NEUROTECH OVERVIEW

Question 1

What is the main functional unit of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Neurons

Question 2

What type of cells supports neurons?

Answer 2

Glial cells

Question 3

How many connections are there in the brain?

Answer 3

over 100 trillion

Question 4

How are messages relayed to the brain?

Answer 4

via the spinal cord

Question 5

What structures are included in the central nervous system (CNS)?

Answer 5

The brain and the spinal cord

Question 6

What are the characteristics of the tissue present in the CNS? What helps to “counteract” this?

Answer 6

Soft and delicate - so we have the skull and the spinal vertebrae

Question 7

what prevents toxins from entering the brain?

Answer 7

The blood-brain barrier (BBB)

Question 8

How does the CNS interact with the PNS?

Answer 8

The CNS will send information (motor info) to the PNS. In turn, it will receive sensory information from the PNS.

Question 9

What protects the PNS?

Answer 9

Nothing really, it’s exposed to toxins and injury.

Question 10

What type of information is afferent?

Answer 10

Sensory

Question 11

How does afferent information conduct?

Answer 11

Inwards [PNS —> CNS]

Question 12

What type of information is efferent?

Answer 12

Motor

Question 13

How does efferent information conduct?

Answer 13

Outwards [CNS —->PNS]

Question 14

What is the somatic system?

Answer 14

Conscious activity to and from the CNS

Question 15

What is the autonomic system?

Answer 15

Unconcious/ involuntary activity to and from the CNS

Question 16

Somatic sensory system?

Answer 16

info from the senses to the CNS

Question 17

Somatic motor system?

Answer 17

info from the CNS to the PNS (like controlling the skeletal muscles)

Question 18

Autonomic sensory system?

Answer 18

Visceral (organ) info to the CNS

Question 19

Autonomic motor system?

Answer 19

CNS to systems/visceral

Question 20

What is the sympathetic nervous system and what is it a subsystem of?

Answer 20

It’s a subsystem of the Autonomic motor division. Fight or flight. Increased HR breathing. Dilated pupils. Decreased digestion

Question 21

What is the parasympathetic motor system and what is it a subsystem of?

Answer 21

It’s a subsystem of the autonomic motor division. Rest and digest. Increased digestion, decreased breathing and HR. Also slow to kick in.

Question 22

What are receptors?

Answer 22

Part of the sensory division. Receive information about the changing environment

Question 23

What are effectors?

Answer 23

Part of the motor division. Produce changes in the body that can in turn effect the outside world.

Question 24

What 3 components do all neurons have

Answer 24

1. Soma (cells body) 2. Dendrites 3. Axon/s

Question 25

What are dendrites?

Answer 25

Short extensions that conduct E signals inwards towards the soma

Question 26

What are Axons?

Answer 26

Short or long extensions that conduct E signals outwards away from the soma

Question 27

How long is the longest Axon? Where is it?

Answer 27

1 meter or around 3 feet (base of the spine to ankle)

Question 28

What is a synapse

Answer 28

The gap where electrochemical information/interactions occur between 2 neurons. Usually axon to dendrite

Question 29

What can happen to a cell which isn't apart of the nervous system, but interacts with a neuron?

Answer 29

Any cell that receives a synaptic signal from a neuron may be excited, inhibited, or otherwise modulated.

Question 30

What are the 6 steps of "normal" electrochemical communication between two neurons

Answer 30

1. E signal will travel down one neuron's axon 2. Neurotransmitters are released at the axon terminal 3. These neurotransmitters will bind to the channels on one dendrite of the other neuron 4. The channels on the dendrite will open to receive positively charged ions from the synapse (Na+, Ca+, etc) 5. If the change in membrane voltage is enough, an action potential will occur 6. This action potential causes the neuron to send an electrical signal down its own axon

Question 31

What is the function of Glial Cells?

Answer 31

They take care of and support neurons and their connections

Question 32

List some types of Glial Cells.

Answer 32

1. Astrocytes 2. Oligodendrocytes 3. Ependymal Cells 4. Schwann cells 5. Satellite cells 6. Microglial Cells