overview of the nervous system Flashcards
what are the functions of the nervous system?
- gather sensory info from the internal/external environment
- Integrate info for assessment to then produce a response
- Regulate body homeostasis
what are the 2 main divisions of the nervous system?
CNS and PNS
what makes up the CNS?
brain (brain, cerebral cortex and brainstem) and spinal cord
what is the spinal cord an extension of?
the brainstem
what does the PNS do?
transmits information to and from the CNS
what is the PNS divided into?
autonomic
somatic
what is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
regulates glands, blood vessels and internal organs
what is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
sympathetic
parasympathetic
enteric
what is the function of the somatic nervous system?
controls skeletal muscle
what are the functional components of the nervous system?
afferent neurons
interneurons
efferent neurons
what do afferent neurons do?
take information from the PNS to the CNS
where are the afferent neuron cell bodies found?
just outside the spinal cord as dorsal root ganglia
what is the function of interneurons?
relays information to the brain or effector organ
where are interneurons found?
in the CNS
what is the function of efferent neurons?
takes response from CNS to PNS (effector organs – skeletal muscles or glands)
what is the function of dendrites?
collect information
what is the function of the cell body of a neuron?
synthetic centre
what is the function of the axon of a neuron?
conducts action potential from cell body to other neurons/effector organs
how many axons are there per neuron?
one
what are the 6 categories of neurons?
Sensory, motor, preganglionic autonomic, postganglionic autonomic, local interneurons, projections neurons
where are glial cells found?
CNS and PNS
what is the ratio of glial cells to neurons?
10:1
what glial cells are found in the PNS?
satellite cells
schwann cells
what is the function of satellite cells
support cell bodies, regulate environment around the dorsal root ganglia
Take up excess K+, water and neurotransmitters to regulate the ion and water balance and prevent damage from excess NTS
what do schwann cells do?
- secretes neurotrophic factors
- Forms myelin sheaths of the axons of the PNS
- Protects AP so it doesn’t dissipate
what are the glial cells of the CNS?
oligodendrocytes
microglia
astrocytes
ependymal cells
what is the function of oligodendrocytes?
forms myelin sheaths in the CNS
what is the function of microglia?
immune cells of the brain
how do microglia work?
Become activated when there’s an infection act as a macrophage. Phagocytose bacteria that enter through the BBB or dead/dying neurons.