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Anatomy and Physiology > Nervous System for Exam 2 > Flashcards

Nervous System for Exam 2 Flashcards

1
Q

list the 6 components of the central nervous system

A
  1. gray matter
  2. white matter
  3. spinal cord
  4. cauda equina
  5. meninges
  6. cerebrospinal fluid
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2
Q

describe gray matter

A

groups of cell bodies (nuclei) around brain and in center of spinal cord

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3
Q

describe white matter

A

groups of myelinated axons (tracts) inside of brain and on the outside of the spinal cord

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4
Q

describe the function of spinal axons (in white matter)

A

transmit and receive signals from the brain

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5
Q

list the 4 main components of the brain

A
  1. cerebrum
  2. cerebellum
  3. interbrain
  4. brain stem
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6
Q

describe the cerebrum

A

the majority of the brain (big wavy bits), divided into left and right hemispheres, contains the cerebral cortex an cerebral medulla

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7
Q

what is the cerebral cortex?

A

the outer portion of the cerebrum (gray matter)

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8
Q

what is the cerebral medulla?

A

the inner portion of the cerebrum (white matter)

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9
Q

where is the cerebellum located?

A

caudal and ventral to cerebral hemispheres

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10
Q

list the 3 components of the interbrain

A
  1. hypothalamus
  2. thalamus
  3. epithalamus
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11
Q

what gland is attached to the hypothalamus and what does it do?

A

the pituitary gland, involved in regulating hormone release

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12
Q

what is the function of the thalamus?

A

to relay signals to the rest of the brain

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13
Q

what gland is located in the epithalamus and what does it secrete?

A

the pineal gland, secretes melatonin

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14
Q

list and describe the locations of the 3 components of the brain stem

A
  1. midbrain: top of stem
  2. pons: ventral to midbrain
  3. medulla oblongata: ventral to pons, attaches to spinal cord
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15
Q

what is the function of the blood-brain barrier?

A

regulate movement of materials from the blood into the brain

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16
Q

can most drugs easily cross the blood-brain barrier?

A

no they must be designed specifically

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17
Q

describe the structure of the blood-brain barrier

A

astrocytes surround capillaries in the brain and push simple squamous cells (endothelial cells lining those capillaries) closer together to form tight junctions between the cells, meaning that anything entering the brain from the blood must now travel through the endothelial cells instead of around them, requiring transport receptors thus providing more protection

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18
Q

can glucose pass through the blood-brain barrier? why or why not?

A

it can because it’s small

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19
Q

what does the blood-brain barrier mean for infections of the nervous system like rabies or tetanus?

A

they are much harder to treat

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20
Q

where is the spinal cord found and what makes up its structure?

A

within white matter, made of different tracts of axons

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21
Q

list and describe the 2 kinds of fibers in the spinal cord

A
  1. afferent fibers: relay sensory information from periphery to the brain (AKA sensory fibers)
  2. efferent fibers: relay motor information from brain to periphery (also called motor fibers)
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22
Q

what do Efferent fibers do?

A

cause an Effect in the body

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23
Q

what is the cauda equina?

A

the terminal end of the spinal cord, which gets smaller going down its length and resembles a horse’s tail

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24
Q

what are and how many meninges are there?

A

protective membranes, 3 layers of connective tissue

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25
Q

what is the most superficial layer of the meninges?

A

the dura mater

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26
Q

what is the dura mater made of and what is it attached to?

A

dense irregular connective tissue (the most protective layer), attached directly to the skull

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27
Q

what is the space between the dura mater around the spinal cord and vetebrae called and what is it used for?

A

the epidural space, where we inject drugs

28
Q

describe the arachnoid layer of the meninges

A

thin, wispy, fibrous layer, looks like a spider web, NONVASCULAR

29
Q

what is the deepest layer of the meninges?

A

the pia mater

30
Q

describe the pia mater

A

bound tightly to the brain and spinal cord, thin, fibrous, also nonvascular

31
Q

what is the space between the pia mater and the arachnoid space called?

A

the aubarachnoid space

32
Q

where is cerebrospinal fluid located?

A

in the subarachnoid space

33
Q

what is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?

