nervous system

Question 1

what is a neuron?

Answer 1

make it possible for us to detect, process and respond to information. three types - sensory neurons, interneurons and motor neurons.

Question 2

what are the 5 functions of glial cells?

Answer 2

support neuron function. form myellin sheath in CNS. form blood-brain barrier to protect neurons from toxins and pathogens. get rid of waste in ECF of brain.

Question 3

what are the two major structural divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 3

CNS (brain and spinal cord) and PNS (peripheral nerves).

Question 4

what is a peripheral nerve?

Answer 4

nerves that are made of sensory and motor axons packed together. sensory information sent from sensors to nerve to the CNS. motor information sent from CNS to nerve to control muscle .

Question 5

what does afferrnt mean.

Answer 5

ARRIVING at the CNS

Question 6

what does efferent mean ?

Answer 6

EXIT at the CNS = Efferent

Question 7

what is visceral ?

Answer 7

fancy word from internal organs

Question 8

six types of receptors.

Answer 8

Thermoreceptors – temperature
Osmoreceptors – osmolarity
Chemoreceptors – chemicals
Photoreceptors - detect and transduce light
Nociceptors – pain
Mechanoreceptors – pressure, stretch, motion

Question 9

what does transduction mean?

Answer 9

means to convert or change from one form to another.

Question 10

what is sensory transduction ?

Answer 10

is the conversion of a sensory stimulus into an action potential.

Question 11

what is a somatic receptor and where are they?

Answer 11

detect stimuli from the external environment. In skin, skeletal muscle and special sensors.

Question 12

visceral receptors?

Answer 12

detect stimuli from the internal environment. In internal organs (viscera), glands and blood vessels

Question 13

Three somatic (body) senses involved in balance:

Answer 13

Vision, Vestibular sense (head movement and orientation) and Proprioception (limb position)

Question 14

why does light have to be transducted when it enters the eye?

Answer 14

because only action potentials can enter the brain.

Question 15

How the brain receives vision?

Answer 15

the light enters the eye and is transducted into electricity (action potentials). light enters photoreceptors which causes a shift inside the cells. Creating action potentials to send to the brain along axons.

Question 16

how does the brain receive interpretation of head movement?

Answer 16

movement of the head causes deformation of inner ear cells, which cause ions to enter and cause depolarization. creating action potentials that then gets sent to the brain.

Question 17

proprioception.

Answer 17

stretch of the tendon, muscle or skin. physically pulls the membrane allowing ions to enter the cell. depolarising the cell sending an action potential to the brain.

Question 18

how do baroreceptors work?

Answer 18

detect stretch. pressure deforms the membrane. mechanically gated ion channels.

Question 19

left side of the brain

Answer 19

receives sensory input from, and sends motor control signals to the right side of the body. analytic thought, logic, laungaue and science and math.

Question 20

right side of the brain

Answer 20

receives sensory input from, and sends motor control signals to the left side of the body. holistic thought, intuition, and creativity.

Question 21

what is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 21

like the skin on an apple. neurons involved in awareness, thinking and voluntary control.

Question 22

nuclei is?

Answer 22

groups of neuron cell bodies in the centre of the brain.

Question 23

basal nuclei function and location.

Answer 23

middle of the brain
motor learning, behaviour and emotions

Question 24

brainstem

Answer 24

the communication between brain and spinal cord cross here. brainstem neurons control autonomic function of internal organs. midbrain pons and medulla longata.

Question 25

cerebullum 3 functions?

Answer 25

Monitors sensory input to maintain balance and posture * Helps coordinate movements * Stores movement patterns (motor programs) (e.g. walking)

Question 26

Thalamus 5 function

Answer 26

Select and maintain desired movement * Eliminate unwanted movement * Regulate muscle tone * Monitor and coordinate sustained contractions (e.g. posture) * Control automatic movement

Question 27

Hypothalamus 3 function

Answer 27

Monitors chemicals in blood * Monitors and controls core body temperature, plasma osmolarity, heart rate, blood pressure * Monitors and controls hormones in blood.

Question 28

what is neuroplascity ?

Answer 28

The brain’s ability to reorganise and reform itself by forming new and stronger neural connections. * Learning * Memory

Question 29

in what ways can your barin do neuroplascity?

Answer 29

1. Chemical: Increase amount of neurotransmitter released * Short-term memory * Short-term improvement in performance of a motor skill
2. Connections: Increase number of connections between neurons * Long-term memory * Long-term improvement in performance of a motor skill
3. Excitability: Neurons become more excitable (easier to bring to threshold) the more you use them

Question 30

seven ways to increase your brain health ?

Answer 30

1. Exercise – increases blood supply and development of neural connections
2. Develop healthy relationships and social connections – increases stimulation of the reward centres and release of pleasure chemicals (e.g. dopamine and oxytocin)
3. Get enough quality sleep – restores neuron function, allows for waste removal, and healthy hormone cycles
4. Learn new and difficult things – to increase neuroplasticity – “use it or lose it”
5. Healthy diet – what you eat affects your gut bacteria, which influences the health of your brain
6. Avoid or reduce alcohol and drugs – so the brain can maintain levels of chemicals that support mental health and well-being
7. Develop a positive outlook – neural connections form and strengthen with repetitive thought, for better or for worse

Question 31

movement control.

Answer 31

comes from many neuron communication all throughout the brain but comes back to the primary motor cortex.

Question 32

pathway to primary motor cortex to skeletal muscle

Answer 32

axons from the cortex extend into the spinal cord. synapse with lower motor neurons to activate the skeletal muscle.

Question 33

lower motor neurons…

Answer 33

the only pathway to the specific muscle fibre it innervates with.

Question 34

myelin sheath made of…

Answer 34

CNS - oligodendrocytes
PNS - Schwann cells

Question 35

how to alter reaction time.

Answer 35

fewer neural connections speed of response. (training, caffeine and predictability). decrease in reaction time. - distarctions, alcohol, fatique and making mistakes.

Question 36

visual stimulus reaction time

Answer 36

180-200 ms

Question 37

sound stimulus - recation time

Answer 37

140-160 ms

Question 38

Touch stimulus - reaction time

Answer 38

150ms

Question 39

reflexes are..

Answer 39

sensory input to the spinal cord with an immediate motor response. no brain control is needed. 30-40ms

Question 40

headquarters for parasympathetic and sympathetic system neurons?

Answer 40

hypothalamus

Question 41

rest or digest

Answer 41

parasympathetic

Question 42

flight or fight

Answer 42

sympathetic

Question 43

how is ACh used with the parasympathetic system?

Answer 43

same way as the neuromuscular junction.

Question 44

what neurotransmitter are used for sympathetic?

Answer 44

NE is used to release at the organ to activate the smooth or cardiac muscle. ACh is used to activate another neuron and at the adrenal gland.

Question 45

what is a relfex?

Answer 45

something that provides protection. example. swallowing - ensures nutrient intake.

Question 46

how does the pons help with control of breath rhythm and rate?

Answer 46

higher-level neurons control the medulla.

Question 47

How can one neurotransmitter cause two outcomes?

Answer 47

1. When NE binds to alpha receptors on blood vessel cell membranes, it causes the vessel to vasoconstrict (narrow).
2. When NE binds to beta receptors on blood vessel call membranes, it causes the vessel to vasodilate (widen)