Physiology - Exam 2, Deck #2 - Nervous Flashcards
What is the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
Brain and Spinal Cord;
-Autonomic
What are Nuclei?
Groups of neuron cells bodies within the CNS
What are Tracts?
- Group of nerve fibers (axons) that interconnect regions of the CNS;
- Integrative function of the CNS
What is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
Nerves, ganglia, and nerves plexuses;
- OUTSIDE the CNS;
- Consists of cranial and spinal nerves and associated ganglia
- *Cranial = 12 pair
- *Spinal = 31 pair
What is an Association Neuron (interneuron)?
Multipolar neuron located ENTIRELY in the CNS
What is a Sensory Neuron (afferent - in)?
Neuron that transmits impulse from a sensory receptor INTO the CNS
What are Motor Neurons (efferent - out)?
Neuron that transmits impulses from the CNS to an effector organ (ex. muscle)
What is a Nerve?
A collection of axons, or nerve fibers, packaged within the same connective tissue sheath in the PNS
What is a Somatic Motor Nerve?
- Voluntary effector organs;
- Nerve that stimulates the contraction of SKELETAL MUSCLES
What is an Autonomic Motor Nerve?
- Involuntary effector organs;
- Nerve that stimulates contraction (or inhibits) of SMOOTH and CARDIAC MUSCLES and that stimulates glandular secretion;
- Both sympathetic and parasympathetic branches
What are Neuroglia cells?
- Supporting cells of the nervous system;
- Derived from the same embryonic tissue layer as the neurons = the ECTODERM;
- Unlike neurons, neuroglial cells CAN DIVIDE throughout like;
- Brain tumors are glial cells
What are the types of PNS Glial Cells?
- Schwann cells - Guillain-Barre syndrome
2. Satelite cells = ganglionic gliocytes
What are the types of CNS Glial Cells?
- Oligodendrocytes - Multiple Sclerosis
- Astrocytes
- Microglia
- Ependyma
What are Schwann Cells?
- PNS;
- Form myelin sheaths around peripheral axons;
- Results in saltatory conduction
What are Satellite Cells?
- PNS;
- Support functions of PNS neurons within sensory and autonomic ganglia;
- Also called ganglion gliocytes
What are Oliogodendrocytes?
- CNS;
- Form myelin sheaths around CNS axons
What are Astrocytes?
- CNS;
- Help regulates the passage of molecules from the blood to the brain, and contribute to the blood-brain barrier
What are Microglia?
- CNS;
- Amoeboid cells within the CNS that are phagocytic
What are Ependyma?
- CNS;
- Form epithelial lining of the brain cavities (ventricles) and the central canal of the spinal cord;
- Cover tufts of capillaries to form the choroid plexus;
- Choroid plexus produces cerebrospinal fluid
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
- Ages 20-40;
- Chronic, degenerativem remitting, and relapsing disease that destroys myelin sheaths of neurons throughout the CNS;
- Initially, lesion form on myelin sheaths and become hardened SCLEROSES;
- Prohibits the normal conduction of impulses, resulting in loss of function
Why is MS commonly misdiagnosed?
- Widespread myelin degeneration leads to a greater variety of symptoms than other neurological disease;
- And common remissions
What is Guillian-Barre Syndrome?
- Autoimmune disease of PNS;
- Functially equivalent to MS of the CNS;
- Can recover over time
What is the Autonomic Nervous System?
- Provides autonomic control of INVOLUNTARY effectors;
- Cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands;
- 2 neurons b/w CNS and effector =
1. Impulses from CNS by an axon that synapses with a second autonomic neuron;
2. Second neuron innervates the effector
What is a Preganglionic Neuron?
First neuron between the CNS and effector;
- Axon is found in the gray matter of the brain or spinal cord;
- Synapses with the second in an AUTONOMIC GANGLION;
- Preganglionic neuron → acetylcholine
What is a Postganglionic Neuron?
