NERVOUS SYSTEM UNIT REVIEW Flashcards
Nervous system functions
Responsible for coordination of movement and to respond to environmental stimuli, intelligence, self-awareness, thought, and emotion
What are nerve cells composed of
Neurons
Neurons
Specialized to carry nerve impulses
What does it mean when the two nervous systems are ARBITRARY
Meaning that they both work together and are connected to one another
Two major divisions of nervous system:
- Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What is the central nervous system associated with
Brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system associated with
The rest of the nervous system
Parts of a neuron (7):
- Dendrites
- Cell body
- Axon
- Myelin sheath
- Schwann cell
- Nodes of Ranvier
- Synaptic endings
Dendrites
Contains great surface area to pick up nerve impulse and conduct it towards cell body
Cell body
Metabolic centre of cell
What type of reactions occur in cell body
Cellular respiration and protein/lipid synthesis
Axon
Conducts nerve impulses away from cell body
Myelin sheath
Made of lipids and wraps around axon to insulate
Schwann cells
Produces myelin sheath. It contains tightly packed spirals of cell membrane
Nodes of Ranvier
Gaps in the myelin. It allows more rapid nerve conduction along axon
Synaptic endings
End of axon. Vesicles containing neurotransmitters are located here
3 types of neurons:
- Sensory neuron
- Motor neuron
- Interneuron
Sensory neuron
Takes a message from a sense organ to CNS
Another name for sensory neuron
Afferent neuron
What do sensory neurons contain
Long dendrites and short axon
Motor neurons
Takes message away from CNS to muscle fiber or gland
Another name for motor neuron
Efferent neuron
What do motor neurons contain
Short dendrites and long axon
Interneuron
Completely contained within CNS. Conveys messages between parts of the system
Another name for interneuron
Association neuron/connector neuron
What do interneurons contain
Long or short dendrites and axons (size varies)
Giant squid axon
Very large axon that controls part of the water jet propulsion system in squid to rapidly activate muscles of squid mantle
Nerve conduction is an _____
Nerve conduction is an ELECTRICLE IMPULSE
Direction of electrical impulse
One direction along length of nerve fiber
What do electrical impulses contain
Changes in voltage, as well as concentration of certain ions
Oscilloscope
Voltmeter that shows graph of voltage changes to measure potential differences
3 distinct phases of nerve impulse conduction/propagation:
- Resting potential
- Action potential
- Refractory period
Resting potential
Potential difference across the membrane of axon when it is not conducting an impulse
Voltage across membrane of axon at resting
-65v
Reasonings of negative polarity of resting
Due to presence of large organic negative ions (proteins) in the axoplasm
Na and K concentrations at resting
More Na ions on the outside of axon compared to inside, and more K ions on the inside compared to outside
How is the uneven distribution of Na and K maintained by
Active transport across Na+/K+ pump which operate whenever the neuron is not conducting an impulse
How are nerves in action potential stimulated
Through electric shock, pH change, or mechanical stimulation
Action potential
When nerve impulse is generated and a change in voltage occurs
Depolarization
When during UPSWING (-65mV to +40mV) the membrane becomes permeable due to Na channels opening and Na ions move from outside to inside of axon. It is called depolarization because the inside of axon becomes positive
Repolarization
When during DOWNSWING (+40mV to -70mV) due to K channels opening and K moves inside axon. It is called repolarization because the inside of axon becomes negative again
Refractory period
In between nerve impulses/transmissions, K ions are returned to inside of axon and Na to the outside back to original
How is transportation of refractory period achieved
Using active transport with carrier proteins
Step 1 of nerve impulse conduction/propagation
Sodium moves in; Sodium channels open and Na+ ions diffuse INTO axon
Step 2 of nerve impulse conduction/propagation
Depolarization; Inside of axon of specific region is now positive
Step 3 of nerve impulse conduction/propagation
Na+ channels close and K+ opens; Potassium channels open and K+ ions diffuse OUT of axon
Step 4 of nerve impulse conduction/propagation
Repolarization; Movement of K+ ions counters depolarization. The voltage difference across membrane returns to resting potential
Step 5 of nerve impulse conduction/propagation
Recovery period; Na+ and K+ actively transported back across membrane until concentrations are equally distributed as before impulse was sent (ATP STAGE USING CARRIER PROTEINS)
Step 6 of nerve impulse conduction/propagation
Depolarization of adjacent part of axon; Sodium channels open and Na+ ions diffuse into axon
Which stage uses ATP and why
Step 5 (recovery period) uses ATP for carrier proteins
Are nerve impulses rapid or slow
Rapid
What allows nerve impulses travel so fast
Myelin sheath serves as an electrical insulator to allow nerve impulses to travel fast and maintain high speed communication between nerve cells
What is myelin sheath formed of
Formed by tightly packed spirals of cell membrane of Schwann Cell
What are the interruptions or gaps of the myelin sheath called
Nodes of Ranvier
Myelin physical characteristics
White and shiny
Speed of transmission in myelinated fibres
200m/s
Speed of transmission in non-myelinated fibers
0.5m/s
Why are nerve impulses faster with myelinated fibers compared to non-myelinated fibers
Because the nerve impulses jumps from node to node in myelinated fibers. However, with non-myelinated fibers, the nerve impulse must depolarize and repolarize each point along the nerve fibre