Nervous System Flashcards
What is the sensory division role in the peripheral nervous system?
It carries all incoming sensory information towards towards the brain
The is the role of the motor division in the peripheral nervous system?
It carries all outgoing information from the brain to muscles (skeletal, smooth, and cardiac) or glands
What are the two grooves and ridges called in the brain?
Gyri and sulci
What is the function of neuroglia?
To support and maintain neurons in the nervous system
What is the function of the axon?
“Sending” part of the neuron. Covered in myelin sheath
What is the function of the dendrites?
“Receiving” part of the neuron. Neuron contain many dendrites
Name the two organs that come under the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord
What are the two functional and anatomical divisions of the nervous system?
Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
What are the types of neuroglia?
Astrocytes, ependymal cells, microglia, oligodendrocytes (CNS)
Satellite cells, schwann cells (PNS)
What are the two functional categories of axons in the PNS?
Somantic component (axons related to activity in muscles, skin and joints) Visceral component (axons with nerve impulses to glands, organs, blood vessels)
What is the function of the axon?
Carries action potentials between dendrites and axon terminals
Name the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What two subdivisions make up the peripheral nervous system?
Somatic and autonomic nervous system
What is an electrical signal that travels through a cell to send information?
Nerve impulses
Which system is the autonomic nervous part of?
Peripheral nervous system
Name a type of neuron?
Sensory, motor, interneuron
Regions of myelinated axons are called?
White matter
What is the junction between two neurons or between a neuron and its target cell called?
Synapse
What is another name for the electrical signal transmitted with neurons?
Action potential
When voltage gated channels open, positive or negative charged ions enter the nerve cells?
Positive
True/False: the H-shaped core of the spinal cord is made up of dura matter?
False
How long can neurons function?
A lifetime
What causes a channel protein to open/close?
Neurotransmitters, voltage change, mechanical change
What voltage does the cell membrane need to reach in order for an action potential to begin?
-55 mV
What is the voltage of the cell membrane at rest?
-70 mV
Knee jerk, GTO, withdraw and crossed extensor are types of what?
Reflexes
True/False: the sympathetic nervous system reduces ventilation?
False
What structure connects the middle ear to the upper throat?
Eustachian tube
What structure detects angular acceleration of the head?
Semicircle canals
The location of information processing is different for each individual?
False
The brain is a complex organ and we do not know everything about it yet?
True
What are the four major divisions of the brain?
Cerebrum, diencephalon, brainstem, cerebellum
What structure connects the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum?
White matter tract called corpus callosum
What does the corpus callosum do?
Separates the left and right hemispheres and allows communication between the two hemispheres
The bumps of the cerebrum are called?
Gyri
The grooves of the cerebrum are called?
Sulci
What is the purpose of the gyri and sulci?
To increase surface area of the brain, allowing more neurons to be contained within the capacity of the skull
What are the four main lobes of each cerebral hemisphere?
Occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe
How did the lobes of each cerebral hemisphere get their names?
They are named after the skull bone that cover them
What is the occipital lobe associated with?
Vision
What is the parietal lobe associated with?
Sensation of touch and language
What is the temporal lobe associated with?
Receiving and processing sensory inputs, particularly hearing
What is the frontal lobe associated with?
Planning, attention, short-term memory, voluntary movement and motivation
Where is the cerebral cortex?
Outer most layer of the cerebrum
What is the cerebral cortex made of?
Gray matter
What is gray matter?
Primarily cell bodies and dendrites
What are the three functional areas of the cerebral cortex?
Sensory areas, motor areas, association areas
Where is the somatosensory area of the brain?
Located in the parietal lobe
Which part of the sensory area determines type, intensity, location of a stimulus?
Primary somatosensory cortex
What part of the sensory area integrates new information with stored (memory) information?
Somatosensory association area
True/False: all the special senses are processed in the same area of the cerebral cortex?
False
Which lobe is the motor cortex located in?
Frontal lobe
What does the premotor area of the motor cortex do?
Where planning of skeletal muscle movements occurs
What does the primary motor cortex do?
Sends impulses down the spinal cord towards skeletal muscles according to somatotopy
Where is the prefrontal cortex?
Anterior to the premotor cortex in the frontal lobe
What can the prefrontal cortex do?
