Nervous System Flashcards
What is the function of the nervous system
system processes information from the internal and external environments, using sensory receptors. Usually, it then sends signals encoding this information to the brain, which processes the information to determine an appropriate response. Finally,
nerve impulses
electrical signals transmitted by neurons
neurons
nerve cells
axon
carries nerve impulses to other cells
what structures make up the central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
what structures make up the peripheral nervous system
nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
What does the somatic system do?
The somatic nervous system controls activities that are under voluntary control, such as turning a steering wheel.
What does the autonomic system do?
The autonomic nervous system controls activities that are not under voluntary control, such as digesting a meal. The autonomic nervous system has two main divisions: the sympathetic division (which controls the fight-or-flight response during emergencies), the parasympathetic division (which returns the body back to routine day-to-day operations)
How can you examine the nervous system
1) mental status: will, emotion, thought process, reasoning, intellect, memory-check history
2) cranial nerves: supply motor and sensory to face and head
3) motor nerves: strength, movement, balance, and gait
4) sensory nerves- pain, light touch, sharp/dull
5) deep tendon reflexes- reflex arc to test motor and sensory nerves
what is the protective layer of the brain called
3 layers; meninges, spaces between these layers contain cerebrospinal fluid that cushions and nourishes the brain and spinal cord
c1-c8 nerves (supply to…?)
arm
t1-t12 nerves (supply to…?)
thorax
L1-L5 and s1-s5 nerves (supply to…?)
buttocks and legs
what is the parasympathetic system also called
rest and digest
what is the sympathetic system also called
flight or fight
list 12 cranial nerves
olfactory (smell)
optic (sight)
oculomotor (eye movement)
trochlear (eye movement)
trigeminal (provide sensory information to the face, chewing)
abducens (eye movement)
facial (face movement, taste, sensory info for ears)
acoustic (hearing and balance)
glossopharyngeal (enables swallowing, sends nerve impulses to mouth)
vagus (regulates internal functions, such as digestion and hr)
accessory (moves your deltoids and moves your neck and head)
hypoglossal (tongue movement)
how can you test the sensory system
pain-use a sharp object (end of paper clip or broken tongue depressor), ask the patient if they feel sharp or dull
temperature- often omitted if pain is intact, use 2 test tubes filled with hot and cold water
position- grab the big toe and manually move it up and down for the patient to tell you the position
vibration- place a vibrating tuning fork over the big toe, stop the vibration and the patient will tell you if they can’t feel it vibrating anymore
light touch- touch lightly with a wisp of cotton or hand, compare both sides and see if the patient can feel it
deep tendon reflexes
- stretch reflex
- involuntary response (quick response involving only a few neurons- sensory and motor)
- represent the simplest unit of sensory and motor functions
- tapping the tendon activates sensory fibres to travel to the spinal cord which arc back around to create a motor response
grading for deep tendon reflexes
4+ - very brisk, hyperactive reflex
3+ - more active than normal, slightly hyperreflexic
2+- normal reflexes
1+- somewhat diminished, low normal
0+- no response, absent
ALS and MS can cause hyperreflexic patients, whereas damage to the nervous system can cause hypoflexic
reflex tendons
biceps reflex: c5: flex arm at elbow and strike on thumb, watch for elbow flexion or contraction of bicep tendon
brachioradialis reflex: c6: hand partly pronated, striking eat radius with flat edge to watch for flexion and aspiration of forearm
triceps reflex: c7, flex the arm at the elbow, strike the triceps tendon above the elbow to find evidence of muscle contractions of the triceps
patellar reflex: L4- sitting or supine, knee flexed, tap the patellar tendon below the patella to check for contraction of quads
achilles reflex- s1- sitting of prone, slightly dorsiflex at the angle to check for plantar flexion of the ankle
examination of mental status
wetrim , look at the patients grooming and hygiene, mannerisms and behaviour, concentration and judgement, and mood
examination of Motor system
posture, tics or tremors, look at muscle girth for evidence of atrophy, muscle strength oxford
- coordination (checking for balance)
rapid alternating movement-supination pronation on thighs, run heel down shin to the big toe with eyes closed
point to point movements- touch nose then finger
gait- heel to. toe, heel and toe walking, hop on 1 foot
what causes red eyes in pictures, and how do cameras that flash continuously before taking the picture prevent red eyes?
A sudden flash doesn’t let your pupil react to the light, and the light reflects to the retina which makes the eye appear red (as the back of the eye has blood-choroid)
having the camera flash before a bunch of times helps prep your eyes, the pupils contract and take in less light, as a result less light is reflected and don’t appear red
what is an epiderual
a needle to the lumbar spine that numbs nerves to prevent lower extremity pain typically during childbirth
the higher up an injury is on the spinal cord….
the more dangerous it is: affects large portion of body and is closer to the brain
coccygeal is the
tailbone
nerves go through holes in the …..
sacrum
cervical nerves delivers to ……
lumbar spine nerves…..
cranial nerves…..
optic nerve…
auditory nerve…
cervical nerves- arms
lumbar spine- legs
cranial nerve- head and face
optic nerve- eyes
auditory nerve- ears
conscious
somatic (voluntary)
unconscious
autonomic (involuntary)
sensory
touch, vibration, pain, hearing, vision, smell, etc
the skull is a
flat bone
which part of the brain helps with motor coordination
the cerebellum
what does the brain stem do
connection of brain from brain to spine, contains medulla oblongata, etc.
brain folds are important because
they increase surface area to help deliver messages better
what is the snellen eye chart, what does 20/20 vision mean
snellen eye chart measures the sharpness of vision
20/20 vision- you see what should be seen at 20ft
20/10 vision- you see something at 20ft that is usually discerned at 10ft
how to test the olfactory nerve
compress one nostril and sniff with familiar items, repeat on other sides
how to test the optic nerve
use an ophthalmoscope
visual field of confrontation-testing peripheral vision
snellen eye chart (distance), jaeger chart (near), Ishihara (colour blindness)
how to test the oculomotor nerve
inspect size and shape of each pupil-penlight test
move eyes in H
how to test the trochlear nerve
Move eyes in H
Trigeminal
clench teeth to feel contraction of temporal and master muscles, ability to talk, feeling the light touch of the forehead and cheekbones and jaw
mastication
chewing
buccinator
masseter
how to test the abducens nerve
move eyes in a H
how to test facial
make faces, ability to talk
auditory
whispered words, rub patient hair, tuning fork
glossophargageal
have patient swallow, listen to voice
penlight and tongue depressor and have patient say AHHH to check vibration of uvula (should be up and down instead of side to side)
vagus
ability to talk
accessory
check sternocleidomastoid and trapezius with shoulder shrugs and with rotating cervical spine
hypoglossal
stick out tongue, push tongue against the inside of the cheek and check for strength
ability to talk
what is note 2 equivalent to on the jaeger chart
20/20 vision
what is note 7 equivalent to on the jaeger chart
20/70
what are the shorter projections of a neuron called?
dendrites; receive nerve impulses from other cells
what is the consensual reflex
eyes are connected to work together through the same optic nerve, and if one pupil constricts, the other pupil also constricts
what is a reflex hammer called
(Babinski) reflex hammer
A received neural impulse travels from the _____ into the cell body and then down the _____ .
dendrite; axon
a nerve is …
bundle of neurons (a bundle of neurons is also the brain, spinal cord, etc.)
