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My MCAT > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

what are the three regions of the neural tube in a developing fetus?

A
  1. Prosencephalon (forebrain)
  2. Mesencephalon (midbrain)
  3. Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
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2
Q

Name the brain region in the neural tube

the ____ is responsible for much of what we associate with behavior and personality, and develops into the diencephalon – which contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pineal & pituitary glands – as well as the telencephalon – which contains the cerebrum

A

Prosencephalon (forebrain)

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3
Q

the limbic system includes…

A
  • hypothalamus
  • hippocampus
  • thalamus
  • amygdala
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4
Q

the ____ is the largest structure in the brain which contains the cerebral cortex

A

cerebrum

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5
Q

region of cerebral cortex associated with higher level cognition and executive functions

A

frontal lobe

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6
Q

region of cerebral cortex involed in sensory processing/perception

A

parietal lobe

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7
Q

region of cerebral cortex that has prominet roles in sound and language processing, as well as memory consolidation. This region also contains the** limbic system**, which plays a role in emotions and emotional memory formation

A

temporal lobe

link

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8
Q

primary visual cortex

A

occipital lobe

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9
Q

sometimes referred to as the 5th cortex of the brain, this region is deep within the cerebrum and takes in auditory, olfactory, gustatory, visual, and somatosensory cues via thalamic and horizontal cortical afferents from inside the body (also known as interoception) to determine the senses we perceive

A

insula

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10
Q

“old brain” associated with functions that have been highly conserved throughout evolution. Includes the cerebellum, pons, and medulla

A

hindbrain

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11
Q

relays signals between the cerebellum, medulla and the rest of the brain. Involved in sleep, respiration, swallowing, taste, bladder control, and balance

A

pons

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12
Q

associated with autonomic functions i.e breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

A

medulla

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13
Q

area of hindbrain associated with coordinated movement

A

cerebellum

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14
Q

topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord. Serves important functions in motor movement, homeostatic regulation, sleep, and in auditory and visual processing.

A

midbrain

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15
Q

region of brainstem associated with processing auditory signals and sending them to the medial geniculate nucleus in the thalamus

A

inferior colliculus

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16
Q

part of midbrain that processes visual signalls and participates in control of eye movements

A

superior colliculus

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17
Q

part of midbrain that facilitaties coordination of voluntary motor control

A

substantia nigra

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18
Q

the midbrain, together with the medulla and pons are collectivelly referred to as the ______

A

brainstem

forms a stem that connects brain to the spinal cod

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19
Q

processes memory, emotions, and decision-making.

aka fear center of the brain

A

amygdala

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20
Q

responsible for the consolidation of short term memory into long term memory

A

hippocampus

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21
Q

links the nervous system to the endocrine sysem via the pituitary gland

A

hypothalamus

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22
Q

modulates sleep through melatonin production

A

pineal gland

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23
Q

projection through which the hypotalamus secretes oxytocin and ADH (vasopressin)

A

posterior pituitary

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24
Q

part of reward pathway

A

septal nuclei

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25
Q

relays sense and motor signals and regulates sleep and alertness

post office of the brain

A

thalamus

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26
Q

spinal region that corresponds with the neck and contains sevel cervical vertebrae, C1-C7

A

cervical spine

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27
Q

spinal region that corresponds with the curve of the upper back and contains 12 vertebrae, T1-T12

A

thoracic spine

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28
Q

spinal region that corresponds with the lower back and has 5 vertebrae, L1-L5

A

lumbar spine

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29
Q

forms sacrum in adulthood, but throughout development is divided into 5 vertebrae, S1-S5

A

sacral vertebrae

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30
Q

the vertebral column ends with the …

A

coccyx (tailbone)

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31
Q

neurons that arise from the central nervous system and supply the ganglia

A

preganglionic neuron

in the parasympathetic system, preganglionic neurons are long, synapsing on ganglia near or on the target organ. In the sympathetic system, they are much shorter and go to sympathetic trunk

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32
Q

neurons that arise from the ganglia and supply the tissues.

A

postganglionic neurons

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33
Q

chain of ganglia near the spinal cord that extends approximatelt from the base of the skull to the coccyx. Preganglionic neurons with synapse with Postganglionic neurons here

A

sympathetic trunk

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34
Q

pre and postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic system, as well as preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system primarily use what neurotransmitter?

A

acetylcholine

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35
Q

postganglionic sympathetic fibers mostly use what neurotransmitter?

