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brain and behaviour > structure and function of cells of the nervous system > Flashcards

structure and function of cells of the nervous system Flashcards

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1
Q

neuron

A

type of cell that makes up the nervous system and supports cognitive function

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2
Q

how does a neuron support cognitive function?

A

information processing and information transmitting element

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3
Q

structures that most neurons have

A

soma
dendrites
axons
terminal buttons

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4
Q

functional division of neurons

A

sensory
motor
interneurons

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5
Q

sensory neurons

A

detect changes in the internal and external environment (CNS and PNS)

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6
Q

motor neurons

A

controls muscle contraction and also gland secretion (CNS and PNS)

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7
Q

interneurons

A

involved in cognition

lie entirely within the CNS

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8
Q

structural division of neurons

A

multipolar
bipolar
unipolar

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9
Q

multipolar neuron

A

neuron with one axon and many dendrites attached to its soma

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10
Q

bipolar neuron

A

neuron with one axon and one dendrite attached to its soma

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11
Q

unipolar neuron

A

neuron with one axon attached to its soma, the axon divides with one branch receiving sensory information and the other sending the information to the central nervous system

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12
Q

three types of multipolar neuron

A

motor neuron of the spinal cord
pyramidal cell of the hippocampus
purkinje cell of cerebellum

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13
Q

glial cells

A

oligodendrocytes
astrocytes
microglia
epyndymal cells

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14
Q

what are microglia

A

modified immune cells

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15
Q

another name for astrocytes

A

star cells

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16
Q

what do astrocytes provide?

A

physical support to neurons

nourishment

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17
Q

what do astrocytes control?

A

chemical composition of fluids surrounding neurons

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18
Q

what happens when neurons die?

A

astrocytes clean up debris and form scar tissue

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19
Q

function of oligodendrocytes

A

support axons and produce myelin sheath (lipid insulation)

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20
Q

nodes of Ranvier

A

bare portion of axon (no myelin sheath)

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21
Q

oligodendrocytes in CNS

A

wrapped around several adjacent axons

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22
Q

oligodendrocytes in PNS

A

single schwann cell wrapped around the PNS axon

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23
Q

the blood brain barrier

A

a semipermeable barrier between the CNS and circulatory system

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24
Q

function of the blood brain barrier `

A

to help regulate the flow of nutrient rich fluid into the brain

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25
Q

area postrema

A

a region of the medulla where the blood brain barrier is wear

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26
Q

purpose of the area postrema

A

Allows toxins in the blood to stimulate this area, which initiates vomiting - poison expelled from the body

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27
Q

4 steps of withdrawal reflex

A

1) dendrites of sensory neuron detect painful stimulus
2) Action potential along axon of sensory neuron
3) excites interneuron in the spinal cord, which excites the necessary motor neuron
4) motor neuron causes contraction of muscle, causing it to move away from the site of pain

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28
Q

membrane potential

A

electrical charge across a cell membrane
the difference in electrical charge inside and outside the cell
stored up source of electrical energy

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29
Q

resting potential

A

membrane potential of a neuron when it is not being altered by inhibitory or excitatory post synaptic membrane potentials

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30
Q

normal resting potential value

A

-70mV

31
Q

depolarization

A

reduction of negative charge (towards 0) of the membrane potential when we stimulate a neuron

32
Q

action potential

A

the brief electrical impulse that provides the basis for conduction of information along the axon

33
Q

threshold of excitation

A

the value of the membrane potential that must be reached to produce an action potential

34
Q

hyperpolarisation

A

increase in the membrane potential of a cell

becoming more negative

35
Q

what is the membrane potential a balance of?

A

diffusion and electrostatic pressure

36
Q

diffusion

A

movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration

37
Q

electrostatic pressure

A

when substances dissolve in water, they split into two parts with opposing electrical charge: ions

38
Q

what is exerted by electrostatic pressure?

A

attraction of oppositely charged ions and repulsion of similarly charged ions

39
Q

intracellular fluid

A

fluid contained within cells

40
Q

extracellular fluid

A

body fluid that is located outside cells

41
Q

how can sodium be found outside a cell when both diffusion and electrostatic pressure tend to push it inside?

A

sodium potassium pump

42
Q

sodium potassium pump

A

protein in the membrane that pushes sodium out the cells

active mechanism in the membrane that extrudes Na out (3) and transports K in (2)

43
Q

what does action potential result from (general)

A

movements of ions through membranes

44
Q

ion channels allow

A

flow of specific ions when open

45
Q

4 stages of a sodium channel during action potential

A

1) closed
2) open
3) refractory
4) reset

46
Q

all or none law

A

one an action potential begins, it proceeds without decrement to the terminal buttons

47
Q

how can the speed of conduction be calculated?

A

from the delay between stimulus and AP

48
Q

rate law

A

variations in the intensity of a stimulus are represented by variations in the rate at which the axons fires

49
Q

what does a stronger rate of firing cause (muscle)

A

stronger muscle contractions

50
Q

what law is the all or none law supplemented by?

A

the rate law

51
Q

saltatory conduction

A

conduction of action potentials by myelinated axons

APs appear to jump from one nod of Ranvier to the next

52
Q

advantages of saltatory conduction

A

economy- less energy used by the Na-K pump (located at the nodes of Ranvier)
speed: conduction much faster than in an unmyelinated axon

53
Q

what conduction do unmyelinated axons show?

A

continuous

54
Q

what is a synapse?

A

the junction between two neurons

the primary means of communication between two neurons

55
Q

what is the synaptic cleft? what size is it?

A

a very narrow gap of about 20 nm between neurons

56
Q

why do we need neurotransmitters?

A

action potentials (electrical impulses) cannot cross the synaptic cleft

57
Q

presynaptic neuron

A

neuron sending impulse

58
Q

postsynaptic neuron

A

neuron receiving impulse

59
Q

what is neurotransmitters made by? where are they stored?

A

made by presynaptic neuron

stored in synaptic vesicles

60
Q

what are neuroreceptors?

A

chemical gated ion channels on the postsynaptic membrane that have specific binding sites for neurotransmitters

61
Q

direct opening of an ion channel

A

ionotropic receptor

62
Q

indirect opening of an ion channel

A

metabotropic receptor

63
Q

EPSP

A

excitatory post-synaptic membrane potential

excitatory depolarisation of the post-synaptic membrane

64
Q

IPSP

A

inhibitory post-synaptic potential

inhibitory hyperpolarisation of the post-synaptic membrane

65
Q

what is the nature of post-synaptic potential dependant on?

A

post synaptic receptors: which ion channels they open

66
Q

what is the nature of post-synaptic potential dependant on?

A

post synaptic receptors: which ion channels they open

67
Q

what is the nature of post-synaptic potential dependant on?

A

post synaptic receptors: which ion channels they open

68
Q

what is the nature of post-synaptic potential dependant on?

A

post synaptic receptors: which ion channels they open

69
Q

three major types of ion channel

A

Na+, K+, Cl-

70
Q

influx of sodium causes? (EPSP/IPSP)

A

EPSP

71
Q

influx of potassium causes? (EPSP/IPSP)

A

IPSP

72
Q

influx of chloride causes? (EPSP/IPSP)

A

IPSP

73
Q

neuronal integration

A

process by which inhibitory and excitatory post synaptic potentials summate and control the rate of firing of a neuron

brain and behaviour (12 decks)

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