Nervous System COPY Flashcards
neurons
- specialized to transmit information in the form of electrochemical impulses (action potentials)
- recieve chemical –> turn to electrical –> turn back to chemical when going to axon terminal
nervous system
- signaling network with branches carrying information directly to and from specific target tissues
- body’s control and communication center
nervous system structure
central nervous system
(brain and spinal cord)
peripheral nervous system
(the nerves and receptors outside CNS)
- comprises sensory and motor divisions
- peripheral nerves all enter or leave the CNS, either from the spinal cord (the spinal nerves) or the brain (cranial nerves)
- can be senory or motor or mized
nervous control
- communication: impulses across synapses
- speed: very rapid
- duration: short term and reversible
- target pathway: specific (through nerves) to specific cells
- action: causes glands to secrete or muscles to contract
hormonal control
- communication: hormones in the blood
- speed: relatively slow
- duration: longer lasting effects:
- target pathway: hormones broadcast to target cellls everywhere
- action: causes changes in metabolic activity
three broad functions of nervous system:
- detecting stimuli
- interpreting them
- initiating appropriate responses
spinal cord
- cyclinder of nervous tissue extending from the base of the brain down the back, protected by the spinal column
- it transmits messages to and from the brain, and controls spinal reflexes
- sensory neurons enter the spinal cord by the dorsal root
- motor neurons leave the spinal cord by the ventral root
- the spinal cord has an H shaped central are of gray matter, comprising nerve cell bodies, dendrites, and synapses around a central canal filled with cerebrospinal fluid
sensory division
- sensory nerves arise from sensory and carry messages to the CNS for processing
- sensory system keeps the CNS aware of the external and internal environments
- includes the familiar sense organs such as ears, eyes, and taste buds as well as internal receptors that monitor internal state
- thirst, hunger, body position, movement, pain
motor division
- motor nerves carry impulses from the CNS to effectors: muscles and glands
- two parts:
- somatic nervous system
- autonomic nervous system
- somatic nervous system
somatic nervous system
PNS
- the neurons that carry impulses to voluntary (skeletal) muscles
autonomic nervous system
PNS
- regulates involuntary visceral functions through reflexes
- heart rate, gut peristalsis involving smooth muscle, pupil reflex, and sweating
- voluntary control over some basic reflexes (bladder emptying) can be learned
- two divisions:
- parasympathetic
- sympathetic
explain the significance of the separation of the motor division of the PNS into somatic and autonomic divisions
The somatic division is in control of voluntary actions, while the autonomic division is in control of involuntary action for homeostasis.
parasympathetic division
ANS. Excitatory.
- nerves release acetylcholine
- rapidly deactivated at the synapse and its effects are short lived and localized
- nerves from brainstem and sacral regions
- iris of eye, tear glands, salivary glands: constricts pupil, stimulates secretion of the glands
- heart and lungs: slows heart rate, dilates coronary blood vessels, constricts bronchial muscle
- liver, stomach, small intestine, pancrease: increases peristalsis, promotes sugar storage, and insulin and enzyme secretion
- large intestine, bladder, genital organs: increases peristalsis, causes contraction of bladder wall, stiulates genital erection in both sexes and secretion in females
sympathetic division
ANS. Inhibitory.
- sympathetic nerves release norepinephrine
- enters the bloodstream and is deactivated slowly
- widespread and long lasting effects than parasympathetic stimulation
- nerves from thoracic and lumbar regions
- fight or flight response: dilates arteries and increases the rate and force at which the heart contracts
- heart rate is increased when increased blood flow to the heart causes reflex stimulation of the accelerator center
- iris of eye, salivary glands: dilates pupil and decreases secretion of glands
- heart and lungs: increases heart rate, constricts coronary blood vessels, dilates bronchial muscle
- liver, stomach, small intestine, pancreas: decreases peristalsis, promotes sugar release from liver, inhibits insulin and enzyme secretion
- large intestine: decreases peristalsis
- bladder and genital organs: causes relaxation of bladder wall, stimulates pregnant uterus to contract, stimulates ejaculation
explain why the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS are often described as being opposing or antagonistic in function
The sympathetic division of the ANS is more active when the body is preparing for action (fight or flight) while the parasympathetic division is more active in conserving energy and replenishing energy reserves (‘feed or breed’ or ‘rest and digest’). In general, the sympathetic NS stimulates where the parasympathetic inhibits and vice versa.
explain why sympathetic stimulation tends to have more widespread and longer lasting effects than parasympathetic stimulation
Most sympathetic postganglionic nerves release norepinephrine which enters the bloodstream and is deactivated slowly. In contrast, parasympathetic nerves release acetylcholine which is rapidly deactivated at the synapse with short lived localized effects.
with reference to the emptying of the bladder, explain how conscious control can modify a reflex activity
Bladder emptying is under reflex control and is stimulated by stretching of the bladder wall. Stretching causes both a cnonsciou desire to urinate and an unconscious reflex contraction of the bladder wall and relaxation of the internal eurethral sphincter. The conscious part of the brain also sends impulses to relax the external eurethral spincter. Because both conscious and unconscious controls are involved, urination can be voluuntarily stopped and started at will.
asthma can be treated by inhaling a drug that mimics the action noradrenaline on the sympathetic NS. describe how this drug could be used to target the patient’s respiratory system
Inhalation fo the drug results in dilation of the broncioles in the lungs and the patient is able to breath more easily.
ependymal cells
- not neurons –> epithelial tissues (not a neuron)
- cilia - keeps CSF in motion
- fluid filled cavity - CSF
- brain/spinal cord tissue - connected by junctions to brain or spinal tissue
nucleus idk
- dna –> rna –> ribosome
- ribosomes read RNA –> make proteins which do the work
microglia
- act as immune cells in brain
- detect and phagocytize (eat) pathogens
- usually detect things that pass the blood brain barrier
- act like white blood cells
neuroglial cells
glue –> connects neurons
- insulate
- support –> provide nutrients
- protect
oligodendrocytes
sew
- fewer in quantity than schwann chells (PNS)
- the way that CNS neurons myelinate themselves
- neuronal pathways hsorter and less myelenated
astrocytes
- type of glial cells
- connect neurons to blood vessels
- most abundant supportive cells in the nervous system
- repair of brain and spinal cord
blood brain barrier
- a wall
- blocks verything (mostly), even antibodies
- pros: pathogens are very unlikely to invade the brain
- cons: antibodies can’t get to the brain; keeps useful drugs out sometimes
idk
parts of brain
dura
connects brain to skull
frontal lobe
- movement
- intelligence
- reasoning
- behavior
- memory
- personality
temporal lobe
- speech
- behavior
- memory
- hearing
- vision
- emotions
parietal lobe
- intelligence
- reasoning
- telling right from left
- language
- sensation
- reading
occipital lobe
- vision
cerebellum
little war brain
- balance
- coordination
- fine muscle control
brain stem
- breathing
- blood pressure
- heart beat
- swallowing