neuro physiology

Question 1

Skeletal Muscle Contraction
What is the sequence of events in the contraction of a skeletal muscle fibre,
starting at the motor end plate?

Answer 1

● Discharge of a motor neuron
● Release of preformed acetylcholine at the motor endplate via exocytosis
● Diffusion of Ach across the synaptic cleft
● Binding of Ach to postsynaptic nicotinic Ach receptors
● Increase Na and K conductance in the end plate membrane
● Generation of the end plate potential
● Generation of action potential in muscle fibres
● Inward spread of depolarisation along the T tubules
● Release of Ca from terminal cisterns of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and diffusion
to thick and thin filaments
● Binding of calcium to troponin C, uncovering myosin binding sites on actin
● Formation of cross linkages between actin and myosin and sliding of thin on thick
filaments, producing movement

Question 2

What is the sequence of events in relaxation of a skeletal muscle fibre

Answer 2

● Calcium is pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum
● Release of calcium from troponin
● Cessation of interaction between actin and myosin

Question 3

How does a tetanic contraction occur?

Answer 3

● The contractile mechanism has no refractory period
● Repeated stimulation before relaxation has occurred leads to a summation of
contractions fast repeated stimulation causes a fused continuous tetanic
contraction which can be complete or incomplete

Question 4

Smooth Muscle Contraction
Describe the sequence of events in contraction and relaxation of visceral smooth
muscle

Answer 4

● Binding of Ach to muscarinic receptors
● Increased influx of calcium into the cell
● Activation of calmodulin – dependent myosin light chain kinase
● Phosphorylation of myosin
● Increased myosin ATPase activity and binding of myosin to actin
● Contraction
● Dephosphorylation of myosin light chain phosphatase
● Relaxation or sustained contraction

Question 5

What factors influence intestinal smooth muscle contraction?

Answer 5

● Stretch of smooth muscle causes contraction in the absence of innervation
● Cold increases the activity
● Ach decreases smooth muscle potential and increases spike frequency resulting
in more active muscle
● Adrenaline and noradrenaline increase smooth muscle potential and decrease
spike frequency causing decreased muscle activity
● Neural mechanisms

Question 6

Cholinergic transmission
Please describe the synthesis, release and action of acetylcholine at the nerve
synapse

Answer 6

● Choline is synthesised in neurons and actively taken into cholinergic neuron
● Acetyl CoA and choline are used to form acetylcholine via choline
acetyltransferase
● This is packaged in synaptic vesicles via transporter
● When the nerve is stimulated, the vesicles execytose the Ach into the synaptic
cleft, where it binds the postsynaptic Ach receptor

Question 7

Once released into the synaptic cleft, how is its effect terminated?

Answer 7

● Diffusion
● Catabolism by pseudocholinesterase in the circulation
● Acetylcholinesterase on the postsynaptic membrane
● Reuptake of choline into the presynaptic nerve terminal

Question 8

Describe the differences between the two different types of acetylcholine
receptors

Answer 8

● Divided into nicotinic and muscarinic
● Muscarinic – actions mimicked by muscarine and blocked by atropine. Found in
smooth muscle, glands and brain. G protein coupled receptors.
● Nicotinic – actions mimicked by nicotine, found in the NMJ, autonomic ganglia
and the central nervous system. They are ligand gated sodium ion channels.

Question 9

Adrenergic transmission
Which catecholamines act as neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

● Noradrenaline
● Adrenaline
● Dopamine

Question 10

Outline the biosynthesis of adrenaline

Answer 10

● Starts with tyrosine, converted to DOPA via tyrosine hydroxylase
● DOPA is converted to dopamine byb dopa decarboxylase
● Dopamine to noradrenaline by dopamine hydroxylase
● Norad to adrenaline via phenylethanolamine methyltransferase

Question 11

Describe the sequence of events at the noradrenergic synapse, following
stimulation of a sympathetic nerve

Answer 11

● Noradrenaline is stored in granulated vesicles in the nerve
● Released into the synaptic cleft by exocytosis once is is stimulated
● Acts on postsynaptic receptors
● Action is terminated in 2 ways:
○ Reuptake to the presynaptic neuron then metabolised by MAO to inactive
derivatives
○ Catabolised in the synaptic cleft by COMT

Question 12

Nerve action potential
Define resting membrane potential of a neuron

Answer 12

● The potential difference across a cell at rest, as a result of separation of positive
and negative electrical charges across a cell membrane.
● Inside is negative relative to outside.
● The normal RMP is -70mV in a neuron.

Question 13

How is the resting membrane potential generated?

Answer 13

● Main ions involved are K and Na
● The Na/K ATPase creates an electrochemical gradient by pumping out 3 Na for
every 2 K in
● Na and K diffuse down their concentration gradient across a semipermeable
membrane (K wants to go out, Na wants to come in)
● The cell membrane is more permeable to K at rest – which is why the RMP is
close to the equilibrium potential for K

Question 14

Why is a cell more excitable in hyperkalaemia?