Second neuron between CNS and effector;
- Axon extends from the autonomic ganglion to the effector organ;
- -Sympathetic → norepinephrine , +
- -Parasympathetic → acetylcholine
What are the divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
- Sympathetic (Thoracolumbar) Division: T1 → L2;
- Parasympathetic (craniosacral) Division
- Adrenergic and cholinergic synaptic transmission
- Other autonomic neurotransmitters
- Organs with dual innervation
What is Mass Activation by the Sympathetic Division?
Occurs when almost all postganglionic neurons fire simultaneously due to the DIVERGENCE of preganglionic fibers and CONVERGENCE of post ganglionic nerve fibers
What is the Paravertebral Ganglia?
A double row of sympathetic ganglia where most sympathetic nerve fibers separate from somatic motor fibers and synapse with postganglionic neurons
Where do preganglionic fibers from the upper thoracic level go?
Preganglionic fibers that exit from the upper thoracic level go to the neck, where they innervate smooth muscles and glands of the head and neck
Where do preganglionic fibers from below the diaphragm go>
They pass through the sympathetic chain of the ganglia WITHOUT synapsing;
-Beyond the sympathetic chain they become SPLANCHNIC NERVES
What are the Collateral or Prevertebral Ganglia?
- Preganglionic fibers in the SPLANCHNIC nerves synapse in the collateral ganglia;
- Includes = celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric ganglia;
- Postganglionic fibers then innervated the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems
What is the Sympathoadrenal System?
- Adrenal medulla is derived from the same embryonic tissue as the postganglionic sympathetic neurons;
- Adrenal medulla secretes Epi and some NE under sympathetic stimulation;
- Because the adrenal medulla is stimulated in part by the mass activation of the sympathetic system the two are group
What is the Parasympathetic (Craniosacral) Division of the Autonomic Nervous System?
Preganglionic fibers come from the brain and the 2-4th sacral levels of the spinal cord;
- Preganglionic synapse in the ganglia next to or actually in the organs innervated — terminal ganglia;
- Innervate the lower LI, rectum, urinary and reproductive systems
What are Terminal Ganglia?
Ganglia of the Parasympathetic division that are next to or actually in the organs innervated;
-Supply the postganglionic fibers that synapse with the effector cells
What is Cholinergic Synaptic Transmission?
- Utilizes ACETYLCHOLINE =
- Ach is the neurotransmitter of the PREganglionic fibers of the symp. and para. division;
- Ach is also the transmitter most released by para. postganglionic fibers at synapses with effects
What is Adregenic Synaptic Transmission?
- Utilizes NOREPINEPHRINE =
- NE is the neurotransmitter released by most postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers;
- Exceptions = some innervate skeletal muscles and sweat glands and release Ach (cholinergic)
What are the Cathecholamines?
Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine;
-All derived from the amino acids TYROSINE
What is the transformation of Tyrosine to Epinephrine?
- Tyrosine (AA);
- DOPA;
- Dopamine;
- Norepinephrine (neurotransmitter/hormone);
- Epinephrine (major hormone of the adrenal medulla)
What are “synapses en passant”
- Synapses in passing;
- Found in smooth muscles;
- Bulging synapses along the neurons of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons;
- Can exhibit antagonistic effects on each other
What are some other Autonomic Neurotransmitters?
-Some postganglionic autonomic axons don’t involve norepinephrine or Ach = “Nonadregenic, noncholergenic”
EX: ATP, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and nitric oxide (NO)
What is Dual Innervation?
Most visceral organs are innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers;
-Effects may be antagonistic, complementary, or cooperative
What is Action Potential?
Abrupt pulse-like changes in the membrane potential lasting a few ten thousandths to a few thousandths of a second;
-AP moves along the nerve fibers and yields a nerve signal
What can elicit an AP in a nerve fiber?
- Any factor that suddenly increases the permeability to SODIUM IONS;
1. Electrical stimulation;
2. Mechanical compression of the fiber;
3. Application of chemicals to the membrane
What are the Components of an Action Potential?
