Overview of the Nervous System Flashcards
Composed of cells whose function is to receive sensory stimuli, process the stimuli (in the integration center: brain and spinal cord) and transmit them to effector organs (muscular or glandular)
Nervous System
It functions to maintain homeostasis.
Nervous System
Summary of Nervous System function
Sensory input -> Integration in the brain or spinal cord ->
Output to effector organs
2 types of nerve cells
Neuron and neuroglia
Name given to nerve cells and all its processes
Neurons
Function of neurons
reception of stimuli and conduction of nerve impulses
T or F: Neurons do not undergo division and replication.
T
Parts of neuron
Cell body
Neurites/Nerve processes/Nerve fibers
Part of neuron: consists of nucleus and organelles
Cell body (Soma/Perikaryon)
afferent (entry point), shorter, receives stimuli from the environment
Dendrite
2 Neurites
Dendrite and Axon
efferent (exit point), longer, provides stimulation to other nerves or effector organs
Axon
Gap between the myelin sheaths of the axon
Node of Ranvier
Insulating coat made up of phospholipids, speeds up transmission of signals through saltatory transmission
Myelin sheath
Color of neuron:
- Myelinated
- Unmyelinated
- White
2. Gray
The propagation of action potential along myelinated axons (by leaping) from one node of Ranvier to another.
Saltatory transmission
Problem with myelin sheath (de-myelination), longer transmission of impulses
Multiple sclerosis
Space/cleft in between the axon of one neuron to the dendrite of another neuron; Connects one neuron from another
Synapse
Neurons according to function
Motor
Sensory
Interneuron
Neuron:
Transmits impulses from the CNS to effector organs
Motor
Neuron:
Receives input from peripheral structures (skin, muscles, joints, sense organs) and transmit it to the CNS
Sensory
Neuron:
Connects sensory to motor neurons
Interneuron
T or F: 95% of the neurons in CNS are interneurons
F. 90% only
Neurons accrdg to branching of neurites
Unipolar
Bipolar
Multipolar
Neuron:
A single process/neurite arises from the cell body, which branches into 2 axons/dendrites.
Unipolar
Neuron:
2 neurites arise from each end of an elongated cell body (1 dendrite, 1 axon)
Bipolar
Neuron:
Most common type in the CNS; With a number of neurites arising from the cell body (many short dendrites, 1 long axon)
Multipolar
Location of unipolar
Spinal and Cranial Ganglia
Location of bipolar
Sensory cochlear
vestibular ganglia
Retinal bipolar cells
Location of multipolar
Fiber tracts of brain
spinal cord
Peripheral nerves
motor cells of spinal cord
Neurons accrdg to size
Golgi Type I and Type II
Neuron:
Form the long fiber that extends from the cortex of the brain to spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
Golgi Type I
Location of Golgi Type I
Pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex
Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex
Motor cells of the spinal cord
Neuron:
Short axons and short dendrites; star shaped due to dendrite spread
Golgi Type II
Location of Golgi Type II
cerebral and cerebellar cortices
Neuron:
Often inhibitory in function; Functions as interneurons, only interconnect (one part of hemisphere to another part of the same hemisphere)
Golgi Type II
Non excitable cells, do not transmit signals; Supporting neurons
Neuroglia
Types of Neuroglia
Astrocytes
Myelin sheath-producing cells
Microglia
Ependymal cells
Neuroglia:
Star-shaped due to dendrite spread; branching processes serve
as the framework for the nerve cells and fibers
Astrocytes
Neuroglia:
Play an important role in the structure of the blood-brain barrier
Astrocytes
Neuroglia:
In the embryo, serve as scaffolding for the migration of immature
neurons
AStrocytes
Neuroglia:
Take up excess K+ (electrolyte balance) from the extracellular
space and stores glycogen within the cytoplasm
Astrocytes
2 types of astrocytes
Fibrous and protoplasmic
Astrocyte:
Provide supporting framework, electrical
insulators, limit spread of neurotransmitters, take up K+ ions
Fibrous astrocyte