Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

Nervous System Consists of: (6 Parts)

A
  1. Brain
  2. Spinal Cord
  3. Nerves
  4. Ganglia
  5. Sensory Receptors
  6. Effector Organs (muscles + glands)
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2
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A
  • The body’s coordinating center for mechanical/chemical actions.
  • Made up of the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD
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3
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A
  • All parts of the nervous system that relay info between the central nervous system and other parts of the body.
  • Divided into autonomic and somatic nervous system
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4
Q

Somatic Nervous System (voluntary)

A
  • controls skeletal muscles, bones and skin
  • sensory nerves (environment -> SNS)
  • motor nerves (CNS -> body parts)
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5
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (involuntary)

A

Controls organs

Divided into:

  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System
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6
Q

Parasympathetic (relax)

A

PNS- Autonomic

  • contracts pupils
  • stimulates salivation
  • contracts bronchi
  • slows heart beat
  • stimulates digestive activity
  • stimulates gall bladder
  • contracts bladder
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7
Q

Sympathetic (flight or flight)

A

PNS- Autonomic

  • dilates pupils
  • inhibits salivation
  • relaxes bronchi
  • accelerates heart beat
  • inhibits digestive activity
  • stimulates glucose release by liver
  • relaxes bladder
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8
Q

Types of Nerves Cells

A
  • Glial: non-conducting cells important for structural support and the metabolism of nerve cells.
  • Neurons: nerve cells that conduct impulses, they are the functional units of the nervous system.
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9
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Neurons that carry impulses (stimuli) from sensory receptors to CNS.

  • Known as AFFERENT (towards) neurons
  • Ganglia are collections of sensory nerve cell bodies (chemoreceptors, photoreceptors)
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10
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Neurons that carry impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles, organs, etc.)
-Known as EFFERENT (away) neurons

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11
Q

Interneurons

A

Integrates and interprets info and connects to outgoing motor neurons

  • Found in brain and spinal cord
  • Link sensory neurons to motor neurons
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12
Q

5 Essential Components for Reflex Arc

A
  1. Receptor
  2. Sensory Neuron
  3. Interneuron (in spinal cord)
  4. Motor Neuron
  5. Effector
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13
Q

Resting Potential

A

Voltage difference across a cell membrane when it is at REST.
- usually = -70mV
Higher conc. of potassium ions (K+) INSIDE, higher conc. of sodium (Na+) OUTSIDE
- “Polarized Membrane”

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14
Q

Action Potential

A

Nerve Impulse

  • all or none occurrence
  • triggered by membrane potential reaching threshold potential
  • strength of action potential is always the same, stronger stimuli only cause MORE FREQUENT action potentials
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15
Q

Depolarization

A

Some Na+ channels open, sodium ions move into cell via facilitated diffusion.
K+ channels are closed, so potassium is trapped inside.
Inside of the cell becomes more positive than outside of the cell.

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16
Q

Threshold Potential

A

Particular membrane potential that a neuron MUST reach to trigger an action potential.
-usually = -50mV
When reached, all Na+ channels open

17
Q

Repolarization

A

When membrane potential hits +40mV, Na+ channels shut and K+ channels open slowly so potassium ions can diffuse OUT of the cell slowly.
-restores membrane potential to be more negative again = -70mV

18
Q

Hyperpolarization

A

Leaky K+ channels cause too much potassium to leave the cell causing the membrane potential to be TOO negative (-85mV)

19
Q

Refractory Period

A

Na+/K+ Pump restores the resting membrane potential back to the resting membrane potential by using ATP (energy) to transport 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, against their conc. gradient to reach -70mV
-depolarization cannot occur until resting membrane potential is reached

Refractory period is the time taken to get from the hyperpolarized state back to resting membrane potential.

20
Q

Propagation of Action Potentials

A

Depolarization at one point causes the adjacent section to depolarize.

  • triggers new action potential at the new site, called WAVE OF DEPOLARIZATION.
  • refractory period prohibits the AP to move backwards
  • direction of AP always goes from dendrite to axon
21
Q

Saltatory Conduction

A

ion channels are concentrated in the nodes of ranvier. Impulses jump from node to node, skipping regions cover by the myelin sheath.
-Depolarization only happens where there is no myeline sheath.

22
Q

Synapses

A
  • Space between neurons

- Communication between neurons is through chemicals called NEUROTRANSMITTERS.

23
Q

Presynaptic Neuron

A

Neuron that carries impulses TO the synapse.
-releases neurotransmitters into the synapse from synaptic knobs or endplates

Voltage gated calcium (Ca+) channels open, calcium causes synaptic vesicles to fuse with the membrane and release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft (space)

24
Q

Postsynaptic Neuron

A

Neuron that carries impulses AWAY from the synapse.

  • have receptors for neurotransmitters (NT)
  • NT alter permeability of the post synaptic membrane (affects whether there will be an AP or not)