Nervous System And Neurons Flashcards
What are the 2 components of the nervous system
Central nervous system and Peripheral nervous system
What does the Central nervous system consist of
Brain and Spinal cord
What are the 2 components of the peripheral nervous system
Somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
What components branch off of the autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic NS and Parasympathetic NS
What is the role of the central nervous system
- Receive and process sensory information
2. Initiate a response
What is the role of the brain?
Regulates, receives and responds
What is the role of the spinal cord?
- Coordinates reflexes
- Communication between the brain and peripheral nervous system.
- Sends sensory info to the brain and sends motor info to the body
What is the role of the somatic nervous system
- Controls skeletal muscles
- Controls sensory (Afferent) info
- Carries motor (efferent) info
What is the role of the peripheral nervous system?
Links central nervous system to other parts of the body
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?
Create automatic/self regulatory reactions to stimuli
What is the role of the sympathetic NS?
Readies the body for danger
What is the role of the parasympathetic NS?
To calm the body and maintain homeostasis
What are 3 main components of a conscious response to a stimuli?
- awareness
- attention
- voluntary
- purposeful
- complex
- brain
- can be learnt and controlled
What are 3 main components of an unconscious response to a stimuli?
- no awareness
- no attention
- involuntary
- reflexive/automatic
- don’t require learning
- spinal cord
- lack of control
- occur similarly each time
What are the 3 types of neurons?
AFFERENT
EFFERENT
Interneuron
What is the role of an AFFERENT neuron?
Respond to sensory receptors and carry the message to the CNS
What is the role of EFFERENT neurons?
Transmit info from the CNS along motor pathways to enable specific muscles
What is the role of the interneuron?
Connects efferent and afferent neurons at the brain
What is one advantage of a spinal reflex?
- quicker response time
- less damage
What is the role of a neuron?
To transmit neural info between neurons
What is the role of a dendrite?
Receive info from other neurons
What is the role of an axon?
Carries action potential
What is the role of a myelin
Helps with transmission of nerve impulses
What is the role of the axon terminal?
Release NT’s at the end of an axon
What are the 6 key components of a neuron?
Cell body (soma) Dendrites Axon Myelin sheath Terminal buttons Dendrites
What is the key in the lock and key process
Neurotransmitters
What is the lock in the lock and key process
Receptor sites
What is the lock and key process
To bind neurotransmitters to a receptor site in order to cause the post synaptic neuron to fire
What are the 4 steps in the lock and key process?
- Pre synaptic neuron releases axon potential through the axon
- NT’s are released by terminal buttons into the synaptic gap
- NT’s bind with receptor sites in post synaptic neuron
- Post synaptic neuron is more likely to fire
What is the role of an excitatory neurotransmitter?
Stimulates the post synaptic neuron making it more likely to fire
What is the role of an inhibitory NT?
Makes the post synaptic neuron less likely to fire
What is an example of an inhibitory NT?
GABA
Dopamine
What is an example of an excitatory neurotransmitter?
Glutamate
What is Parkinson’s disease?
A CNS neurodegenerative disorder
What does Parkinson’s disease cause?
Lack of dopamine producing neurons.
Which part of the brain does Parkinson’s disease impact?
The substantia nigra
What are 3 symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
Tremors Muscle rigidity Postural instability Loss of sense of smell Impaired cognitive functions
Are there Parkinson’s treatments?
Levodopa and dopamine agonists
What can occur from an abnormal level of dopamine
parkinson’s disease
What can occur due to abnormal levels of GABA
Anxiety
What can occur due to abnormal levels of glutamate
Lack of concentration
Mental exhaustion
