nervous system Flashcards
what are the two original theories for the composition of the nervous system ?
. reticular theory - composed of a network of structures
. cell theory - composed of discrete cells
who is camillo golgi ?
stained the CNS tissue and showed many discrete cells, different shapes and sizes
1873
who is ramon y cajal ?
from 1888
use Golgis stain on the CNS and PNS tissues to draw and classify the different cell types and the contacts between them
what is the nervous system composed of ?
the nervous system is made of million of individual cells called neurons
what is the function of the nervous system ?
the nervous system is a way of sending electrical signals very rapidly through out the body
describe the path of a reflex arc ?
1 . stimulus - e.g. change in body PH - stimulus must be converted into electrical signal via the receptor
- receptor - convert stimulus to electrical signals - (transduction ) and then sends electrical signals to the CNS via sensory neuron
- sensory / afferent - PNS - send electrical signals to interneurons
- interneurons- CNS
- motor / efferent - PNS - send electrical signals to effector
- effector - muscle / gland
- response
what is an example of a behaviour controlled by a reflex arc ?
myotatic reflex
what is myotatic reflex ?
muscle contraction in response to stretching within the muscle
what happens in a KNEE JERK REFLEX ?
- stretching a muscle by hitting tendon with a hammer
- this activates a muscle stretch receptor ( the muscle spindle ) and causes nervous activity in a 1 a sensory motor neuron
- the sensory neuron synapses with an alpha motor neuron in the spinal cord which causes muscle to contract and legs to jerk
what are the 3 different types of muscle ?
skeletal - attached to skeleton - striated - forceful - voluntary
cardiac - found in heart - striated - forceful - involuntary
smooth - hollow organs/glands - unstriated - weak - involuntary
where do afferent ( sensory ) neurons carry signals from ?
afferent neurons carry sensory signals from body toCNS
where do efferent motor neurons carry signals from? .
efferent neurons carry signals away from the CNS to the body
what are the two types of efferent motor system ?
. somatic ( voluntary ) - innervates skeletal muscle
. autonomic ( involuntary ) - innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glands
what are the two types of autonomic efferent motor system ?
. sympathetic - flight , fright and fight
increases respiration and decreases digestion
. parasympathetic - resting and digestion
slows heart rate and respiration
. these 2 subdivisions usually have opposite effects
how many nerves connect CNS to rest of body ?
. 43 pairs of nerves connect the CNS to the rest of body
. 12 pairs of cranial nerves exit the brain
. a further 31 pairs exit at various levels of the spinal cord
what are the two cells of the nervous system ?
- neuron or nerve cell
2. supporting cells ( neuroglia )
what are neurons or nerve cell ?
. number 10^11
. found in adult CNS and PNS
. generate and transmit electrical signals
. have same structure as other cells what makes them unique is their function with it to conduct electricity
what are supporting cells ( neuroglia ) ?
. number 10^12
. supporting roles in nerve cell functions
what is the generalised neuron structure ?
. several dendrites
. a cell body ( soma ) which contains the nucleus
. a long axon
. synaptic region ( axon terminal )
what structure do neurons have ?
. polar structure - information comes in one end and leaves in another
. dendrites to synapses
. a single neuron can receive input from many others
what is the function of dendrites ?
. receive incoming electrical information
. each cell in body is connected to dendrite to form electrical signal
what is the structure of dendrites ?
. their branching increase surface area - this allows them to gather information from neurons coming into them
. spines on dendrites increase surface area