- Voltage regulated Na+ gates OPEN — Na+ diffuses INTO the cell;
- Membrane DEPOLARIZES from −70mV to +30mV;
- 3. Voltage regulated K+ gates open — K+ diffuses OUT OF the cell = Less depolarization; - Membrane potential depolarizes from +30mV to −70mV
What occurs when the depolarization stimulus hits the cell?
- Membrane at resting potential of −70mV;
- Depolarization stimulus acts on the cell — depolarizes to THRESHOLD at ~-50mV;
- Na+ diffuses IN causing abrupt depolarization to +30mV = ACTION POTENTIAL;
- Repolarization follows as K+ diffuses OUT of the cell — will depolarizes slightly below resting potential
What is the role of the Na-K Pump Diffusion Potentials in creating APs?
- Na-K pump generates resting membrane potential;
- At the start of the AP, Na+ permeability increases 5000x then returns to 73;
- Followed by an increase in K+ permeability as the inside of the membrane REPOLARIZES;
- Quick membrane change from (-) to (+) and back to (-) on the inside
What is the Plateau of APs?
- Repolarization does not take place right after depolarization;
- Remains on a plateau near the peak of the spike, before depolarization begins;
- Mostly occurs in the HEART, lasting 200-300msec causing contraction for this entire period
How are the Refractory Periods (plateaus) elongated in Cardiac (heart) fibers?
- Heart contracts as syncytium (all together) & thus can sustain force;
- Its AP lasts about 250 msec ;
- Has a REFRACTORY PERIOD almost as long as AP;
- Cannot be stimulated to contract again until has relaxed
What causes the elongated plateau during depolarization-depolarization?
- Delay in the closure of Na+ channels = longer diffusion IN;
- Small influx of Ca2+ maintains inside + for longer;
- Permeability of K+ channels DECREASES 5x at the start of the AP in excitable membranes that have plateaus = DELAYS outflow of K+ and repolarization
What is Saltatory Conduction?
Propagation of action potentials along myelinated axons from one node of Ranvier to the next node, increasing the conduction velocity of action potentials;
-Made possible by myelinated and unmyelinated fibers
What are the 2 types of nerve fibers in a nerve?
- Myelinated — rapid conduction velocity;
2. Unmyelinated — slower conduction velocity
What are Myelinated Nerve Fibers?
- Surrounded by an insulator material called MYELIN;
- Myelin greatly increases the velocity of impulse traveling on the fibers;
- Functions =
1. Control rapid body movements by skeletal muscles
2. Transmit sensory signals from receptors to CNS
What are Unmyelinated Nerve Fibers?
- About twice as many small fibers WITHOUT myelin sheaths;
- Conduct APs SLOWLY — no rapid contractions;
- Functions =
1. Control subconscious activities via ANS
What are the subconscious actions controlled by unmyelinated nerves?
- Excitability of the heart
- Contaction of blood vessels
- GI movements
- Emptying of the urinary bladder
- Sensory impulses that DON’T require immediate attention (ex: aching type of pain, crude touch or pressure receptors)
What is Myelin?
A LIPID that will not conduct electrical current;
- Acts as an INSULATOR around the fibers;
- About every 1mm along the length of the fibers the myelin is broken by a NODE OF RANVIER
What happens at the Nodes of Ranvier?
At the Node of Ranvier typical membrane depolarization can occur but BENEATH the myelin sheath depolarization DOESN’T take place;
-Nerve impulses are transmitted along the myelinated nerve by SALTATORY CONDUCTION
What is the Mode of Action for Saltatory Conduction?
- Node of Ranvier becomes depolarized;
- Electrical current spreads along the outside of the myelin sheath to the next Node and it depolarizes;
- Process repeats from node to node
What makes Saltatory Conduction so valuable?
- Jumping of impulse from node to node increases velocity of conduction;
- Prevents depolarization of large areas of the nerve fiber and prevents leakage of large amounts of Na+ into the fibers and of K+ out of the fiber;
- Conserves energy that would be required by the Na
What is the All-or-None Law?
