Neuro System Part1 Flashcards
Difference between the CNS and PNS?
1) CNS - Brain and spinal cord
2) PNS - Includes cranial nerves (12 pairs), spinal nerves (31 pairs) and Pathways (afferent and efferent).
Difference between Afferent and Efferent Pathways?
1) Afferent - Ascending/sensory to CNS
2) Efferent - Descending/motor, innervates effector organs
2 branches of the PNS?
1) Somatic Nervous System - Receives sensory inputs from cutaneous sources. Controls voluntary skeletal muscle
2) Autonomic Nervous System - Receives input from internal visceral sources. Controls involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles.
2 Branches of the Autonomic Nervous System?
1) Sympatheitic - Fight or flight
2) Parasympathetic - Rest and digest
What are the 3 components of Neurons?
1) Cell Body (soma) - Have densely packed nuclei.
2) Dendrites - The receptive portion of the neuron.
3) Axons - Carry impulses away from cell body to end bulb.
What are Ganglia and Plexuses?
Groups of cell bodies in the PNS.
Where are neurotransmitters released?
into the synapse
4 Characteristics of Axons?
1) Myelination - Lipid insulation via Schwann cells
2) Endoneurium - Connective tissue around axon
3) Neurilemma - Schwaan sheath
4) Saltatory conduction - Causes faster conduction down axon
Myelinated A-delta Fibers vs. Un-myelinated C-fibers
1) Myelinated A-delta Fibers - Allows accurate localization of pain.
2) Un-myelinated C-fibers - Carries long-lasting, dull, burning, achy pain.
4 Structural Classifications of Neurons?
1) Multipolar Neuron
2) Bipolar Neuron
3) (Pseudo)Unipolar Neuron
4) Anaxonic Neuron
3 Functional Classifications of Neurons?
1) Sensory - Transmits sensory impulses to CNS via afferent pathway.
2) Associational/Interneurons - Transmits impulses from neuron to neuron
3) Motor - Transmits motor impulses from CNS to effector organ via efferent pathway.
4 Types of Neuroglia (“nerve glue”)
1) Astrocytes - Forms the BBB
2) Microglia - Removes pathogen and debris in CNS
3) Ependymal - Line the cavities of the CNS and produce cerebrospinal fluid)
4) Oligodendrocytes - Deposits myelin within the CNS
What are Schwaan Cells ?
Glial cells that form and maintain the myelin sheath in the PNS.
What are Nodes of Ranvier?
Spaces between myelin sheaths that increase conduction velocity.
What is Wallerian Degeneration?
Degeneration of an axon distal to a cut/crush. The axon portion will degenerate and disappear. The proximal portion regenerate but this process is limited to myelinated axons in the PNS only.
2 types of conduction in a neuron down its axon?
1) Continuous Conduction - Non myelinated axon
2) Saltatory Conduction - Uses myelination
Describe the “All or None Response” of a nerve impulse.
Action potential response occurs only when the stimulus is strong enough (above -55mv); if it is too weak, then the membrane remains unexcited.
What happens during the Depolarization Phase of an Action Potential?
Start when Resting Membrane Potential (-70mv) receives a stimulus (above -55mv), then the voltage-gated Na2+/K+ channels open
Voltage vs. Ligand gated ion channels
1) Voltage-gated ion channels - Open in response to voltage change.
2) Ligand-gated ion channels - Open in response to a ligand (neurotransmitter) binding to its receptor site (i.e. Ach).
What is a synapse? What happens there?
The space between two adjacent neurons.
Impulses are transmitted across the synapse by _______ and __________ conduction.
chemical and electrical
In the Synapse, Impulses are transmitted by _________.
neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are formed in the ______ neuron?
presynaptic
Synaptic knobs or ________ store the neurotransmitters
End Bulbs
Neurotransmitters are released across the ________, which is the space between neurons.
synaptic cleft
How do Voltage-gated Calcium channels play a part in the release of neurotransmitter from the end of the presynaptic end bulb?
As the impulse travels down the axon of the presynaptic neuron, voltage-gated calcium channels open up and calcium enter the cell, which binds to vesicles containing neurotransmitters. These vesicle then release their content to the synaptic cleft via exocytosis.
3 types of Synapses?
1) Nerve to nerve
2) Nerve to gland
3) Nerve to muscle (NMJ)
What is the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum? What does it do?
Structure in muscle cells that is similar to the ER, it stores Ca++ and is responsible for the Excitation-Contraction Coupling Mechanism?
Characteristics of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum?
1) Impulse travels along sarcoma
2) Causes extrusion of Ca++
3) Ca++ initiates cross bridging
What are the steps of the biomechanics of contraction?
1) At rest, tropomyosin covers troponin binding sites
2) Ca++ released from SR binds to troponin causing troponin causing tropomyosin to move
3) Actin binding site exposed
4) Myosin head binds & flexes
5) Filaments slide past each other
Characteristics of cardiac muscle contraction?
Contraction in the heart requires extracellular Ca++ and is controlled by autonomic nerves and Beta adrenergic agonist.
Characteristics of smooth muscle contraction?
Smooth muscles require extracellular Ca++ for contraction and is controlled by autonomic nerves and hormones.
Briefly explain the role of the following Neurotransmitters?
1) Acetylcholine - skeletal muscle contraction, sweating, other neurons of PNS & brain
2) Glutamate - learning and memory and pain
3) GABA - inhibitory
4) Endorphins/Enkephalins - endogenous opioid
5) SubstanceP - Stimulates pain signals
Valium MOA?
Valium is a GABA agonist - enhancing its inhibitory effect (anxiety, insomnia, seizures).
Briefly explain the role of the Neurotransmitter Serotonin?
-Mental functions, circadian rhythms, mood, and sleep/wakefulness, anxiety
What are SSRIs?
Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft.
What is the job of the the 3 Catecholamines?
1) Epi and Norepi - regulate organ function and some brain functions (fight or flight responses)
2) Dopamine - plays a role in Parkinson’s
Effects of the neurotransmitters on the post-synaptic neurons?
1) Excitatory Stimulus - Depolarizes the post synaptic neuron
2) Inhibitory Stimulus - Hyperpolarizes the postsynaptic neuron
Which neurotransmitters are excitatory and which one are inhibitory?
1) Acetylcholine - E and I (Nicotinic receptor are E and Muscarinic are Both)
2) Norepi - E and I (alpha1 receptors are E and alpha2 receptors are I)
3) Serotonin - I
4) Dopamine - E
5) GABA - I
6) Glutamate - E
7) Endorphins - I
8) SubdtanceP - E
All Muscarinic Receptors are G-coupled protein receptors, mediating cellular responses through 2nd messenger cascades. What are the 5 subtypes, which are excitatory or inhibitory, and where are they located?
1) M1 - Excitatory in the CNS
2) M2 - Inhibitory in cardiac muscle
3) M3 - Excitatory in Smooth muscle
4) M4 - Inhibitory in CNS
5) M5 -Excitatory in CNS
What binds to Cholinergic Receptors?
Acetylcholine
What are the two types of Cholinergic Receptors?
1) Muscarinic
2) Nicotinic