Numerous integrative functions including intelligence, cognition, recall and memory, reasoning and planning, task management and multi-tasking, and personality
True/false: basal nuclei are made of gray matter?
True
What is the term used to describe the coordination between the basal nuclei and the premotor cortex?
Motor loops
What common disease is associated with degeneration of of the basal nuclei?
Parkinsons disease
What are the two parts of the diencephalon?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Which part of the diencephalon regulates consciousness and sleep?
Thalamus
Which part of the diencephalon controls the endocrine system?
Hypthalamus
Where does the hypothalamus send signals for hormone release into the body?
Pituitary gland
What is the limbic system involved with?
Emotion, behaviour, motivation, long-term memory, and olfaction
What are the parts of the brain stem?
Midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, spinal cord
What does the brainstem do?
Connects the brain with the spinal cord. Motor signals from the brain are processed here before being sent down the spinal cord
What is the name given to the second largest structure of the brain, also called the “little brain”?
Cerebellum
What are the three layers of on the meninges?
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
What is the fluid produced by cells that protects the brain and spinal cord from blows and trauma?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What does the blood brain barrier (BBB) do?
Ensures a constant environment for the brain
What are some substances that affect the nerve cells in the brain by passing the blood brain barrier?
Alcohol, cocaine and heroin
What is the term associated to the brains ability to self repair?
Neuroplasticity
Which bony feature does the spinal cord reside?
Spine
Hoe many spinal segments are there?
31
True/false: the H-shaped core of the spinal cord is made of white matter?
False - its grey matter
Which neurons are found in the anterior horns of the spinal cord?
Motor neurons
Where are the 2nd order (sensory) neurons found?
Posterior horns
What neurons are found within the gray matter of the spinal cord?
Interneurons
What do interneurons do?
Form the transmission cells between sensory neurons entering the spinal cord and the ascending tracks in the white matter
What are spinal reflexes?
Pathways between the segments of the spinal cord and the nerves supplying the muscles
What is typically an effector in a spinal reflex?
A muscle with produces the response
What is a crossed extensor reflex?
When signals are sent to opposite side of the body
What does the PNS do?
Provides a link between the central nervous system and all parts of the body
Axons of the somatic component go to?
Activity of the muscles, joint and all skin
Axons of the visceral component go to?
Glands, organs and blood vessels
Incoming (afferent) axons are located in which root?
Dorsal (posterior) root
Outgoing (efferent) axons are located in which root?
Ventral (anterior) root
What is a ‘ganglion’?
Swelling on the dorsal root
What is a motor unit?
One lower motor neuron and all the muscle fibres it innervates
What two mechanisms control the strength of a muscle contraction?
Frequency and recruitment
How many main nerve plexus’ are in the body?
Four - cervical, brachial, lumbar, sacral
What are the 3 types of receptors found in the body?
Cutaneous receptors, proprioceptors, nocireceptors
What are the three types of cutaneous receptors? What do they respond to?
Mechanoreceptors - touch, pressure, vibration, stretch
Thermoreceptors - temperature
Nociceptors - noxious stimuli and result in sensation of pain
What is a dermatome?
Are of skin supplied by all the sensory nerve fibres of one spinal nerve
What are dermatome maps used for?
To determine the source of pain
Where are the peripheral nerves located?
Distributed to all parts of the body
What does it mean that peripheral nerves are ‘mixed nerves’?
Contain sensory fibres and motor fibres
What are the 12 cranial nerves and what are they associated to?
Olfactory (smell), optic (vision), oculomotor (eye movement), trochlear (eye movement), trigeminal (taste), abducens (eye movement), facial (taste), vestibulocochlear (balance), glossopharyngeal (taste), vagus (swallowing), spinal assessory (mastication), hypoglossal (speech)
What are the two divisons of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
Which system is the “fight or flight” system?
Sympathetic nervous system
Which system is the “rest and digest” system?
Parasympathetic nervous system
ANS nerve fibres are larger or smaller than those of the somatic nervous system?
Smaller
What are some of the actions of the sympathetic nervous system?
Increase heart rate, regulate blood pressure, increase ventilation
What is the chain of ganglion?
Sympathetic nervous system structured in chain from the base of the skull to the coccyx
What are some of the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Decrease heart rate, slows breathing, constricts pupil
Where are the ganglion of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Near the structure supplied by the nerve
