurons are _________.
Most sensory neurons are __________.

A
  1. Multipolar
  2. Unipolar
34
Q

What are the 2 types of multipolar neurons and what are their function?

A

Motor neurons:
All of these conduct impulses along efferent pathways.

Interneurons:
Conduct impulses within the CNS.

35
Q

What is the function of unipolar neurons and where do they divide into?

A
  1. Conduct impulses along afferent pathways.
  2. These neurons have a single short process that divides into peripheral (towards sensory receptor) and central (entering CNS) branches.
36
Q

Where are the rare bipolar neurons found?

A

Found only in some special sense organs – the retina of the eye and the olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity.

37
Q

Label the parts of the 3 structural types of a neuron?

A
38
Q

What are the 3 types of neurons?

A

Sensory neurons
Motor neurons
Interneurons

39
Q

Give a brief explanation of sensory neurons?

A
  • Are afferent neurons that transmit nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS.
  • Most are unipolar, except for those in the retina of the eye and in the olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity, which are bipolar.
40
Q

Give a brief explanation of motor neurons?

A
  • Are efferent neurons that transmit nerve impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles or glands).
  • All motor neurons are multipolar.
41
Q

Give a brief explanation of interneurons?

A
  • They receive impulses from many other neurons and carry out the integrative function of nervous system.
  • All interneurons are multipolar.
42
Q

Identify the 4 types of neuroglia found in the CNS?

Identify the 2 types of neuroglia found in the PNS?

A
43
Q

Describe the major function of neuroglia in the CNS and PNS?

A

Microglial cells = monitor the health of neurons by defending against pathogens.
Astrocyte = provides structural support.
Ependeymal cells = assist in the production and circulation of CSF.
Oligodendrocyte = myelinate CNS axons (greater impulse conduction).

Satellie cells = regulate nutrients for the cell bodies in ganglia.
Schwann cells = myelinate CNS axons (greater impulse conduction).

44
Q

What part of the autonomic nervous system leads to the ‘fight or flight’ response and the ‘rest and digest’ response?

A

Fight or flight = sympathetic nervous system.
Rest and digest = parasympathetic nervous system.

45
Q

What part of the nervous system located within the intestinal wall controls digestive function through local reflexes.

A

Enteric nervous system