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Physiology midterm > Section 3 - Organization of the nervous system > Flashcards

Section 3 - Organization of the nervous system Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two branches of the nervous system?

A

Central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS)

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2
Q

What is included in the CNS? (2)

A

Encephalon (brain, brainstem, cerebellum) and spinal cord

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3
Q

What is included in the PNS? (1)

A

Peripheral nerves (sensory and motor)

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4
Q

Name the two branches of the autonomic nervous system

A

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

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5
Q

Where does the autonomic nervous system signal originates from?

A

The brain stem and spinal cord

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6
Q

Define sympathetic

A

increases the activity of autonomic functions

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7
Q

Define parasympathetic

A

decreases the activity of autonomic functions

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8
Q

In some situations, there is a short cut
between sensation and motor action: the
signal does not need to reach the brain to
provoke a motor action. This process is
called a _____

A

reflex

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9
Q

Name the 3 majors levels of the CNS

A
  • Cortical level
  • Subcortical level
  • Spinal cord level
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10
Q

What type of circuits does the spinal cord level contains? (4)

A
  • Walking circuits
  • Circuits for reflexes (controls movement)
  • Circuits for body support
  • Circuits for reflexes (control organ functions)
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11
Q

What are the 6 components of the subcortical level?

A

Brainstem, mesencephalon, hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebellum, basal ganglia

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12
Q

What is the main role of the subcortical level?

A

Controls subconscious body activities (arterial pressure, respiration, equilibrium, feeding reflexes, body temperature, wakefulness and sleep, hormonal regulation…)

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13
Q

T or F: cortical level is made of a superficial layer of white matter

A

False, a 2-4mm of grey matter

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14
Q

Name the functions that require the cortical level’s action (4)

A
  • Information processing
  • Memory storage
  • Decision making
  • Thought processes
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15
Q

The cerebral cortex is made of ____ matter

A

Grey

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16
Q

T or F: More than 99% of all sensory info is discarded by the brain as irrelevant and unimportant

A

TRUE

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17
Q

What is the role of the somatosensory system?

A

Transmission of somatic information from receptors to CNS

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18
Q

Where does the information transmitted from the somatosensory system go?

A

Along the spinal cord, reticular substance, cerebellum, thalamus to the cerebral cortex

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19
Q

Name the system based on the definition: Controlling body activities like skeletal muscle contraction, smooth muscle contraction and activity of exocrine and endocrine glands

A

Motor system for COORDINATION

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20
Q

What is the basic functional unit of the central nervous system?

A

Neuron

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21
Q

Name the 3 structures of the neuron

A

Cell body (soma)
Dendrites
Axon

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22
Q

Where is the signal processing in the neuron?

A

Cell body (soma)

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23
Q

In which structure does the signal input comes from?

A

Dendrites

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24
Q

Where does the signal output comes from?

A

Axon

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25
Q

Name the 4 types of neuron

A
  1. Unipolar
  2. Multipolar
  3. Pseudo-unipolar
  4. Bipolar
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26
Q

Which type of neuron has several dendrites & one axon and is the most common cell type?

A

Multipolar neuron

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27
Q

Which type of neuron has one main dendrite & one axon and is found in retina, inner ear & olfactory?

A

Bipolar neuron

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28
Q

How do you differentiate a unipolar neuron?

A

One process (dendrite and axon on the same side)

29
Q

Information is transmitted within the neuron by _____

A

Action potentials (electrical signal)

30
Q

Where does the APs starts?

A

Axon Hillock

31
Q

Information is communicated between neurons by _____

A

Synapses (chemical signal)

32
Q

What is the role of Ca2+?

A

It enters the cell and causes neurotransmitter to be released from vesicule

33
Q

T or F: the amount of neurotransmitters released is directly related to the number of Ca2+ ions that enter

34
Q

How do we call the neuron before transmission of AP?

A

Presynaptic

35
Q

How do we call the neuron after transmission of AP?

A

Postsynaptic

36
Q

What is the other name for neurotransmitter?