A

Norepinephrine

pg. 131 biology NS

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36
Q

the planning of motor control is initiated in the ____ and executed by the ___

A

premotor cortex, primary motor cortex

these cortexes border the central sulcus which separates the frontal and parietal lobes
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37
Q

the electrochemical signals generated by the primary motor cortex will propogate down the spinal cord after being modulated by ____ and _____

A

cerebellum and basal ganglia

this modulation helps coordinate the contractions of multiple muscle groups together into a unified, directed movement

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38
Q

what neurotransmitter is associated with muscle coordination, and the dysregulation of which is implicated in diseases of fine motor control deterioration such as Parkinson’s?

A

Dopamine

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39
Q

the main excitatory neurotransitter that is rsponsible for depolarization and the elicitation of action potentials

A

glutamate

the most common NT!

40
Q

the main inhibitory NT responsible for hyperpolarizing neurons, reducing their likelihood of firing. Associated with many of the physioogical effects of alcohol intoxication

A

GABA

41
Q

____ are the subtype of glial cells that form the blood-brain barrier (along with epithelial cells). Their other roles include detoxification, provision of nutrients, and recovery from injury.

A

Astrocytes

42
Q

Name the glial cell with the respective functions

  • insulin-dependent active transport of glucose from the bloodstream
  • detoxification
  • providing nutrients
  • injury recovery
A

astrocytes

43
Q

Name the glial cell

provide myelination in the CNS

A

oligodendrocytes

44
Q

Provide myelination in the PNS

A

Schwann cells

45
Q

True or False

All neurons are myelinated

A

False

46
Q

Name the primary functions of myelination

A
  • speeding up the transmission of action potentials
  • preventing cross-talk between axons
47
Q

Name the glial cell

perform an immune function and act similar to macrophages. They clean out microbes and debris (i.e waste and damaged cells, extracellular protein deposits, neuron pruning) in the CNS

A

microglia

48
Q

Name the glial cells

CSF is secreted by ___

A

ependymal cells

cerebrospinalfluid provides a more constant, stable chemical environment and physically cushions the CNS

49
Q

difference in electric potential (difference is distribution of charged ions) on each side of the cell membrane

A

membrane potential

50
Q

if there are more positively charged particles on the outside of a cell than on the inside of a cell, is the membrane potential negative or positive?

A

Negative

this reflects the lack of positive charge inside of the cell

51
Q

the intracellular environment is rich in ____, and relatively poori ____, ____, and _____

A

the intracellular environment is rich in K+, and relatively poori Na+, Cl, and Ca2+

52
Q

Na+/K+ ATPase is a transmembrane ion transporter that plays a key role in regulating membrane potentials. Another name for this transporter is….

A

sodium-potassium pump

53
Q

Na+/K+ ATPase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes ATP to pump ____ sodium ions at a time outside of the cell while bringing in ____ potassium ions

A

3 Na+ ions outside the cell, 2 K+ ions inside

54
Q

the sodium potassium pump stabalizes at a resting potential of ____

A

-70mV

55
Q

any changes in the sodium-potassium pump that destabilize the -70mV potential difference by bringing it close to 0mV results in ______

A

depolarization

56
Q

the cellular process that occurs in response to changes making the membrane potential difference more negative

A

hyperpolarization

makes cell potential more positive

57
Q

the small space between the terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron, and the place where neurotransmitters are released is called…

A

the synaptic cleft

58
Q

changes in membrane potential that vary in size, as opposed to being all-or-none; local changes in the membrane potential

A

graded potential

59
Q

most graded potentials are ____ meaning they raise the membrane potential, making it more positive. These are known as ** postynaptic potentials**

A

excitatory

60
Q

____ make the membrane more negative, resulting in hyperpolarization

A

inhibitory postsynaptic graded potentials (IPSPs)

61
Q

True or False

Graded potentials can add up together if they are located close to eac othr or happen within a very short time span

A

True, this is called spatial and temporal summation respectively

62
Q

a specialized part of the cell body (or soma) of a neuron that connects to the axon

A

axon hillock

63
Q

structures past the axon hillock that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential

A

voltage-gated sodium channels

64
Q

what must happen in the neuron (hint: include voltage gated sodium channels in your answer) for depolarization to occur?

