Nervous System & Injury Flashcards
What are the common causes of brain damage?
Toxic substances, pressure, temperature changes, inflammation, tutors, genetics, infections, trauma & idiopathic
What is a ganglion and what is its role?
A collection of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS, responsible for transmitting signals to and from the CNS
What are the components and functions of the CNS
The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, which process information and control responses
What are the components of the PNS?
Autonomic nervous system (ANS): controls involuntary functions via sympathetic. (Fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) systems
Somatic nervous system: controls voluntary movements
What are the functions of the cerebrum?
The cerebrum is responsible for thought, reasoning, voluntary movements, and higher functions
What are the subcortical structures, and what are their functions?
Basal ganglia: Smooths motor movements
Thalamus: Relays sensory signals
Hypothalamus: controls hunger, sleep, and autonomic functions
Hippocampus: Memory formation and retrieval
Limbic System: emotion, behaviour and memory
What does the frontal lobe control?
Voluntary motor activity, intellectual processes (planning, speech) & facial expressions
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
It interprets sensory information, spatial orientation, language and math skills
What does the occipital lobe process?
It processes and interprets visual information
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
It processes auditory and visual information, aids memory formation, and regulates emotions
What is the role of the brain stem?
Regulates consciousness, alertness, and vital autonomic functions like breathing and heart rate
What does the cerebellum control?
Balance, muscle tone, coordination and stores motor memories
What are the meninges layers, and what is their function?
Pia mater: inner protective layer
Arachnoid Mater: middle cushioning layer
Dura Mater: Tough outer layer
They protect the brain and spinal cord. CSF cushions the brain and removes waste
What are the functions of the cranial nerves?
I. Olfactory: Smell (Sensory)
II. Optic: Vision (Sensory)
III. Oculomotor: Eye movement/pupil constriction (Motor)
IV. Trochlear: Eye movement (Motor)
V. Trigeminal: Facial sensation/chewing (Both)
VI. Abducens: Eye movement (Motor)
VII. Facial: Expression/taste (Both)
VIII. Vestibulocochlear: Hearing/balance (Sensory)
IX. Glossopharyngeal: Taste/swallowing (Both)
X. Vagus: Heart/lungs/digestion (Both)
XI. Accessory: Shoulder/neck movement (Motor)
XII. Hypoglossal: tongue movement (Motor)
What is the cranial nerve function mnemonic?
Some say marry money but my brother says big boobs matter more.
S: Sensory
M: Motor
B: Both
What is the mnemonic for the names of the cranial nerves and their respective order?
Oh oh oh, the trusty auror found Voldemort guarding very ancient horcruxes
What is a motor unit?
A motor unit consists of a motor neuron and all the muscle fibres it innervates. The more motor units recruited leads to a stronger muscle contraction
What happens at the neuromuscular junction?
Acetylcholine (ACh) is released, binds to nicotine receptors, causing an influx of sodium, depolarisation and muscle contraction
What is the difference between afferent and efferent nerves?
Afferent nerves: carry signals to the CNS
Efferent: Send motor commands from the CNS to the muscles
What protects the spinal cord?
It is protected by the vertebrae which make up the spinal column
What is the cauda equina?
It is a bundle of nerve roots at the lower spinal cord that controls lower limb, bladder and bowel functions
What do gray and white matter in the spinal cord do?
Gray matter: Processes information (cell bodies/dendrites)
White matter: conducts signals via myelinated axons
What are the ascending and descending tracts in the spinal cord?
Ascending tracts: carry sensory signals to the brain
Descending tracts: transmit motor commands from the brain to the muscles
How do reflex arcs work?
Reflexes are automatic responses processed by the spinal cord without involving the brain, like the stretch reflex
What are upper and lower motor neurons and their roles?
Upper motor neurons: originate in the brain and send commands to the spinal cord
Lower motor neurons: extend from the spinal cord to muscles to control movement
What causes muscle weakness at the neuromuscular junction?
Substances that block ACh release, prevent ACh from binding to receptors, or inhibit AChE, disrupting muscle contraction
What is multiple sclerosis?
MS is a demyelinating disease where myelin sheath destruction disrupts nerve signal transmission, causing weakness and coordination issues
What is the function of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)?
It breaks down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft to stop continuous muscle contraction
