Physiology Flashcards
Cell body
Contain nucleus and cell organelles. May have more than one nerve fibre extending from it.
Dendrons
Conduct impulses towards the cell body. Are small and break up into small terminals at the ends.
Axons
Conduct impulses away from the cell body, are thinner than dendrites and may be several metres long.
Schwann cells
Insulate axon making up myelin sheath
Node of ranvier
Sections of axons not insulated
Synaptic knobs
At ends of axons and allow communication w/ other neurones or effectors via neurotransmitter.
Simple reflex
Rapid response to stimulus
Automatic/involuntary
Receptor
Detects stimulus and transmits impulses along sensory neurone to spinal cord.
Endrocrine system
Involves release of hormones from endocrine glands, which travel through the bloodstream to target cells affecting their physiological activities and regulating metabolic pathways.
Peptide hormones mechanism
Are polar and cannot pass the cell membrane, so interact w/ specific receptors, producing a second messenger that activates or inhibits specific enzyme activities, regulating metabolic pathways.
Steroid hormones mechanism
Pass through cell membrane and interact w/ receptor sites on transcription factors, increase/decrease rate of gene expression.
How does hormonal control differs to nervous control?
1) Chemical only
2) Transmission via circulatory system
3) Pathway none specific, cells are specific
4) Slow transmission, slow acting
5) Long term changes
6) Widespread
How does nervous control differ to hormonal control?
1) Chemical and electrical
2) Transmission via nerve impulses and chemicals
3) Pathway specific due to nerve cells
4) Rapid transmission and response
5) Short term change
6) Localised response
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system which controls activites inside the body which are normally involuntary
What controls the autonomic nervous system?
Medulla and hypothalamus
Sympathetic nervous system area of influence
Effects diffuse
Parasympathetic nervous system area of influence
Effects localised
Sympathetic nervous system transmitter
Noradrenaline
Sympathetic nervous system conditions
Danger, stress and activity, controls stress reactions
Sympathetic nervous system general effects
Increased metabolic rate
Increased blood glucose
Increased rhythmic activities
Raised sensory awareness
Parasympathetic nervous system transmitter
Acetylcholine
Parasympathetic nervous system conditions
Rest, controls routine body activities
Parasympathetic nervous system general effects
Decrease blood glucose
Decreases rhythmic activity
Restores awareness to normal levels
Saltatory conduction
Impulse transmission is faster as they jump from one node of ranvier to the next
Refractory period
Seperate discrete impulses determining maximum frequency along neurone.
Cholinergic neurones
Neurones possessing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
Adrenergic neurones
Neurones possessing the neurotransmitter noradrenaline
EPSP
Excitatory postsynaptic potentials
Summation
Addictive effects of several EPSP’s causing depolarization of the post synaptic membrane
Spatial summation
Two or more impulses arrive in different places at the same time on the same neurone.
Temporal summation
Impulses arrive at the same place on the axon within a short time period.
IPSP
Inhibitory post-synaptic potential, hyperpolarisation of the axon membrane.
Inhibitory synapses
Membrane permeability to Cl- and K+ is higher, they diffuse out/in the axon according to their conc. gradient and cause IPSP’s making action potentials harder to generate.
Sclera
External eye covering made of collagen. Protects and maintains shape of eye.
Cornea
Transparent front part of sclera, is curved and refracts light towards the retina.
Choroid
Rich in blood vessels supplying the retina, contains melanin which prevents reflection of light in the eye.