Answer 14

RMP moves closer to the threshold potential for eliciting an action potential (it becomes
less negative on the inside of the cell)

Question 15

Please draw a nerve action potential and indicate the sequence of events that
occur
Key Points you must include:

Answer 15

● Starts at -70mV
● After a depolarising stimulus occurs, voltage gated Na channels become active
and Na enters the cell
● When the threshold potential is reached (-55mV) , the voltage gated Na channels
overwhelm the K channels
● Entry of Na causes opening of more voltage gated Na channels and further
depolarisation in a positive feedback loop, causing the upstroke of the action
potential (peaks at +35mV)
● Voltage gated Na channels enter an inactivated state for a few milliseconds
before returning to the resting state, this inhibits further Na movement
● The reversal of membrane potential causes opening of voltage gated K channels,
resulting in repolarisation via K efflux and the end of the AP
● Slow return of K channels causes hyperpolarisation (below -70mV)
● Over time this is corrected and the cell returns to resting membrane potential

Question 16

Nerve Conduction
Where are ion channels distributed in myelinated neurons?

Answer 16

Concentrated in the nodes of ranvier, Na channels are flanked by K channels

Question 17

What factors affect conduction?

Answer 17

● Myelinated is quicker than demyelinated
● Size
● Direction of conduction

Question 18

In the synapse, where can inhibition occur?

Answer 18

● Post synaptic – via direct or indirect inhibition (i.e. refractory periods or after
hyperpolarisations)
● Pre-synaptic – mediated by neurons that end on excitatory endings (axo-axonal
synapses)

Question 19

What mechanisms are involved in inhibitation?

Answer 19

● Increased Cl conductance (reduced Ca influx and the amount of excitatory
transmitter release)
● Voltage gated K channels – K also decreases Ca entry
● Direct inhibition regardless of Ca

Question 20

Serotonergic Transmission
What are the functions of serotonin?

Answer 20

● Regulation of the vomiting reflex
● Regulation of mood
● Control of respiration
● Platelet aggregation and smooth muscle contraction
● GI secretion and peristalsis
● Regulation of circadian rhythms

Question 21

What are the steps in the synthesis and catabolism of serotonin?

Answer 21

● Hydroxylation and decarboxylation of tryptophan to form serotonin
● Released serotonin from serotonergic neurons is recaptured by an active
re-uptake mechanism and inactivated by MAO to form metabolite 5HIAA (5
hydroxy indoleacetic acid) – which is secreted in the urine

Question 22

Hearing (from 2013)
What are the two major mechanisms of deafness?

Answer 22

● Conductive deafness – due to impaired sound transmission in the external or
middle ear, affects all frequencies. Examples: wax, perforated TM, otitis media
● Sensorineural deafness – due to loss of cochlear hair cells (most common) or
problems with CNVIII or within central auditory pathways. Only affects some
frequencies. Examples: noise exposure, aminoglycosides

Question 23

How can you differentiate between them? (sensory and conductive hearing)

Answer 23

Weber and Rinne can both be done using a 512hertz tuning fork
Weber - place on the forehead, rinne on the mastoid

Question 24

Temperature Regulation
What is the body’s response to hot and cold environments?

Answer 24

Mechanisms activated by cold (posterior hypothalamus)
- Increased heat production: shivering, hunger, voluntary activity, noradrenaline
and adrenaline release
- Decreased heat loss: skin vasoconstriction, curling up, body hair stands on
end

Mechanisms activated by heat:
- Decreased heat production: anorexia, apathy, inertia
- Increased heat loss: vasodulation, sweating, increased respiration

Question 25

What is nystagmus?

Answer 25

● Characteristic jerky movement of the eye seen at the start and end period of
rotation
● Different types - the direction of eye movement is identified by the direction of the
quick component
○ Horizontal
○ Vertical
○ Rotatory

Question 26

Why does nystagmus occur?

Answer 26

● There is a reflex that maintains visual fixation on stationary points while the body
rotates, though this is not initiated by visual impulses
● When rotation starts the eyes move slowly in the direction opposite to the
direction of rotation, maintaining visual fixation
● When the limit of this movement is reached, the eyes quickly snap back to a new
fixation point and then again move slowly in the other direction

Question 27

How is nystagmus mediated?

Answer 27

● Slow component initiated by impulses from the labyrinths
● Quick component is triggered by a centre in the brain stem

Question 28

Optic pathways
Describe the neural connections of the visual pathways

Answer 28

● Begins with the retina
● Optic nerve
● Optic chiasm
● Optic tract
● Lateral geniculate body (in the thalamus)
● Then fibres to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe
● Other connections
○ The lateral geniculate nucleus also sends information to the pretectal
midbrain (to control papillary reflexes, eye movements)
○ To frontal cortex (refined eye movements, near point response)
○ Optic chiasm to thalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (endocrine and
circadian responses to the day/night cycle)

Question 29

How is visual acuity measured?

