Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PB Biology💜 > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

The nervous system has two parts. They are…

A

The central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the Central nervous system consist of?

A

Brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?

A

Cranial and spinal nerves (the nerves attached to the CNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the two parts to the PNS?

A

The Somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the somatic NS?

A

Skeletal muscles, the muscles you have direct control over

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the autonomic NS?

A

The “automatic” muscles we don’t have control over

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the three parts to the autonomic NS?

A

Sympathetic division, parasympathetic division, and enteric division

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the sympathetic division?

A

It gets us ready for an emergency situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the parasympathetic division?

A

It brings us back to normal after an emergency.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the enteric division?

A

Our digestive and circulation muscles which we don’t have control over. They are called smooth muscles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How does the nervous system work to respond to stimuli? (3 steps)

A
  1. Detection of stimulus using sense receptors
  2. Transmission of stimulus by neurons (sensory input and integration)
  3. Response to stimulus using muscles and glands: effectors. (Motor output)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Summarize the nervous system response.

A

First, we sense something. The stimulus travels through the peripheral nerves to the CNS. Integration into the CNS. Then stimulus leaves through the peripheral NS in the form of a response.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the basic unit of the nervous system?

A

The neuron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are axons?

A

These reach out from one neuron and almost touch another neuron/other cell bodies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are myelin sheaths?

A

They are cells that surround the axon to protect it. They also help information travel faster.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What protects the axon?

A

Myelin sheaths.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The axon reaches out and almost touches another cell body. The small part that almost touches is called…

A

The synapse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

The three main types of neurons (in the order that information travels) are…

A
  1. Sensory Neurons (like the ones on skin, backs of eyes, ears, etc.) (PNS)
  2. Association/interneurons (CNS)
  3. Motor neuron (neurons in muscles that we may or may not control) (PNS)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is multiple sclerosis?

A

An autoimmune disease in which the immune system does not recognize the myelin sheaths. It attacks and destroys them, leaving the axons at risk. Information is processed slower. This leads to impairment in visual, speech, CNS, muscles, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a reflex?

A

This is when a nervous system response happens without conscious control by the brain. (Basically we skip the CNS/integration step.) A sensory neuron picks up a message and immediately transfers it to a motor neuron to stimulate an effector.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are effectors?

A

Muscles or glands.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is an example of a reflex?

A

The doctor taps your knee and you kick, you touch something hot and pull away.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How fast does information move with myelin?

A

200 meters per second.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How fast does information move without myelin?

A

1 millimeter per second.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

How does a charge travel through the nervous system?

A

Charges move along the axon; electrochemical changes occur because of the potassium and sodium moving in and out of the neuron. The charge triggers the next cell body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are the charges that travel through and trigger the nervous system also called?

A

Brainwaves or nerve impulses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the synapse?

A

The end of the axon which has a space between the next neuron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemicals which allow the nerve impulse to cross the synapse. They are released to the synaptic cleft.

29
Q

What is the synaptic cleft?

A

The little space/gap between the end of the axon (the synapse) and the next neuron.

30
Q

What is one function of neurotransmitters?

A

They can increase or decrease transmission.

31
Q

What can drugs do to the nervous system?

A

They can interfere with transmission, often by increasing or decreasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters.

32
Q

Too much or too little neurotransmitters can result in…

A

A mental illness.

33
Q

What are a three major neurotransmitters?

A

Seratonin, dopamine, epinephrine

34
Q

What does dopamine do?

A

It’s a neurotransmitter that’s typically excitatory.

35
Q

What pathway does dopamine form in the brain?

A

The reward pathway.

36
Q

What is the reward pathway?

A

The pathway of neurons in our brain that is triggered by good experiences or things, like sugar.

37
Q

A disease that results from a lack of dopamine?

A

Parkinson’s disease.

38
Q

A disease that results from too much dopamine?

A

Schizophrenia.

39
Q

What is the center of the central nervous system?

A

The brain.

40
Q

How much does the human brain weigh? What percent of the brain’s weight is water?

A

3 lbs, 85%

41
Q

What percent of the brain is O2 or ATP?

A

20%.

42
Q

What is the only sugar the brain uses?

A

Glucose.

43
Q

Why does the brain only use glucose?

A

It needs a more pure form of energy which is brought by the blood.

44
Q

How many neurons does each human have to start with?

A

200 billion neurons.

45
Q

How many neurons do humans lose each day? In 100 years, what percentage of a human’s neurons will have been lost?

A

50,000 neurons. In 100 yrs, lose 1%.

46
Q

What part of the brain makes up the majority of the brain?

A

The cortex.

47
Q

How many neurons does a developing human embryo gain each minute?

A

250,000 neurons per minute.

48
Q

What ratio determines brain size?

A

Brain weight/body weight is brain size.

49
Q

What is the brain size of an alligator?

A

0.01%

50
Q

What is the brain size for a lion?

A

1%.

51
Q

What is the brain size for a chimp?

A

0.67%.

52
Q

What is the brain size for a porpoise?

A

1.2%.

53
Q

What is the brain size for a human?

A

2.4%.

54
Q

What three things/layers protect the brain?

A

The meninges, the skull, and CSF- cerebrospinal fluid.

55
Q

What is the function of the meninges/how do they protect the brain?

A

They are membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord and keep things in and out.

56
Q

How does the skull protect the brain?

A

It is a hard layer and it keeps things in and out.

57
Q

What is CSF/what does it do?

A

It is the fluid that fills the ventricles, surrounds the brain to prevent it from bumping into the skull, and also surrounds the spine. It is made by the ventricles.

58
Q

What are ventricles?

A

The space between the two halves of the brain.

59
Q

Which is on the outside of the brain: the gray matter or the white matter?

A

Gray matter.

60
Q

How many milliliters of CSF does a human have on average?

A

120 mL

61
Q

What is hydrocephalus?

A

It’s a genetic disorder that typically shows up in infants in which too much CSF is produced, which builds too much pressure inside the head.

62
Q

How is hydrocephalus treated?

A

A tube called a shunt can be surgically inserted into ventricles to drain extra CSF into the abdomen.

63
Q

Are there definite functions for each part of the brain? Why or why not?

A

No, because the functions can change depending on the person and circumstances. (We do have general functions for certain parts, but not definite.)

64
Q

What does the cerebrum do?

A

It’s the part of the brain that is larger within the brain. It typically controls speech, smell, taste, hearing, motor cortex, reading, etc.

65
Q

How is brain mapping useful?

A

It can be used to find tumors and remove them correctly during awake brain surgery by looking at the “map” of the brain.

66
Q

What does the cerebellum do?

A

It helps with skeletal muscle coordination, balance, muscle tone, posture, etc. Muscles we generally have control over.

67
Q

The cerebellum is above or below the cerebrum?

A

Below.

68
Q

What is the medulla in charge of?

A

It is the part that controls involuntary muscles like heartbeat and breathing, gland secretion, and digestion.

69
Q

What does the hypothalamus do?

A

It is a part of both the CNS and the endocrine system. It takes in, sorts, and interprets information from the sensory organs. As part of the endocrine system, it releases hormones.

PB Biology💜 (40 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions