Nervous system - general knowledge Flashcards

1
Q

Four Major Nerve Plexuses formed by the spinal nerves?

A

Cervical Plexus
Brachial Plexus
Lumbar Plexus
Lumbosacral Plexus

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2
Q

What does the cervical plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the neck, C1-C4

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3
Q

What does the brachial plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the shoulder and upper limbs, C5-T1 (sometimes C4 and T2)

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4
Q

What does the lumbar plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the anterior and medial thigh, L1-L4 (sometimes T12)

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5
Q

What does the lumbosacral plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the buttock, pelvis, perineum and lower limbs, L4-S4

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6
Q

What are the functions of the nervous system?

A
  • enable body to react to changes in internal and external environment
  • control and integrate various body activities
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7
Q

What are the structural divisions of the Nervous system?

A
  • Central Nervous System (CNS)

- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

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8
Q

Define Central Nervous system

A
  • consists of brain and spinal cord
  • functions to integrate and coordinate
  • carries out higher mental functions such as thinking and learning
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9
Q

Define Peripheral Nervous system

A
  • consists of everything but brain and spinal cord

- conducts pulses to or away from the CNS

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10
Q

What are the functional divisions of the nervous system?

A
  • somatic nervous system (SNS)

- autonomic nervous system (ANS)

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11
Q

What is the composition of a nerve fiber?

A
  • axon
  • neurolemma
  • surrounding connective tissue
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12
Q

What are the two forms of neurolemma?

A
  • myelinated

- unmyelinated

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13
Q

What is the composition of a nerve?

A
  • bundle of nerve fibers
  • connective tissue binding/covering nerve fibers and fascicles together
  • blood vessels that nourish nerve fibers and their coverings
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14
Q

What is a ganglion?

A

a collection of neuron cell bodies that can be motor or sensory

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15
Q

What are the two types of nerve fibers?

A
  • afferent (sensory) fibers - are affected by stimulus

- efferent (motor) fibers - cause an effect to occur

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16
Q

What is the function of afferent nerve fibers?

A

convey impulses to the CNS from sensory receptors (found in the skin) or sensory organs (eyes)

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17
Q

What is the function of efferent nerve fibers?

A

convey impulses from the CNS to effector organs (muscles, glands)

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18
Q

What are cranial nerves?

A

nerves that exit cranial cavity via foramina in the cranium

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19
Q

What are spinal nerves?

A

nerves that arise in bilateral pairs from a segment of the spinal cord and exit the vertebral column vis vertebral foramen (except spinal n. C1 which exists above C1 vertebrae, sacral and coccygeal nerves)

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20
Q

How many spinal nerves are there?

A

31 pairs

  • 8 cervical
  • 12 spinal
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 1 coccygeal
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21
Q

How to spinal nerves arise?

A

as ventral and dorsal rootlets that converge to form two nerve roots (dorsal and ventral) that unite within or proximal to vertebral foramen to form a mixed spinal nerve that immediately divides into two arms (rami)

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22
Q

What are the different types of spinal nerve roots?

A
  • ventral (anterior) nerve root

- dorsal (posterior) nerve root

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23
Q

Define ventral (anterior) nerve root

A

consists of motor fibers from cell bodies in the anterior horn of the spinal cord to effector organs located peripherally

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24
Q

Define dorsal (posterior) nerve root

A

consists of sensory fibers from cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) that extend peripherally to sensory endings and centrally to posterior horn of spinal cord

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25
Q

What are the two rami of mixed spinal nerves?

A
  • dorsal primary rami (DPR)

- ventral primary rami (VPR)

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26
Q

What kind of nerve fibers are present in spinal nerve rami?

A

both sensory and motor

27
Q

How does the dorsal primary ramus branch?

A

it gives off medial and lateral cutaneous branches, then the medial branches have dorsal branches that become dorsal cutaneous nerves

28
Q

Where does the dorsal primary ramus give nerve supply?

A
  • synovial joints of vertebral column
  • deep muscles of the back
  • overlying skin in segmental pattern
29
Q

Where does the ventral primary ramus give nerve supply?

A
  • muscles and skin in the anterior and lateral regions of the trunk in segmental pattern
  • upper and lower limbs
30
Q

Do dorsal primary rami form plexuses?

A

not usually. If they do, they are usually much smaller than VPR plexuses

31
Q

Do ventral primary rami form plexuses?

A

most of them do

32
Q

The merging, intermingling and resegmenting of nerve fibers from multiple primary rami (usually VPR) is called what?

A

A somatic nerve plexus

33
Q

Do spinal nerve T2-T12 join plexuses?

A

not usually, they remain segmental

34
Q

A unilateral area of skin that is innervated by sensory fibers of a single spinal nerve is called what?

A

dermatome

35
Q

Do adjacent dermatomes overlap?

A

yes, almost completely so that at least two spinal nerves would have to be interrupted to produce discernible numbness

36
Q

What is the function of cutaneous nerves?

A

to carry sensory information from the skin to CNS and motor information from skin to glands and smooth muscle

37
Q

What is the function of general sensory (somatic afferent) fibers?

A

to transmit sensation from the body (pain, temp, pressure, proprioception) to the CNS

38
Q

What is the function of general motor (somatic efferent) fibers?

A

to transmit impulses to skeletal muscles

39
Q

What is the function of visceral sensory (visceral afferent) fibers?

A

to transmit sensations from hollow organs or blood vessels to CNS

40
Q

What is the composition and function of the somatic nervous system?

A
  • composed of somatic (motor and sensory) parts of both the CNS and PNS that innervate only skeletal muscle
  • transmit sensations such as pain, temp and position that reach a conscious level and create voluntary and reflexive muscle contractions
41
Q

What is the composition and function of the autonomic nervous system?

A
  • composed of motor (visceral efferent) fibers

- stimulate smooth (involuntary) muscles, cardiac muscles and gladular (secretory) muscles to regulate visceral function

42
Q

What are the functional divisions of the nervous system?

A
  • SNS, somatic nervous system

- ANS, autonomic nervous system

43
Q

What are the subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

A
  • sympathic (thoracolumbar)

- parasympathetic (craniosacral)

44
Q

What are the names of the two multipolar neurons of the ANS?

A
  • pre synaptic

- post synaptic

45
Q

Where is the cell body of the presynaptic neuron of the ANS located?

A

in the grey matter of the CNS

46
Q

Where is the cell body of the postsynaptic neuron of the ANS located?

A

outside the central nervous system in autonomic ganglia that terminate on effector organ

47
Q

Where are the post synaptic neurons of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A
  • paravertebral ganglia extending the length of the trunk

- prevertebral (preaortic) ganglia in plexuses that surround the origins of main branches of abdominal aorta

48
Q

Where are the pre synaptic neurons of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A

vertebral levels T1-L2 or L3

49
Q

Where are the post synaptic neurons of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A

on or in wall of target organs in:

  • head
  • thoracic
  • abdominal viscera
  • pelvic viscera
  • lower GI tract
50
Q

Where are the pre synaptic neurons of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A
  • grey matter of the brainstem and exit with CN III, VII, IX, X (constitutes cranial outflow)
  • grey matter of S2-S4 (constitutes sacral outflow)
51
Q

What does cranial outflow supply innervation to?

A

head, thoracic and abdominal viscera

52
Q

What does sacral outflow supply innervation to?

A

pelvic viscera and lower GI tract

53
Q

What are the functions of the sympathetic division of the ANS?

A
  • heart: increase HR and force of contraction
  • bronchi: dilate
  • pupil: dilate
  • vessels of skeletal muscle: dilate
  • vessels of skin: constrict
  • digestive tract: inhibit peristalsis/decreased blood flow
  • sweat glands: increase perspiration
  • ejaculation
54
Q

Which division of the ANS is catabolic, energy-expending?

A

sympathetic

55
Q

Which division of the ANS is anabolic, energy-conserving?

A

parasympathetic

56
Q

What are the functions of the parasympathetic division of the ANS?

A
  • heart: decrease HR and force of contraction
  • bronchi: constrict
  • pupil: constrict
  • digestive tract: increase peristalsis/blood flow
  • erection
57
Q

What do visceral reflexes regulate?

A

blood pressure and chemistry

58
Q

What is the function fo visceral afferent nerve fibers?

A

to provide information on the body’s internal environment

59
Q

What division of the Nervous System are visceral nerve fibers integrated in and where are they located?

A

They are integrated into the CNS but they hitch a ride with the nerve fibers of the ANS

60
Q

Is visceral sensation subconscious or conscious?

A

Both. It is usually subconscious but will reach conscious level as pain (spasms, chemical/mechanical/pathological irritation, ischemia)

61
Q

What is an unconscious sensation that travels in visceral afferent nerve fibers, retrograde to parasympathetics?

A

a visceral reflex sensation

62
Q

What are sensations that travel in visceral afferent fibers, accompanying sympathetics?

A

visceral pain sensations

63
Q

Fight or flight refers to….?

A

sympathetic nervous system

64
Q

Rest and digest refers to…?

A

parasympathetic nervous system