Once stimulated a nerve fiber always responds at the same amplitude of response
What is a Refractory Period?
Period of time of axon membrane is producing an action potential it is INCAPABLE of responding to further stimulation;
Absolute + Relative Periods
What are the components of the Total Refractory Period?
- Absolute Refractory Period — due to inactivated Na+ channels;
- Relative Refractory Period — due to continued outward diffusion of K+
What is the Absolute Refractory Period?
Elapsed time following a depolarization stimulus when the axon CANNOT be deloparized again regardless of stimulus strength
What is Relative Refractory Period?
Follows the absolute refractory period;
-When only a stronger than normal stimulus will produce a second action potential
What does Summation effect?
- Neural physiology –the additive effects of graded nerve potentials
- Muscle physiology – The additive effects of contractions of different muscle fiber motor units
What is Spatial Summation?
If voltage of stimulation is increased from 0 to the maximum voltage there is an increase in the number of nerve fibers stimulated;
-recruitment of variable numbers of nerve fibers in a nerve
What is a Minimal Stimulus or Threshold Stimulus?
The least possible voltage that will cause the nerve to fiber;
-Voltage at which only ONE nerve fiber stimulated to fire
What is a Maximal Stimulus?
The least possible voltage at which ALL nerve fibers in a nerve are stimulated
What is Temporal Summation?
- Frequency Modulation;
- variation in number of action potentials sent along a nerve fiber per second;
- Frequency is limited by the refractory period of the nerve fiber
What are Gap Junctions?
Adjacent cells that are electrically coupled are held together by GAP JUNCTIONS — electrical synapses;
- Membranes of two cells are separated by only two nanometers;
- Composed of 12 proteins know as CONNEXINS
Where are gap junctions found?
Between electrically coupled cells of CARDIAC and some SMOOTH muscles;
- Allow excitation and rhythmic connotation of larges numbers of muscle cells;
- Seen in some regions of the brain
What are Connexins?
12 proteins that make up gap junctions;
-Form a water-filled pore for molecules pass from one cell to the next
What is a Synapse?
- Juncture between 2 neurons;
- Has the capability of transmitting some signals and refusing others;
- *Variable Transmission of Signals = makes synapses the most important determinant of the CNS
What is Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)?
Some presynaptic terminals release EXCITATORY TRANSMITTER SUBSTANCES — acetylcholine;
- Elicits Excitatory Postsynpatic Potential by the opening of Na+ channels;
- Summation of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) leads to discharge of the EFFERENT neuron
What is Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)?
- Some presynaptic terminals release INHIBITORY TRANSMITTER SUBSTANCES — GABA, serotonin or glutamine;
- Opens K+ channels
What causes the effect of the per synaptic terminals?
LARGE numbers of presynaptic terminals must fire for the action potential to transmit to the efferent neuron
What initiates a synaptic transmission?
- AP travels don the afferent nerve fiber to synaptic knob;
- AP causes cause Ach to be released from transmitter
What happens when the AP reaches the synaptic knob?
- Ca2+ channels are OPENED — calcium diffused into the know and binds protein SYNAPTOTAGM N;
- Occurs close to where synaptic vesicles are attached to the plasma membrane by SNARE
What is Synaptotagm N?
Protein that serves as a Ca2+ sensor, forming a Ca2+ complex in the cytoplasm of the cell being targeted by the nerve transmission
How many acetylcholine are in each vesicle?
10^4 acetylcholine molecules/vesicle
What is SNARE?
Complex of proteins that bind docked vesicles to the plasma membrane of the muscles cells
What allows the release of acetylcholine (neurotransmitter)?
The complete fusion of the vesicle and plasma membranes;
-A pore is formed that allows Ach release when the Ca2+ synaptotagm n complex displaces part of the SNARE
How quickly is Ach released?
In less than 100 microseconds after increased intracellular Ca2+
Where does the Ach go?
Ach diffuses across the synaptic cleft and attaches to receptor protein molecules on the postsynaptic neuron