Nervous tissue Flashcards
neurology
study of nervous system
neurologist diagnoses/treats disorders of nervous system
nervous system 3 roles
1) sense, interpret, respond to stimuli
2) generate movement/gland secretion (“respond” to stimuli)
3) thought, emotion, memory
nervous system and homeostasis
contributes to maintaining homeostasis
3 functions/components of nervous system
sensory function
integrative function
motor function
1) sensory function
afferent neurons (sensory)
signal toward CNS
detects EXTERNAL & INTERNAL stimuli
E.g.
tapping shoulder (external)
heart-rate/GI-tract (internal)
2) integrative function
INTERNEURONS b/w afferent and efferent neurons
INTEGRATE feedback in CNS
“deciding” appropriate “response”
also involved in complex mental/psychological processes such as deliberating & consideration via memories
also involved in simple reflexes (E.g. patellar reflex – DTR)
3) motor function
“command” sent by CNS via EFFERENT neurons
activate EFFECTORS –> E.g. muscles/glands
Can be Somatic (voluntary) or Autonomic (involuntary)
two major divisions of nervous system
CNS –> brain and spinal cord
PNS –>
= cranial nerves (CN1-12),
= spinal nerves (dorsal/ventral roots/rami),
= peripheral nerves (e.g. via cervical/brachial and lumbosacral plexus)
number of neurons in different parts of nervous system
brain = 85-100 billion
spinal cord = 100 million
ENS (enteric nervous system) = 500 million
the brain (CNS)
within cranial cavity
structural areas (discussed in neurology) as follows:
= cerebral cortex, pons, medulla, cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, basal ganglia, pituitary gland, etc.
3 layers of protection for brain
cranium
meninges (CT membranes)
CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)
= Similar to Blood Plasma composition
= cushions brains
= keeps buoyant in cavities (reduces effective weight so brain not resting heavily against cranial cavity)
CSF & weight of brain (?)
CSF buoyancy plays a critical role in preventing the brain from being damaged by its own weight against the cranial cavity (???)
cerebrum
largest part of brain
TWO hemispheres
Generally, RIGHT side interacts with left side of body,
LEFT side interacts with right side of body
I.e.
Afferent/Efferent signalling
” Exceptions exist
brain weight/size vs ratio of brain to body weight
ratio of brain mass : body mass may be one of the variables indicating intelligence
other variables:
surface area
relative size of brain cortex
E.g.
mice/humans have similar ratio, but human brain is more complex
Spinal cord (CNS)
extending from brain
Within vertebral canal (of “ column)
protected via CSF & vertebral column
begins @ foramen Magnum
Ends @ L1/L2 Spinal level (to lumbar plexus & sacral plexus)
spinal cord structure (cross section)
internal GREY MATTER (nerve cell bodies)
external WHITE MATTER (nerve tracts, i.e. axons)
—-> ASCENDING & DESCENDING tracts (afferent & efferent)
PNS
nerves + sensory receptors
outside CNS
31 spinal nerves (C0 the coccygeal nerve)
12 cranial nerves
peripheral nerves (branches of spinal AND CRANIAL nerves)
spinal nerves
8 cervical spinal nerves
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
spinal nerves roots
ventral roots carry efferent fibres
dorsal roots carry afferent fibres
nerve plexus & spinal nerves
branching network of nerves
e.g. brachial plexus
via Ventral rami of C5-T1
(occurs via spinal nerves)
Cranial nerves
exit directly from brain or brain stem
CN 1-12 = 12 pairs
sensory & motor signals
somatic vs autonomic
see next slides
somatic
voluntary
motor control to skeletal muscles only
general/special sense
autonomic
involuntary
to smooth/cardiac muscles, & glands
sensory feedback from same areas that are innervated