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Human Anatomy > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What does the CNS and PNS include respectively?

A
  • CNS - brain and spinal cord
  • PNS - all nerves that branch off CNS
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2
Q

Where is the brain?

A

in the cranial cavity protected by the skull and meninges

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3
Q

What does the forebrain, hindbrain and brainstem include respectively?

A
  • forebrain - cerebrum and diencephalon
  • hindbrain - medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum
  • brainstem - midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata
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4
Q

Where is the spinal cord?

A

in the vertebral column protected by meninges and surrounded by CSF

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5
Q

What can neurons be morphologically?

A

multipolar, bipolar or pseudo-unipolar

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6
Q

What is the main difference between neuronal and glial cells?

A

neuronal cells are conducting and glial cells are non-conducting

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7
Q

What is the difference between projection neurons and interneurons?

A
  • projection neurons can be efferent or afferent and are mainly excitatory
  • interneurons have local connections and are mainly inhibitory
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8
Q

What do axons do?

A

conduct impulses away from the cell body

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9
Q

What are most axons?

A

long, slender processes that arise from the axon hillock in the cell body and branch at the distal (terminal) end

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10
Q

What does the axonal cytoplasm lack?

A

ribosomes, RER and Golgi apparatus

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11
Q

What is axon myelination?

A

the process of forming a myelin sheath around an axon, which increases the speed of electrical signals transmitted between neurons

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12
Q

What do dendrites do?

A

conduct impulses towards the cell body

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13
Q

What are most dendrites?

A

relatively short and highly branched; they contain all the cytoplasmic components found in the cell body except the Golgi apparatus

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14
Q

What does the arrival of an AP at an axon terminal cause?

A

Ca2+ channels to open which causes an influx of ions and increases the cytosolic Ca2+ level which then triggers exocytosis of the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft

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15
Q

What is the synaptic cleft?

A

a 20-40nm space separating the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes across which a neurotransmitter diffuses

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16
Q

What happens at the excitatory synapse?

A

binding of neurotransmitter to its receptors causes opening of Na+ channels in the postsynaptic membrane which leads to depolarisation of the membrane and an AP in the postsynaptic cell

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17
Q

What happens at the inhibitory synapse?

A

neurotransmitter binding causes opening of K+ and Cl- channels in the postsynaptic membrane which leads to hyperpolarisation of the membrane and then no AP in the postsynaptic neuron

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18
Q

How many more glial cells are there than neuronal cells?

A

10x

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19
Q

What are the 3 types of glial cells and what is their proportion?

A
  • oligodendrocytes - 60-80%
  • astrocytes - 25%
  • microglia - 5-10%
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20
Q

What do astrocytes have?

A
  • numerous processes with expanded pedicles that terminate on capillaries or on the pia mater
  • a tripartite synapse which allows bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons
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21
Q

What are the 2 types of astrocytes?

A
  • fibrous - located primarily in white matter which long spindly processes with few branches
  • protoplasmic - located in grey matter and have thick, lightly branched processes closely opposed to neuronal cell bodies
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22
Q

What are the 5 functions of astrocytes?

A
  • regulate the composition of the intercellular environment and the entry of substances into it
  • provide structural support to neurons and specifically to synapses
  • metabolise neurotransmitters e.g. glutamate
  • mediate the exchange of nutrients and metabolites between the blood and neurons via their end-feet (pedicles)
  • forms a glial scar after injury to the CNS
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23
Q

What do oligodendrocytes do in white and grey matter respectively?

A
  • white - produce the myelin sheath around myelinated fibres (Schwann cells do this in PNS)
  • grey - closely associated with neuron cell bodies, functioning as satellite cells.
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24
Q

What is the cell marker of oligodendrocytes?

A

CNPase

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25
Q

What do oligodendrocytes express?

A

Nogo-A

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26
Q

What is Nogo-A?

A

a myelin associated neurite-outgrowth inhibitor; it is involved in the inhibition of axonal regeneration following injury and ischaemia in the CNS

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27
Q

What are microglia?

A

small phagocytic cells that originate from monocytes and enlarge and become mobile after injury to the CNS

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28
Q

What are microglia involved in?

A

neuroinflammation and secretion of inflammatory mediators

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29
Q

What does a peripheral nerve comprise?

A

bundles of nerve fibres surrounded by myelin sheaths or Schwann cells

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30
Q

What are the 3 connective tissue elements that peripheral nerves are invested with?

A
  • epineurium - connective tissue surrounding the entire nerve
  • perineurium – layer of dense connective tissue around each fascicle of nerve fibres
  • endoneurium – thin, reticular layer that surrounds each individual nerve fibre and contains Schwann cells
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31
Q

What is the difference in axon myelination between the CNS and PNS?

A
  • CNS - individual oligodendrocytes myelinate portions of several axons
  • PNS - individual Schwann cells myelinate portions of only a single axon
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32
Q

What are ganglia?

A

encapsulated collections of neuron cell bodies, located outside the CNS that contain satellite cells, neurons and connective tissue elements

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33
Q

What do satellite cells do?

A

form a capsule of cells around neuron cell bodies located in the peripheral ganglia

34
Q

What does the cerebrum consist of?

A

2 cerebral hemispheres separated by the longitudinal fissure

35
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

a layer of grey matter on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres

36
Q

What is a gyrus and sulcus respectively?

A
  • gyrus - raised tissue layer of cerebrum
  • sulcus - groove between gyri
37
Q

Where is the frontal lobe?

A

anterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral fissure

38
Q

Where is the parietal lobe?

A

posterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral fissure

39
Q

Where is the temporal lobe?

A

inferior to the lateral fissure

40
Q

Where is the occipital lobe?

