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Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What are neuroglia cells?

A
  • AKA glial cells
  • Secrete myelin
  • Supply oxygen and nutrients to neurons
  • Protect and support neurons
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2
Q

What are the components of a neuron?

A

-Dendrite, cell body, axon

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3
Q

Dendrites…

A

…are cytoplasmic extensions that receive information and transmit to cell body.

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4
Q

Axons…

A

…transmit action potentials away from the cell body.

  • Mostly sheathed by myelin
  • End in synaptic terminal
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5
Q

What is the purpose of mylein sheath?

A
  • Prevent leakage of signal from axon

- Faster conduction of signal

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6
Q

Nodes of Ranvier…

A

…gaps between myelin sheath.

-Signal propagates by saltutory conduction

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7
Q

Oligodendrocytes…

A
  • Type of glial cells

- Produce myelin in CNS

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8
Q

What type of cell produces myelin in the PNS?

A

-Schwann cells

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9
Q

Where are neurotransmitters released?

A

-From axon terminals into synapse to an adjacent dendrite

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10
Q

What are astrocytes?

A
  • In CNS
  • Maintain integrity of blood-brain barrier
  • Regulate nutrient and dissolved gas conc
  • Absorb/recycle neurotransmitters
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11
Q

What are microglia?

A
  • In CNS

- Remove cell debris and pathogens

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12
Q

What are ependymal cells?

A
  • Line brain ventricles

- Make/maintain cerebral fluid

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13
Q

What are satellite cells?

A
  • In PNS

- Surround neuron cell bodies in ganglia (autonomic nervous system)

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14
Q

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

A
  • Polarized (-70mV)
  • Maintained by Na+/K+ pump
  • Membrane more permeable to K+, diffuse back out
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15
Q

Describe the transmission of action potentials.

A
  • Causes depolarization (more positive inside cell)
  • Reach threshold potential
  • Na+ to flow down gradient –> depolarize more of axon
  • Reach synaptic terminal –> Ca++ flow in
  • Exocytosis of synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitters
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16
Q

Describe repolarization.

A
  • High voltage causes K+ channels to open
  • K+ rush down gradient and out of cell
  • Voltage gated Na+ channel closes
  • Na+/K+ begins again
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17
Q

Describe hyperpolarization.

A
  • Repolarized past resting potential due to K+ still being permeable
  • Allows time for regeneration of neurotransmitters
  • Potential only moves forward
  • Refractory period
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18
Q

What is the stimulus intensity coded by?

A

-Frequency NOT magnitude of action potential

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19
Q

What are factors that allow faster propagation of stimuls?

A
  • More myelinated (only permeable to ions in Nodes of Ranvier)
  • Larger diameter of axon
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20
Q

What are the ways neurotransmitters are removed from the synapse?

A
  • Taken back up into the nerve terminal (reused/degraded)
  • Degraded by enzymes in synapse
  • Diffuse out of synapse
21
Q

What are afferent neurons?

A

-Carry sensory information from external/internal environment to brain/spinal cord

22
Q

What are efferent neurons?

A

-Carry motor commands from brain/spinal cord to body

23
Q

What are interneurons?

A
  • Participate only in local circuits

- Linking sensory and motor neurons

24
Q

Organization of nerves

A
  • Bundle of axons covered with connective tissue (nerves)
  • Nerve fibers = plexus
  • Neuronal cell body clusters = ganglia(PNS) or nuclei (CNS)
25
What is the difference between gray and white matter?
- Gray matter is outer portion of cell bodies | - White matter is inner portion of myelinated axons
26
Forebrain
-Telencephalon and diencephalon
27
Telencephalon
- Cerebral cortex process/integrate sensory/motor - Memory/Creative thought - Olfactory bulb
28
Diencephalon
- Thalamus integrate spinal cord and cerebral cortex | - Hypothalamus controls visceral functions (hunger/thirst/sex/temp)
29
Midbrain
- Relay center for visual and auditory impulses | - Motor control
30
Hindbrain
-Cerebellum, the pons, medulla
31
Cerebellum
-Balance, hand-eye coordination, modulate motor impulses by cerebral cortex
32
Pons
-Relay center to allow cortex to communicate with cerebellum
33
Medulla
-Vital functions (breathing, HR, GI)
34
What makes up the brainstem?
-Midbrain, pons, medulla
35
Spinal Cord
- Outer white matter, inner gray | - Can integrate motor responses itself
36
How does sensory information enter spinal cord?
-Through the dorsal horn (dorsal root ganglia) and exits ventral horn
37
What does the PNS consist of?
-Somatic and Autonomic
38
Somatic Nervous System
- Innervate skeletal muscles | - Voluntary movement and reflex arcs
39
Autonomic Nervous System
- Involuntary - cardiac and smooth muscles | - Sympathetic and parasympathetic
40
Where is smooth muscles located?
-Blood vessels, digestive tract, bladder, bronchi
41
Sympathetic Nervous System
- "Fight or Flight" - Increase bp, HR, blood flow to skeletal muscle - Decrease gut motility - Dilate bronchioles to increase gas exchange - Norepinephrine
42
What is the primary neurotransmitter for sympathetic nervous system? Parasympathetic?
- Norepinephrine | - Acetylcholine
43
Parasympathetic Nervous System
- "Rest and digest" - Lowers hr, increase digestion - Vagus nerve - innervate thoracic and abdominal viscera - Acetylcholine
44
What bends and focuses light?
-Cornea
45
What controls the diameter of the pupil?
-Iris by responding to intensity of light
46
Lens...
...focuses image onto retina.
47
Describe the synaptic pathway of photoreceptors.
Synapse onto bipolar cells --> ganglion cells --> optic nerve --> brain
48
What causes action potentials to transmit to brain in hearing?
- Ossicles vibrate and exert pressure on inner ear fluid which stimulates hair cells in basilar membrane - Pressure --> action potential
49
Motor unit
-All muscle fibers innervated by one nerve fiber

Biology (17 decks)

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