Physio Flashcards
2 kinds of cells in nervous system
neurons and glia
neurons contain
membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum
motor neuron
soma is in spinal cord, received excitation from other neurons, conducts impulses along its axon to a muscle
sensory neuron
specialized at one end to be highly sensitive to a particular type of stimulation
components of all neurons
dendrites, soma/cell body, axon, presynaptic terminals
afferent axon
refers to bringing information into a structure
Efferent axon
refers to carrying information away from a structure
interneurons
those who dendrites and axons are completely contained within a single structure
Blood-brain barrier
mechanisms that surrounds the brain and blocks most chemicals from entering
active transport
protein-mediated process that expends energy to pump chemicals from the blood into the brain
nerve impulse
electrical message that is transmitted down the axon of a neuron
resting potential of the neuron
○ Refers to state of neuron prior to sending of a nerve impulse
○ Messages in a neuron develop from disturbances of the resting potential
○ At rest, the membrane maintains an electrical gradient known as polarization (difference in electrical charge inside and outside of cell)
membrane at rest
sodium channels are closed and potassium channels are partially closed
sodium-potassium pump
○ Pumps 3 sodium ions out of cells while drawing 2 potassium ions into cell
○ Helps to maintain the electrical gradient
electrical gradient
tends to pull potassium ions into cells (slowly leak out carrying positive charge)
action potential
○ Resting potential remains stable until neuron is stimulated
○ Hyperpolarization - increasing the polarization (or difference between electrical charge of 2 places)
○ Depolarization - decreasing the polarization towards zero
○ Threshold of excitation - level above which any stimulation produces a massive depolarization, triggers a nerve impulse or action potential
○ After action potential occurs, sodium channels are quickly closed → neuron returned to resting state by opening of potassium channels → sodium pump later restores the original distribution of ions → after action potential, neuron has a refractory period (neuron resists production of another action potential): absolute refractory period = first part where membrane cannot produce action potential; relative refractory period = second part where it takes stronger than usual stimulus to trigger an action potential
saltatory conduction
“jumping” of action potential from node to node (conserves energy)
○ MS - myelin sheath destroyed
important rules about reflexes
○ Reflexes slower than conduction along an axon
○ Several weak stimuli present at slightly different times/locations produce a stronger reflex than single stimulus
○ As one set of muscles become excited, another set relaxes
temporal summation
repeated stimuli can have a cumulative effect and can produce a nerve impulse when single stimuli too weak
spatial summation
synaptic input from several locations can have cumulative effect and trigger a nerve impulse
epsp
graded potential that decays over time and space
○ Presynaptic neuron - neuron that delivers synaptic transmission
○ Postsynaptic neuron - neuron that receives the message
isps
○ Temporary hyperpolarization of a membrane
○ Serves as active “brake” that suppresses excitation
ionotropic effects
occurs when neurotransmitter attaches to receptors and immediately opens ion channels (most occur quickly and short lasting, rely on glutamate or GABA)
metabotropic effects
occur when neurotransmitters attach to a receptor and initiate a sequence of slower and longer lasting metabolic reactions (use many neurotransmitters) - taste, smell, pain
reuptake
presynaptic neuron takes up most of the neurotransmitter molecules intact and reuses them
CNS
brain and spinal cord
spinal cord
Spinal cord - communicates with sense organs and muscles, except those of the head
2 types of matter
grey and white
PNS
connect brain and spinal cord to rest of body
- somatic and autonomic nervous
Autonomic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic
sympathetic
network of nerves that prepares organs for rigorous activity (mostly uses norepinephrine)
parasympathetic
facilitates vegetative and non emergency responses (mostly release acetylcholine)
forebrain parts
limbic system, thalamus, basal ganglia, pituitary gland
hypothalamus
assoc. w/ motivated behaviors - eating, drinking sex
hippocampus
storing certain types of memory such as individual events
cerebral cortex
outer surface
amygdala
processing of emotions
thalamus
relay station from sensory organs, most sensory info goes here first, processes it, and sends output to cerebral cortex
basal ganglia
planning of motor movement, aspects of memory & emotional expression, attention, language, planning, & other cognitive functions
pituitary gland
in response to message from hypothalamus, it synthesizes hormones that blood carries to organs throughout the body
midbrain parts
Tectum, tegmentum, superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, substantia nigra
hindbrain parts
medulla, pons, cerebellum