A

acts as a protective cushion produced by ependymal cells

34
Q

what are the 2 components of the peripheral nervous system?

A
  1. spinal nerves

2. cranial nerves

35
Q

name one type of spinal nerve and its function and location

A

somatic nerves; associated with voluntary control of movement; found in pairs off each side of each vertebra (1L and 1R)

36
Q

what do dorsal roots do?

A

carry afferent impulses to spinal cord

37
Q

name the location and function of the dorsal root ganglion

A

sits at the base of the dorsal root and receives afferent signals from periphery; sends to CNS

38
Q

what do ventral roots do?

A

carry efferent (reactionary) signals (impulses) to periphery

39
Q

describe a mixed nerve

A

contains both motor (efferent) and sensory (afferent) axons, both to and away from periphery

40
Q

where are the cranial nerves located?

A

innervating the face and neck

41
Q

how many pairs and what type of nerves are cranial nerves?

A

12 pairs, afferent. efferent, and mixed

42
Q

does the autonomic nervous system require conscious perception?

A

no!

43
Q

list the 3 parts of the autonomic nervous system

A
  1. sympathetic nervous system
  2. parasympathetic NS
  3. enteric NS
44
Q

describe the sympathetic nervous system

A

associated with the body’s responses to stress

45
Q

describe the parasympathetic nervous system

A

associated with the body’s responses to nonstress, during the absence of stress

46
Q

describe the enteric nervous system

A

has components of both sympathetic and parasympathetic NS, controls digestive system under stress and nonstress

47
Q

define potential

A

a relative electrical charge between 2 points

48
Q

membrane potential

A

relative electrical charge between the inside and outside of a cell membrane

49
Q

what causes a membrane potential?

A

differences in concentrations of ions across a cell membrane

50
Q

define resting membrane potential

A

differences in ion concentrations across the cell membrane when the cell is at rest

51
Q

describe the general resting membrane potential

A

slightly more positive charge on the outside of the membrane than on the inside

52
Q

what do Na+-K+ ATPases do?

A

transport 3 Na+ outside cell for every 2 K+ that enter

53
Q

describe the contribution of channels in neurons and other cells

A

Na+ channels transport Na+ into the cell and K+ channels transport K+ out of the cell; both move along a concentration gradient and are both closed at rest, with no contribution to the membrane potential at rest

54
Q

name and describe the 1 state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

resting state: cell membrane is at resting potential with slightly more positive charge outside than inside

55
Q

name and describe the 2nd state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

chemical stimulation of membrane: signals for start of impulse transmission, something binds to receptor neuron to start

56
Q

name and describe the 3rd state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

depolarization: will occur at the site on the membrane that was stimulated, only at one specific place
Na+ channels OPEN, Na+ enters the cell (K+) channels still closed
membrane potential now more positive on inside of cell

57
Q

name and describe the 4th state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

repolarization begins: Na+ channels CLOSE, Na+ stops entering cell, K+ channels open at same time, and K+ leaves the cell
Na+ starts moving away from the site of stimulation

58
Q

name and describe the 5th state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

repolarization continues until: membrane returns to resting potential, which must happen in order for next impulse to occur
Na+-K+ ATPase helps to reestablish Na+ on outside of cell and K+ on inside of cell

59
Q

where do steps 1-5 of transmission of a nerve impulse occur?

A

all on one spot on the cell membrane

60
Q

name and describe the 6th state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

propagation of an action potential: changes in membrane potential travel down length of the membrane
Na+ moving away from site of depolarization results in depolarization at next spot on membrane

61
Q

name and describe the 7th state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

action potential continues: to terminal end of axon

62
Q

name and describe the 8th state of the transmission of a nerve impulse

A

action potential traveling results in the release of a neurotransmitter: into synapse

63
Q

define saltatory conduction

A

transmission of a nerve impulse down a myelinated axon, action potential “jumps” from one node of Ranvier to the next

64
Q

what does saltatory conduction do to the transmission of a nerve impulse?

A

speeds it up, increases rate of nerve impulse signalling

65
Q

define neurotransmitters

A

chemical substances (messengers) released by an axon into synapses, transmit the nerve impulses from one neuron to the next

Anatomy and Physiology (18 decks)

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