Nervous System Flashcards
what are the functions of the nervous system
communication, regulating internal events, organising behaviour (externally), information storage, sensations, perceptions and emotions.
what are the two types of cell found in the nervous system
neurons and glial cells
give a summary on glial cells
they are more numerous than neurons, and have a supportive/nutritive role, such as myelin formation.
which glial cells are responsible for myelin formation
schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system
what are the types of glial cells
astrocytes
microglia
ependymal cells
oligodendrocytes
schwann cells
what are astrocytes involved in
nutrient supply to neurons in central nervous system. they have a supportive structure involved in their distribution of this food
what are microglia involved in
they have a defence role - they are phagocytic
what are ependymal cells involved in
production of cerebrospinal fluid. they have cilia because they work with fluids.
what are cilia associated with
fluids and movement of fluids
what are oligodendrocytes involved in
neuronal support and myelin formation. they can wrap around more than one neuron. this allows them to have a supporting function.
what are schwann cells involved in
neuronal support and myeling formation in the peripheral nervous system
give a summary on neurons
they are excitable cells involved in the generation and transmission of signals. they are also involved in synaptic processing like memory, and have various types like their structure being related to function
what are included in the peripheral nervous system
spinal and cranial nerves
what are included in the central nervous system
spinal cord and the brain
what arises from the central nervous system
the peripheral nervous system
what does afferent mean
this is when something is going onto the central nervous system
what does efferent mean
this is something leaving the central nervous system
what are the different forms of affarent and efferents
somatic and visceral
what is visceral
information from internal organs and blood vessels
what is somatic
this is information from muscles, bone and soft tissue
what are examples of motor responses to somatic efferents
exocrine gland secretion
what part of the nervous system are visceral efferents involved in
autonomic nervous system
where are spinal nerves found
emerging along the length of the spinal cord
how many pairs of spinal nerves are there
31
how many spinal nerves are cervical nerves
8
how many spinal nerves are thoracic nerves
12
how many spinal nerves are lumbar nerves
5
how many spinal nerves are sacral nerves
5
how many spinal nerves are coccygeal nerves
1
what do spinal nerves contain
many sensory and motor axons
what do axons supply
structures in well defined parts of the body
what are dermatomes
regions on the skin connected to a single spinal nerve. blocks of sensorial axons that are affarent onto the central nervous system spinal cord
what are myotomes
blocks of muscle supplied by motor axons
what are nerve plexuses
peripheral nerves that supply particular regions of the body. they can have nerves arising from different nerve areas, and this creates complexity when understanding the nervous system
what do the axons in the spinal nerves from
various peripheral nerves
what does the area with sensory nerves have a match with
the area with motor nerves
what are the cranial nerves
these are 12 pairs of nerves that are connected to the brain, especially the brainstem. they provide sensory and motor nerve supply to the head and neck structures.
where is the vagus nerve distributed to
this is the tenth cranial nerve and is distributed to the trunk rather than the head
which cranial nerve is the most important in the face
the trigeminal nerve as it provides facial sensory function. it has three subdivisions and they have their own details
what part of the tongue has the specialised function related to taste
the posterior of the tongue
what does the tongue have innervation by
many cranial nerves
what is the function of peripheral nerves
carrying information to the central nervous system
what are the affarent signals in the somatic nerves associated with
sensations and perceptions - they take these signals to the central nervous system
are we aware of the affarent signals from the internal organs
no
what efferents control voluntary muscle
somatic efferents
what efferents costitute the autonomic nervous system
the smooth and cardiac muscle, and some glands
what are peripheral nerves
bundles of axons both myelinated and unmyelinated that are interconnected by the plexus
are peripheral nerves singular nerves
no
how can the basic neuronal form of peripheral nerves be changed
in order to perform different functions such as sensory and motor neurons
where are A alpha nerve axons foind
they are myelinated and are found in some sensory neurons and motor neurons
where are A beta nerve axons found
these are also myelinated and are found in sensory neurons
are myelinated or unmyelinated nerve fibres faster
myelinated, they are thicker and bring about a very fast response
where are C fibres found on nerve axons
sensory neurons and some autonomic nerves. most have sensorial response that doesnt need to be that fast. some are nto even worried about reaching the brain. they only reach the spinal cord through the reflex to bring a response. most are associated with autonomic nervous system in terms of controlling certain aspects like blood vessels
