neuro: anatomical and physiologic overview Flashcards
what are the two major parts of the nervous system
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
what is the function of the nervous system
control motor, sensory, autonomic, cognitive, and behavioral activities
whats included in the central nervous system
brain, neurons, spinal cord
whats a neuron
cells of the nervous system, primary functioning unit
what are dendrites
receive elctrochemical messages from the neuron
whats an axon
carries impulses away from cells
name some neurotransmitters
- acetylcholine
- serotonin
- dopamine
- norepinephrine
- gamma-aminobutyric acid
- enkephalin/endorphin
describe acetylcholine
- main neurotransmitter of parasympathetic nervous system
- excitatory
describe serotonin
- inhibitory
- helps control mood and sleep
- inhibits pain pathways
describe dopamine
- inhibitory
- associated with fine motor movement and emotions
describe norepineprhine
- main transmitter of the sympathetic nervous system
- excitatory
- affects mood and activity
describe gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- inhibitory
- calms nerves down
describe enkrphalin/endorphin
- excitatory
- associated with pleasurable sensation
- inhibits pain transmission
what are the three major areas of the brain
- cerebrum
- brain stem
- cerebellum
what are the four lobes of the cerebrum
- frontal
- parietal
- temporal
- occipital
describe the frontal lobe
- major functions include concentration, abstract thought, info storage/memory, and motor function
- also responsible for a persons affect, personality, and inhibition
describe the parietal lobe
- analyzes sensory info and relays it to other areas
- essential to a persons awareness of body position in space, size, and shape discrimination
- left and right orientation
descrieb the temporal lobe
- contains the auditory receptive area
- plays a role in memory of souns and understanding language and music
describe the occipital lobe
responsible for visual interpretation and memory
whats included in the brain stem
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla
describe what the brain stem does
- contains sensory and motor pathways and serves as the center for auditory and visual reflexes
- caintains reflex centers for respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, coughing, vomiting, swallowing, and sneezing
describe the cerebellum
- integrates sensory information to provide smooth coordinated movement
- associated with balance, positioning, posture, and proprioception
describe ascending pathways in the spinal cord
carry signals to the brain
describe descending pathways in the spinal cord
carries signals from the brain
what are the four segments of the spinal cord
- cervical
- thoracic
- lumbar
- sacral
what does the thalamus do
relay all sensory information except for smell
what does the hypothalamus do
- plays an important role in the endocrine system
- hormone regulation, works with pituitary
what are some structures protecting the brain
- cranium (8 bones) and vertebral column (33 vertebrae)
- meninges - 3 layers - anchor the spinal cord
what are the three layers of the meninges
- dura mater
- arachnoid
- pia mater
describe dura mater
- the outermost layer
- covers the brain and the spinal cord
describe arachnoid
- middle membrane, resembles a spider web
- CSF stores in the subarachnoid space
describe pia mater
thin layer that hugs the brain
describe CSF
colorless fluid produced in the ventricles and circulates around the surface of the brain and spinal cord
how many ventricles are in the brain
4
describe cerebral circulation
- the brain gets about 15% of CO
- has arteries and veins… duh
what type of meds can cross the blood brain barrier
lipophilic
what does the spinal cord do
responsible for impulse conduction
what does the vertebral column do
protect the spinal cord
describe the spinal nerves (31 pairs)
just some numbers
- 8 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 sacral
- 1 coccygeal
what are the two parts of the autonomic nervous system
- sympathetic (fight ot flight)
- parasympathetic (rest and digest)
whats included in the neuro assessment
- health history (current health and common symptoms)
- physical assessment
- past medical history
- past surgical history
- social history
- family health history
whats included in the physical neuro assessment
- assessing consciousness/cognition
- examining cranial nerves
- examining motor system
- examining sensory system
- examining reflexes
- reveier of systems -symptoms may be subtle or intense
what are some normal reflexes
- deep tendon relexes
- superficial reflexes
describe deep tendon reflexes
- muscle stretch, hit em with a hammer
- biceps, triceps, brachioradialis, patellar, achilles, clonus
describe superficial reflexes
- cutaneous
- includes corneal, gaga, perianal, shiver, blinking
name some pathologic reflexes and describe them
seen with presence of neurological probs, normal for babies but not for adults
babinski: sole of foot stroked, toes fan out and draw back
snout: lip pursing in response to touching the lips
rooting: touch side of face, look for the nip
grasp: “palmar” grasp in response to touching the palm
suck: sucking motions in response to touching the lips
name some different gerontologic considerations to take with the neurological system
- structure and physiologic changes
- motor alterations
- sensory alterations
- temp regulation and pain perception
- mental status
gerontologic considerations
structural and physiologic changes
- decrease # of synapses and neurotransmitters -> slowed response time
- decreased cerebral blood flow and metabolism -> slower mental functions
- myelin is lost -> decreased conduction velocity
- proprioceptive pathway degeneration -> balance difficulties
- hypothalamic function is modified and stage IV sleep is reduced
gerontologic considerations
motor alterations
- reduction in muscle, atrophy
- decreased strength and ability
- gait is often slowed and wide based
- difficulties maintaining balance
gerontologic considerations
sensory alterations
- tactile sensation dulled
- sensitivity to glare, decreased peripheral vision, and constricted visual field, especially hard time at night
- loss of hearing
- decreased sense of taste
- decreased sense of smell
gerontologic considerations
temp regulation and pain perception
- old people are cold
- reaction to painful stimuli may be decreased with age
gerontologic considerations
mental status
- not a normal part of aging
- delirium is an acute confused state and can be present with CNS damage