A

Enough graded potentials must occur to add up to the threshold potential that causes voltage gated sodium channels to open. Then Na+ will rush into the cell, causing the membrane potential to increase, becoming more positive than the threshold. This causes other channels to open up as well, the result being a cascade of depolarization going down the axon terminal

65
Q

occurs when voltage gated potassium channels open up, and sodium channels close at +35mV. K+ is rushing out of the cell, making the membrane potential negative

A

repolarization

66
Q

when the cell potential becomes so negative that potassium channels close, and Na+/K+ ATPase is able to bring the membrane potential and concentration gradient back to normal

A

hyperpolarization

67
Q

when depolarization hits peak at +40mV, and sodium channels cannot open for a certain period of time

A

absolute refractory period

this serves as a safety check that prevents the signal from traveling backwards

68
Q

when sodium channels are able to open again but the membrane remains hyperpolarized

A

relative refractory period

it is possible - just difficult - to generate an action potential at this time

69
Q

what ion controls the channels that are at the end of an axon?

A

Ca2+

channels open in response to the change in membrane potential caused by the arriving wave of depolarization

70
Q

the opening of Ca2+ channels is reponsible for the exocytosis of ____ from vesicles?

A

neurotransmitters

71
Q

process by which hydrolytic enzymes break neurotransmitters apart, so as to prevent further receptor binding

A

degradation

72
Q

the reabsorption of a neurotransmitter by a neurotransmitter transporter located along the plasma membrane of an axon terminal or glial cell after it has performed its function of transmitting a neural impulse

A

reuptake

73
Q

NT that activates muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction. Used in all autonomc outputs fromthe brain to the autonomic basal ganglia. Used in the parasympathetic nervous system for post-ganglionic connections

A

acetylcholine

p. 142

74
Q

NT used in reward & motor pathways. Associated with Parkinson’s and the loss of ____ neurons in the substantia nigra

A

dopamine

75
Q

suppresses pain and can produce euphoria

A

endorphin

76
Q

stimulates the fight or flight response

A

epinephrine

77
Q

inhibitory NT of brainstem and spinal cord

A

glycine

78
Q

NT used in post-ganglionic connections in the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. Increases arousal, alertness, and focuses attention

A

norephinephrine

79
Q

NT that regulates intestinal movement in the GI tract. Regulates mood, appetitie, and sleep in the brain. Low levels associated with depression and mood disorders.

A

serotonin

80
Q

Compare and contrast the signaling methods of electrical vs chemical synapses

A

Chemical synapses have the NT bind to the transmembrane receptor protein, while electrical synapses feature the direct, cell-to-cell diffusion of ions via gap junctions

81
Q

the speed of transmission of chemical synapses is ____ than that of an electrical synapse

A

slower

82
Q

____ synapses allow for the amplification of signals

A

chemical

83
Q

____ synapses use the direct, cell-to-cell diffusion of ions through gap junctions as a signaling method

A

electrical

84
Q

____ synapses use neurotransmitter binding to transmembrane receptor proteins as a signaling method

A

chemical

85
Q

the ability to store charge in an electrical system; how much charge is on both sides of an insulator and the thickness of that insulation

A

capacitance

in a cell, the insulator is the cell membrane. The higher the membrane capacitance, the more difficult it will be to change the membrane potential, slowing down conduction and making it challenging for the neuron to depolarize

86
Q

the ability to resist charge in an electrical system

A

resistance

87
Q

True or False

The cell membranes of neurons are characterized by both capacitance, as reflected by the difference in charge in both sides of the membrane, and** resistance**

A

True

88
Q

true or false

Larger neurons are easier to depolarize

A

False

Larger surfaces = more area to store charge along the membranses = higher capacitance, which makes it harder to depolarize

89
Q

how much the cytoplasm impedes the flow of ions

A

cytoplasmic resistance

the more the cytoplasm impedes the flow if ions, the slower and more difficult conduction will be

90
Q

the ability of the membrane to seperate charge

A

membrane resistance

high membrane resistance promots the effective tranmission of an action potential

91
Q

charges stored across the membrane

A

membrane capacitance

92
Q

name the neuron structure

____ prevents the outflow of ions, significantly decreasing capacitance, allowing for conduction to be rapid down the axon

A

myelin

93
Q

potential that. ispresent when the influx and efflux od ions through the membrane equalizes; the membrane potential that the system “balances out” at when it’s not actively depolarizing

A

resting membrane potential

94
Q

What equation can we use to determine the cell potential of a neuron?

A

Nernst equation

pg. 145 biology

95
Q

when an action potential reaches the end of an axon, the signal is transmitted to the ____ via a neurotransmitter

A

post-synaptic membrane

Calcium then rushes into the presynaptic axon terminal, which sends vesicles carrying the NT into the synaptic cleft, The NT binds to the post-synaptic membrne and serves as a catylyst for its effect

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