Answer 29

Using a Snellen chart viewed at a distance of 6m (20 feet)

Question 30

What does a result of 6/24 mean?

Answer 30

Reduced visual acuity. Means that at 6m this person can see something they should be
able to see from 24m.

Question 31

Why is the fovea important for visual acuity?

Answer 31

● It is the point where visual acuity is the greatest
● Fovea is the centre of the macula, a thinned out, rod-free portion of the retina
where cones are densely packed and each synapses on a single bipolar cell
which, in turn, synapses on a ganglion cell, providing a pathway to the brain.

Question 32

What factors influence visual acuity?

Answer 32

● Optical factors: state of the image forming mechanisms e.g. presence of
cataracts, keratitis, astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia
● Retinal factors: the state of the cones,, affected by retinopathies, optic neuritis
● Stimulus factors e.g. illumination, brightness of the stimulus, contrast between
stimulus and background.

Question 33

Pain conduction
Describe how pain is transmitted from the periphery to the brain

Answer 33

● Sense organ - naked nerve endings
● Transmission via type 2 fibre types - small myelinated A-delta fibres or larger,
slower, unmyelinated c fibres.
● Spinal cord - both fibre groups end in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
● From the spinal cord, fibres go to the brain via second order neurons in the
ventrolateral system to the thalamus
● then via third order neurons on to the cerebral cortex

Question 34

How can acute pain be modulated?

Answer 34

● Gate theory – stimulation of large touch/pressure afferents causes inhibition of
pain pathways in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
● Stress induced analgesia i.e. in trauma
● Drugs i.e. opiates
● Higher centre interpretation and modulation

Question 35

What sites do opioid medications act on?

Answer 35

● Receptors in afferent nerve fibres, in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and in the
periaqueductal grey matter of the brain

Question 36

What is referred pain?

Answer 36

● Irritation of a visceral organ which causes pain at a somatic site other than the
location of the stimulus
● Due to the somatic structure being from the same embryonic segment or
dermatome as the structure from which the pain originates
● i.e. arm pain in a myocardial infarction, the loin to groin pain of renal colic,
diaphragmatic pain referred to the shoulder

Question 37

Spinal Tracts
What are upper motor neurons?

Answer 37

Usually refers to corticospinal neurons that innervate spinal motor neurons.

Question 38

What clinical features can be seen when they are injured? (spinal tracts)

Answer 38

Damage initially causes muscles to become weak and flaccid but eventually leads to
spasticity, hypertonia, hyperactive stretch reflexes and abnormal plantar extensor reflex
(seen as an upgoing plantar reflex)

Question 39

What is the physiological basis for clonus?

Answer 39

There is a loss of descending cortical input to inhibitory neurons (called Renshaw cells),
therefore loss of inhibition of antagonists, resulting in a repetitive sequential contraction
of the ankle flexors and extensors

Question 40

Reflexes
Describe the components of the stretch reflex

Answer 40

● A monosynaptic reflex where skeletal muscle is stretched with contraction of the
muscle as a response.
● Sense organ is the muscle spindle impulse via an afferent nerve (monosynapse
on motor neurone) effector (intrafusal fibres)
● Example of this is the kneejerk reflex

Question 41

How is the stretch reflex different from the withdrawal reflex?

Answer 41

● Withdrawal is a polysynaptic reflex
● Has afferent and efferent limbs as in the stretch reflex. But the sensory organ is a
nociceptor and responds to painful stimulus
● The central integrator (between the afferent and efferent limbs) consists of
polysynaptic connections in the spinal cord
● Efferent limbs are motor nerves to effector muscles on the ipsilateral and
contralateral sides
● Flexion and withdrawal of the ipsilateral limb and extension of the contralateral
limb

Question 42

Thermoregulation
How is heat lost from the body?

Answer 42

● Radiation and conduction (70%)
● Vaporisation of sweat (27%)
● Respiration (2%)
● Urination/defacation (1%)

Question 43

How is fever produced in the body?

Answer 43

● Endotoxins, inflammation and other pyrogens that act on monocytes,
macrophages and other cells to produce cytokines (e.g. interleukins and TNF)
● Cytokines act on the pre-optic areas of the hypothalamus. Local release of
prostaglandins raises the set point

Question 44

Where is thirst regulated?

Answer 44

Hypothalamus

Question 45

What factors increase thirst?

Answer 45

● Increased osmotic pressure in the plasma – sensed by osmoreceptors in the
anterior hypothalamus
● Decreased ECF volume (i.e. in haemorrhage) – sensed by the baroreceptors in
the heart and blood vessels, increased renin which acts on central receptors to
increase thirst
● Psychological i.e. psychosis
● Others – habitual intake of liquids when eating, other GI hormones may influence
but this is poorly understood

Question 46

In what situations may thirst be blunted?

Answer 46

● Hypothalamic disease
● Direct head trauma
● Altered mental state
● Psychosis
● Lesion of the anterior communicating artery – supplies the hypothalamus
● High protein diet – promotes diuresis