Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the actions of the sympathetic nervous system?

A
Raises heart rate 
Increases force of contraction 
Constricts most blood vessels 
Slows GI transit 
Constricts sphincters 
Bronchodilates 
Increase sweating 
Dilates pupil (mydriasis) 
Secretion of seminal fluid/movement of sperm
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2
Q

What are the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A
Slows heart rate (no effect on force)
Relaxes blood vessels 
Speeds up GI transit 
Relaxes sphincters 
Increases salivation 
Bronchoconstricts 
Constricts pupil (miosis) 
Erection
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3
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Receptive projections sensitive to neurotransmitter input

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4
Q

What is the soma of a neuron?

A

Metabolic centre

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5
Q

What is an axon?

A

One-way rapid communication between cell body and axon terminals

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6
Q

What is an axon terminal?

A

Form connections with other neurons/effector tissue via synapses

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7
Q

What makes up the CNS?

A

Brain, spinal cord, retina & CNII

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8
Q

What makes up the PNS?

A

Spinal & cranial nerves (all except CNII)
Autonomic nervous system
Somatic sensory and motor nerves

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9
Q

What are the 3 branches of motor output?

A

Somatic motor - skeletal muscle
Brachio motor - pharyngeal arch muscle
Visceral/autonomic motor - organs and vessels

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10
Q

What are the 3 branches of sensory input?

A

Somatic sensory - sensations from somatic tissue
Visceral sensory - sensations from organs and vessels
Special visceral sensory - taste

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11
Q

At what levels of the spinal cord is a lateral horn seen?

A

T1-L2 and S2-4

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12
Q

Where do neurons controlling lateral horn cells (or autonomic brainstem nuclei) arise?

A

Hypothalamus

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13
Q

Where does the sympathetic chain extend up to and finish?

A

Near base of skull

Ends at tip of sacrum

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14
Q

Which branch of the ANS would be damaged by vertebral damage at L1 level?

A

Parasympathetic

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15
Q

What does the sympathetic chain communicates with spinal nerves via?

A

Rami communicans

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16
Q

What is the difference between grey and white rami communicans?

A
White = preganglionic sympathetic neurons passing into chain 
Grey = postganglionic sympathetic neurons passing from chain into spinal nerve
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17
Q

Give examples of nerves which emerge from the sympathetic chain

A

Thoracic and cardiac splanchnic nerves

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18
Q

What is a dorsal root ganglion?

A

Cell bodies of sensory neurons

19
Q

At what levels are white rami communicans seen?

A

T1-L2

20
Q

At what vertebral levels are grey rami communicans seen?

A

All levels

21
Q

Where can brainstem or spinal cord injury proximal to T1 cord level affect supply to?

A

Sympathetic supply to head

22
Q

Describe the sympathetic supply to the face

A

Reticulospinal tract neurons originate in brainstem/hypothalamus
Descend to T1 & synapse with preganglionic neuron in lateral horn
Exit cord with T1 spinal nerve
Travel to sympathetic chain
Run up chain to cervical ganglia & synapse with postganglionic neuron
Postganglionic neurons enter head as plexus around internal carotid artery
Supply face via external carotid artery

23
Q

What are the 3 sympathetic chain ganglia in the neck?

A

Superior cervical - C1-4
Middle cervical - C5-6
Stellate - C7-T1, near lung apex

24
Q

What are sympathetic nerves in the head distributed with?

A

Cranial nerves and arteries

25
Q

Describe the distribution of the superior cervical ganglion to the face

A

Sympathetic neurons form a plexus around the internal carotid artery which join parasympathetic nerves
Distributed with arterial branches
Forms deep petrosal nerve which joins parasympathetic greater petrosal nerve and CN VII
Run to pterygo-palatine ganglion from which they are distributed
Distributed with branches of CN V

26
Q

What can be the effects of a pterygo-palatine fossa tumour?

A

Can compress pterygo-palatine ganglion causing loss of sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation to the face

27
Q

What does loss of sympathetic supply to the head lead to?

A
Horners syndrome 
Uneven pupil size / Pupil constriction (miosis) 
Vasodilation 
Ptosis - eyelid droop 
Lack of sweating (anhydrosis)
28
Q

Which cells of the adrenal medulla release adrenaline?

A

Chromaffin cells

29
Q

Describe parasympathetic outflow from the CNS

A

Parasympathetic nuclei sit in the brainstem
Outflow with CN III, VII, IX & X
Outflow with S2-4 spinal nerves

30
Q

Which cranial nerve do parasympathetic post ganglionic neurons hitchhike with?

A

CN V

31
Q

What can Frey syndrome be caused by?

A

Parotid surgery or injury

Parasympathetic nerves regrow to skin so innervate muscarinic receptors of sweat glands

32
Q

What are the 2 principal transmitters in the peripheral nervous system?

A

Acetylcholine

Noradrenaline

33
Q

What neurotransmitters does the sympathetic nervous system use?

A

ACh at pre ganglionic terminals

NA at post ganglionic terminals

34
Q

Which neurotransmitters does the parasympathetic nervous system use?

A

ACh at both pre and post ganglionic terminals

35
Q

Which ACh receptor types does the parasympathetic system use?

A

Nicotinic at pre ganglionic terminal

Muscarinic at post ganglionic terminal

36
Q

What are the sympathetic exceptions to the use of nicotinic ACh receptors?

A

Sweat glands & chromaffin cells in adrenal medulla - muscarinic receptors

37
Q

What effects do a1 receptor agonists induce?

A

Blood vessel constriction
GI smooth muscle relaxation
Sphincter contraction

38
Q

What effects do B1 agonists have?

A

Increased HR
Increased speed of AV node conduction
increased contraction force
GI smooth muscle relaxation

39
Q

Where are muscarinic M1 receptors located?

A

Autonomic ganglia, induce EPSP

40
Q

Where are muscarinic M2 receptors located?

A

Heart

Negative chronotropic effects on sinoatrial node, & dromotropic on AV node & atria

41
Q

Where are muscarinic M3 receptors located?

A

Smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells
Cause smooth muscle contraction e.g. Pupil, GI transit
Vascular smooth muscle relaxation - Ca2+ influx and NO release from
endothelial cell – the NO causes decrease in Ca2+ in vascular myocytes)

42
Q

What is the typical ion concentration of Ca2+ inside and outside the cell?

A

Inside: 0.2μM
Outside: 2mM

43
Q

What is the typical ion concentration of Cl- inside and outside the cell?

A

Inside: 5mM
Outside: 115mM

44
Q

What are signs of Frey syndrome?

A

Gustatory sweating of face