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Organisation Of The Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the primary divisions of the nervous system

A

Central nervous system

Peripheral nervous system

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2
Q

What structures does the CNS consist of?

A

Brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

What structure is present in the PNS that is not present in the CNS?

A

Ganglia

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4
Q

What are ganglia?

A

Collections of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS

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5
Q

What are the two main divisions of the PNS? (Plus one extra)

A

Somatic

Autonomic

(Nerves of special sensation)

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6
Q

What are the two cell types of neural tissue?

A

Neurons

Neuroglia

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7
Q

What are the general functions of neuroglia?

A

Support neurons

Regulate interstitial fluid

Bring nutrients

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8
Q

What do neurons do?

A

Transmit electrical impulses along their cell membranes

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9
Q

What are the three main features of a neuron?

A

Cell body/soma

Dendrites

Axon

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10
Q

Where are most of the organelles in a neuron?

A

Cell body/soma

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11
Q

What are neuroglia?

A

Non-nervous support cells

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12
Q

What neuroglia are present in the CNS?

A

Astrocytes

Microglia

Oilgodendrocytes

Ependymal

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13
Q

What neuroglia are present in the PNS?

A

Satellite cells

Schwann cells

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14
Q

What is the largest and most numerous neuroglial cell in the CNS?

A

Astrocyte

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15
Q

What are the processes of astrocytes in contact with?

A

Dendritic tree

Soma

Walls of capillaries

Myelinated axons

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16
Q

What are the functions of astrocytes? (5)

A

Maintain blood-brain barrier

Structural strength (microfilaments)

Stabilise structures after injury (produce scar tissue)

Direct neural growth during development

Control interstitial environment

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17
Q

What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

A

Myelination of axons

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18
Q

What do microglia look like?

A

Small, slender cells with many branched processes

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19
Q

What is the function of microglia?

A

(Similar to macrophages)

Phagocytosis

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20
Q

What percentage of glial cells are microglia?

A

5%

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21
Q

Where are ependymal cells found?

A

Lining chambers/passageways of CNS containing cerebrospinal fluid

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22
Q

What is the main difference between ependymal cells and epithelial cells?

A

Ependymal cells have processes in contact with other (glial) cells

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23
Q

What is the function of ependymal cells?

A

Assist production and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid

May also monitor the composition of cerebrospinal fluid

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24
Q

Where are satellite cells found?

A

Lining peripheral NS ganglia

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25
Q

What do satellite cells do?

A

Regulate oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrient and neurotransmitter levels around neurons in ganglia

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26
Q

What are the functions of a Schwann cell?

A

Support axons (enclose 10-20 axons together)

Myelination of axons (up to 1mm on a single axon)

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27
Q

What is the main difference between oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

A

Oligodendrocytes can myelinate multiple axons/sections on a single axon

Schwann cells can myelinate only one section on one axon

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28
Q

Where are the CNS structures?

A

Brain = cranial cavity

Spinal cord = runs through central canal of vertebrae/vertebral foramen

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29
Q

How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?

30
Q

How many spinal nerves are there?

31
Q

What are meninges?

A

Connective tissue coverings of brain and spinal cord

32
Q

What does the somatic division innervate?

A

Body wall (skeletal muscle, skin)

General sensation in trunk and limbs

33
Q

What does the autonomic division innervate (that the somatic does not)?

A

Internal organs

34
Q

Where are sensory nerve bodies found? Are there synapses here?

A

Ganglia (outside CNS) with no synapses

35
Q

What part of the nervous system do motor ganglia belong to? Are there synapses here?

A

Autonomic

Always synapses

36
Q

Where is the grey matter in the spinal cord?

A

Central, butterfly/H-shape

37
Q

Where is the white matter in the spinal cord?

A

Around edge

38
Q

What is white matter made up of?

A

Myelinated axons

39
Q

From which root do motor fibres originate from the spinal cord?

A

Ventral root

40
Q

What type of cell bodies are found in the dorsal root ganglion?

41
Q

What/where is the spinal nerve?

A

Sensory and motor fibres travelling together

Tiny section before dividing into anterior and posterior branches

42
Q

Which is larger out of the anterior and posterior branches of spinal nerves?

43
Q

What do the anterior spinal nerve branches innervate?

A

Thorax (and form plexuses)

Limbs

44
Q

What do the posterior spinal nerve branches innervate?

A

Back muscles

Skin

45
Q

Where does the spinal cord end?

46
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A

Bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets continuing from spinal cord

47
Q

What is the filum terminae?

A

Connective tissue anchoring spinal cord at lumbar end

48
Q

What is a myotome?

A

Region of muscle innervated by a specific spinal nerve

49
Q

What is a dermatome?

A

Region of skin innervated by a specific spinal nerve

50
Q

Which spinal nerve fibres form plexuses?

A

All anterior except T2-T12

51
Q

Where do nerve plexuses occur?

A

Cervical, brachial, lumbar and sacral regions

52
Q

Where does the phrenic nerve come from?

A

C3, 4, 5 anterior rami

53
Q

What does the autonomic nervous system do?

A

Regulate internal environment of body

54
Q

Where are sensory neuron cell bodies found?

A

Dorsal root ganglia or in sensory ganglia of cranial nerves

55
Q

What do autonomic motor fibres innervate?

A

Smooth muscle

Glands

56
Q

Where do autonomic motor fibres modulate activity?

A

GI tract (enteric NS)

Heart (SAN)

57
Q

Where are the cell bodies of autonomic motor neurons found?

A

Ganglia (outside CNS)

58
Q

Describe the autonomic motor pathway

A

First neuron has cell body in CNS with an axon extending to an autonomic ganglion

Synapses

Axon of cell body travels to effector organ

59
Q

Describe the somatic motor pathway

A

Soma in CNS with (heavily) myelinated axon to effector (skeletal muscle)

No synapses

60
Q

What are the two main divisions of the autonomic NS?

A

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

61
Q

What does the sympathetic division innervate?

A

All skin sweat glands

Arrector pili muscles

Smooth muscle (blood vessels, heart, lungs, other viscera)

62
Q

Where does the sympathetic division originate?

63
Q

Describe the sympathetic neuron pathway (no plexus)

A

(Lightly) myelinated fibre leaves CNS

Synapses in sympathetic chain

Post-ganglionic leaves to effector organ

64
Q

Describe the sympathetic neuron pathway (with plexus)

A

(Lightly) myelinated fibre leaves CNS

Synapses in sympathetic chain if thoracic to travel “directly” to organ

If abdominal: fibres come from both sides and synapse in unpaired/single chain of ganglia on aorta

65
Q

Describe the sympathetic neuron pathway to the adrenal medulla

A

(Lightly) myelinated fibres do not synapse until they reach adrenal medulla (no post-ganglionic neuron)

Neurotransmitter released into general circulation

66
Q

What are three examples strong sympathetic motor responses?

A

Staring eyes

Cold, clammy skin

Dry mouth

Hair on end

Sinking feeling in stomach

67
Q

What does sympathetic sensory innervation reach consciousness as?

A

Pain

Nausea

Fullness of bladder

Angina pectoris

68
Q

Where does the parasympathetic division innervate?

A

Head and trunk

69
Q

Where does the parasympathetic division arise?

A

(Cranio-sacral)

CN: III, VII, IX, X

S2-S4

70
Q

Is the vagus nerve sympathetic or parasympathetic?

A

Parasympathetic

71
Q

Describe the parasympathetic neuron pathway

A

Long myelinated pre-ganglionic fibre and short post-ganglionic fibre

BMS03 (12 decks)

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