Nervous System Flashcards
(25 cards)
Organisation of the nervous system
- Central nervous system (CNS)
- Peripheral nervous system (PNS) (sensory nerves lead to the PNS)
- Leads to effector nerves
- Leads to somatic and autonomic divisions
- Autonomic division leads to sympathetic and parasympathetic response
Central nervous system organisation
- Brain
2. Spine
4 major plexuses of the spine
- Cervical
- Brachial
- Lumbar
- Sacral
Function of cervical spine
Innervates neck, head and face
Function of bracial spine
Innervates upper extremities
Function of lumbar spine
Innervates lumbar region of back and gluteus region
Function of sacral spine
Innervates hips and lower extremities
Function of the peripheral nervous system
Detects and carries sensory information to the CNS
Autonomic effectors of the autonomic division
- glands
- organs
- smooth muscle
Function of sympathetic response
Body-wide response to stress (‘fight or flight’)
Function of parasympathetic response
Maintains and returns the body to homeostasis after stress
Structure and function of the somatic division
- sensory neurons carry information from the receptors
- motor neurons for voluntary movement
- 1 motor neuron between the spinal cord and the effector
- only type of effector is skeletal muscle
Peripheral recepetors
- Photoreceptors
- Chemoreceptors
- Thermoreceptors
- Nociceptors
- Mechnoreceptors
Photoreceptors
Sensitive to light
Chemoreceptors
Sensitive to chemical changes
Thermoreceptors
Stimulate by temperature changes
Nociceptors
Pain receptors
Mechanoreceptors
Stimulated by movement and pressure
Proprioceptors
Specialised mechanoreceptors in skeletal muscle and joints (capsules)
Specialised receptors
- Free nerve endings
- Joint kinaesthetic receptors
- Muscle spindles
- Golgi tendon organ (GTO)
Free nerve endings
Detect pain, heat, cold, light tough
Joint kinaesthetic receptors
Sense joint angles and the rate of change in angles
Muscle spindles
Sense muscle length and the rate of change in muscle length
Golgi tendon organ (GTO)
Senses tension applied to the muscle by its tendon