A

posterior to the parietal and temporal lobes

41
Q

What separates the parietal and temporal lobes from the occipital lobe?

A

the parieto-occipital sulcus

42
Q

Where is the hippocampus and what is it essential for?

A

rolled in part of the cerebral cortex essential for formation of new memories

43
Q

What is the hippocampus particularly vulnerable to?

A

damage during global ischaemia and AD

44
Q

What is the thalamus?

A

a large mass of grey matter on either side of the third ventricle in the dorsal part of the diencephalon

45
Q

Where is the hypothalamus?

A

below the thalamus (separated by hypothalamic sulcus) that forms the lower part of the lateral wall and floor of the third ventricle

46
Q

Where is the midbrain?

A

between the forebrain and hindbrain

47
Q

Where is the pons?

A

inferior to the midbrain and superior to medulla oblongata

48
Q

What is the most inferior portion of the brain?

A

medulla oblongata

49
Q

Where is the cerebellum?

A

posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata

50
Q

What does the cerebellum consist of?

A

a midline portion (vermis) and two hemispheres connected to the brainstem

51
Q

Describe the pathway of the spinal cord

A

attaches to the brainstem at the foramen magnum and tapers off into the conus medullaris

52
Q

What does a cross section of the spinal cord show?

A

spinal nerves, grey matter and fibre tracts

53
Q

What is the PNS split into?

A

somatic and autonomic nervous systems

54
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

the control and integrative centre for the ANS

55
Q

What does the hypothalamus do?

A
  • influence the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland, which in turn affects other endocrine glands
  • discharges the impulses down the cord to the sympathetic or parasympathetic preganglionic neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord
56
Q

What 3 tissue types does the ANS stimulate?

A
  • cardiac muscle
  • smooth muscle
  • glands
57
Q

What happens under sympathetic control?

A

muscles work harder, need more oxygen and use more energy; one breathes faster, and the bronchi and bronchioles open up for quicker and greater passage of air

58
Q

What are the 10 main functions of the sympathetic NS?

A
  • heart beats stronger and faster to increase CO and BP
  • arteries to the heart and voluntary muscles dilate
  • arteries to the skin and peripheral areas constrict
  • liver secretes glycogen for quick energy supply
  • peristalsis in the GIT slows down
  • cells in the adrenal medulla produce adrenaline
  • ejaculation in males
  • uterine contraction in non-pregnant females
  • pupils dilate
  • increased sweating
59
Q

What are the 8 main functions of the parasympathetic NS?

A
  • heart beats slower and respiratory rate is reduced
  • coronary arteries constrict
  • peristalsis and other digestive functions
  • pupils constrict
  • detrusor muscle contraction in the bladder for micturition
  • erection in males
  • clitoral engorgement in females
60
Q

What does the vagus nerve do?

A

innervate the heart, lungs and all the abdominal viscera up to the left colic flexure (up to the proximal 2/3 of the transverse colon)

61
Q

What is the vagus nerve supply to the lungs?

A
  • motor to the smooth muscle of the bronchial tree (bronchoconstrictor)
  • secretory to the glands of the bronchial tree (secretomotor)
62
Q

What are the 2 pairs of arteries that supply blood to the brain?

A
  • left and right vertebral arteries
  • left and right internal carotid arteries
63
Q

Where does the vertebral artery originate from and where does it enter the skull?

A

originates from the subclavian artery in the neck and enters the skull through the foramen magnum

64
Q

What does the vertebral artery supply?

A

spinal cord, medulla oblongata and cerebellum

65
Q

What are the 3 branches given off by the vertebral artery?

A
  • anterior spinal artery
  • posterior spinal artery
  • posterior inferior cerebellar artery
66
Q

What do the 2 vertebral arteries join to form?

A

the basilar artery

67
Q

What does the basilar artery give off branches to supply?

A

the pons, cerebellum and inner ear

68
Q

How does the basilar artery end?

A

by dividing into the 2 posterior cerebral arteries

69
Q

What does the posterior cerebral artery supply?

A

the midbrain, medial aspect of the occipital lobe and the base of the temporal and occipital lobes

70
Q

Where does the internal carotid artery originate from and where does it enter the skull?

A

originates from the common carotid artery in the neck and enters the skull through the carotid canals situated within the cavernous sinus

71
Q

How does the internal carotid artery end?

A

by dividing into the anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery

72
Q

What is the pathway of the anterior cerebral artery?

A

it passes forward into the medial longitudinal fissure and then sweeps back to the parieto-occipital sulcus

73
Q

What does the anterior cerebral artery supply?

A

most of the medial surface of the hemisphere, except the medial aspect of the occipital lobe

74
Q

What is the pathway of the middle cerebral artery?

A

it passes laterally between the temporal and frontal lobes then emerges at the lateral fissure and fans out

75
Q

What does the middle cerebral artery supply?

A

most of the lateral surface of the hemisphere

76
Q

What is the circle of Willis?

A

an anastomosis between the left and right arteries supplying the brain

77
Q

What does the circle of Willis help to do?

A

supply blood to the opposite side in cases of slow occlusion of an artery on one side; the communicating arteries have time to enlarge to accommodate the increased blood flow

78
Q

Where does blood from the brain drain?

A

into venous sinuses, which eventually empty into the internal jugular vein

79
Q

Where does blood from the superior part of the brain drain into?

A

the superior sagittal sinus

80
Q

Where does blood from the inferior part of the brain drain into?

A

the transverse sinus and superficial middle cerebral vein

81
Q

Where does blood from the centre of the brain drain?

A

into the deep cerebral veins which then drain into the straight (venous) sinus

82
Q

Where do the superior sagittal and straight sinuses flow?

A

transverse sinus → sigmoid sinus → internal jugular vein of the neck

Human Anatomy (12 decks)

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