37
Q

Name the two types of neurotransmitters

A

Excitatory and inhibitory

38
Q

What is the role of excitatory NT?

A

Excite postsynaptic neuron

39
Q

What is the role of inhibitory NT?

A

Inhibit postsynaptic neuron

40
Q

Give examples of excitatory NT

A 
Glutamate
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Acetylcholine
Serotonin
41
Q

Give an example of inhibitory NT

42
Q

Which NT has to do with mood, appetite, sleep, memory and learning?

A

Serotonin (5HT)

43
Q

Which NT has to do with motor behavior, pleasures and emotional arousal?

A

Dopamine (DA)

44
Q

Put in order:
A. Release of transmitter into the synaptic cleft (exocytosis)
B. Ca2+ ions trigger the fusion of the synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane
C. AP arrives at the presynaptic terminal
D. Local depolarization opens voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ ions flow into terminal

45
Q

Name the 2 types of receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

A

Ionotropic receptor

Metabotropic receptor

46
Q

Name the two types of ion channels

A

Cation channels

Anion channels

47
Q

What does the cation channel do to the postsynaptic neuron?

A

It excites (depolarize) the postsynaptic neuron

48
Q

What does the anion channel do to the postsynaptic neuron?

A

It inhibits (hyperpolarize) the postsynaptic neurone

49
Q

T or F: ion channels open and close slowly providing a slow control of postsynaptic neurons

A

False, they open and close rapidly providing a very rapid control of postsynaptic neurons

50
Q

How do we call this very rapid control of the postsynaptic neuron?

A

Fast synaptic transmission

51
Q

T or F: metabotropic receptor is a protein structure that causes prolonged changes in the neurons by activating substances inside the postsynaptic neuron

52
Q

How do we call this transmission by the metabotropic receptors?

A

Slow synaptic transmission

53
Q

One of the most common types of 2nd messenger systems used is ____

A

G-proteins

54
Q

What is the action of the G-protein?

A

The binding of the transmitter on the receptor activates the G-protein, which initiates a cascade of events leading to alterations in the cellular activity

55
Q

Why do we need the metabotropic receptos (2nd messenger system)for?

A

Memory and learning

56
Q

Upon the activation of the G-protein, the _____ detaches from the complex and activates multiple functions inside the cell

A

α sub-unit

57
Q

Name the 3 sub-units of the G-protein complex

A

α, β, γ sub-units

58
Q

How do we call the new potential after the change from the resting state?

A

Postsynaptic potential

59
Q

Name the two new potential

A

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

60
Q

Which postsynaptic potential increases permeability to Cl- and K+?

A

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (p.26)

61
Q

Which postsynaptic potential increases permeability to Na+ and Ca2+?

A

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (p.26)

62
Q

What are the 3 stages of the neuron at the postsynaptic membrane?

A

A. Resting neuron
B. Neuron in an excited stage
C. Neuron in an inhibited stage

63
Q

Do NT get in the postsynaptic neurons?

A

No, they bind to the receptors to open the channels so that the ions pass

64
Q

What are the 4 characteristics of postsynaptic potentials?

A
  1. Sub-threshold potentials (below threshold of AP)
  2. Summation of different PSPs (spatial and temporal)
  3. EPSPs increase the likelihood of AP (signal transmission)
  4. IPSPs decrease the likelihood of AP (no signal transmission)
65
Q

What is the name of the process by which many presynaptic terminals stimulate the postsynaptic neuron and add one to another to exceed the threshold to generate an AP potential?

A

Spatial summation

66
Q

Describe temporal summation

A

Successive discharges from the same presynaptic terminal that add to one another to reach the threshold for firing AP

67
Q

Electrical signals propagate from dendrites & soma to axon hillock by _____

A

electronic conduction (propagation in the fluids without generation of AP)

68
Q

Define synaptic plasticity

A

Ability of a synapse to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in its activity

69
Q

Name the 4 types of synaptic plasticity

A

Synaptic enhancement
Synaptic depression
Short-term plasticity
Long-term plasticity

Physiology midterm (6 decks)

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