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Human Biology - structure and Function Of Neurons > Structure And Function Of Neurons > Flashcards

Structure And Function Of Neurons Flashcards

1
Q

Neurones

A

Specialised cells that carry nervous impulses around the body

Allows the senses to communicate with the brain and the brain to coordinate responses

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2
Q

What do neurones consist of?

A
  • a cell body
  • with one or two axons extending from the cytoplasm
  • The axons are wrapped in sheaths of myelin protein
  • In addition, tiny branches extend from the end of axons and from the cell bodies of motor neurones called Dendrites
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3
Q

Cell body

A

The cell body controls the nucleus

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4
Q

Axons

A

Carries nerve impulses away from cell body AND transmits the pulse over LONG distances

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5
Q

Dendrites

A

Receives nerve impulses and sends them towards body

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6
Q

What does white matter mostly consist of?

A

Axons

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7
Q

What does grey matter mostly consist of?

A

Dendrites

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8
Q

Glial cell

A

Provides structural support

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9
Q

Sensory neurones

A

Takes messages from sensory receptors in skin/specialised sense organs to the brain.

The cell body sits half way along the axon and there are no dendrites on the cell body

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10
Q

Motor neurones

A

Have many dendrites protruding from cell body.

Adapted to take impulses from CNS to effectors

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11
Q

Interneurones

A

Neurones that connect the sensory neurones to the motor neurones.

They are entirely contained within one structure, the brain

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12
Q

What does the cell body consist of?

A
  • nucleus and cytoplasm
  • Has many ribosomes which make proteins that act as neurotransmitters at gaps called synapses.
  • Synapses may allow or prevent signals passing from one neurone to the next.
  • Many mitochondria - provides energy for active transport which helps maintain electrical potential and reabsorb neurotransmitters.
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13
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Protein messengers that jump synapses

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14
Q

What are axons bundled together to form?

A

Nerves

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15
Q

What are axons surrounded by?

A

A myelin sheath - wrapped like a Swiss roll!

The sheath insulates the axon and increases the speed of impulse conduction from node to node

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16
Q

What would happen if an Axon leaked out signals?

A

Confusion would arise as signals jumped from neurone to neurone

  • the signals would become weaker and weaker as they travelled along the axons
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17
Q

What happens to the signals along the axons - what happens next?

A

Electrical impulses transmit signals along the axons

Neurotransmitters take the information from one dendrite of one cell across the synapse to the dendrite of the next axon.

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18
Q

What are nodes

A

At short intervals, myelin is pinched into sausage shaped pieces called nodes

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19
Q

What is the function of nodes? (Myelin)

A

Speeds up nervous transmission, the electrical impulses travel much faster by jumping from node to node.

Myelin stops sodium and potassium ions crossing the membrane, so the impulses rush along the tiny gap in the myelin where ion exchange can occur.

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20
Q

Complete the sentence :

The larger the …. the faster the … travels

A

Diameter

Impulse

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21
Q

What happens to the nerve connections when the myelin sheath develops?

A

Nerve connection improves

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22
Q

Can lack of myelin have severe consequences?

A

Yes - multiple scleorosis

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23
Q

What is the function of glial cells?

A

Cleans out debris and excess materials
(Removes debris by phagocytosis)
Supports neurones by providing support and nutrition

Produces myelin sheath

Maintains a homeostatic environment around the neurones.

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24
Q

Synapse

A

A junction between nerves which filters and copes with the rapid firing of neurones

25
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Travel across synapses to communicate impulses to the next neurone
Relays messages from nerve to nerve within and out with the brain

26
Q

What are endorphins?

A

Neurotransmitters

  • produced as a response to certain stimuli
  • block pain, reponsible for our feelings of pleasure
27
Q

What do endorphins do?

A
  • reduces intensity of pain
  • euphoric pain
  • appetite modulation
  • release of sex hormones
28
Q

How can endorphins trigger pleasure or satisfaction?

A

By interacting with receptor cells found in regions of the brain responsible for blocking pain and controlling emotion

29
Q

What are endorphins triggered by?

A 
Sex
Food 
Companionship 
Exercise
Severe injury 
Stress
30
Q

Other causes of endorphins release?

A

Meditation or controlled breathing
Childbirth
Chill peppers
Ultra violet light

31
Q

What is dopamine?

A

A neurotransmitter that is created in a number of areas in the brain

  • associated with the reward pathway which is beneficial as it induces feelings of pleasure
32
Q

How can drugs modify the act of neurotransmitters?

A

By blocking, mimicking, or increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter.

Can therefore be used to treat disorders caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance

33
Q

Agonist

A

Drugs that occupy receptors and activate them

  • drugs that mimic the effects of the transmitter by binding to the receptor site.
  • produces stimulatory responses.
34
Q

Antagonist

A

Drugs that occupy the receptors but do not activate them.

  • antagonists block receptor activation by agonists
  • these are drugs that interact with the receptor site, and blocks or depresses the normal response for that receptor because it only partially fits the receptor and cannot produce an effect.
35
Q

Symptoms of imbalance

A
  • depression
    Lack of memory
    Anxiety
    Mood swings
36
Q

What does exposure to antagonistic drugs lead to?

A

Sensitisation

37
Q

What does exposure to agonistic drugs lead to?

A

Desensitisation

38
Q

What is sensitisation?

A

Increase in the number and sensitivity of neurotransmitter receptors - Drug addiction

39
Q

What is desensitisation?

A

A decrease in the number and sensitivity of neurotransmitter receptors

40
Q

At what months does infant attachment become prevalent?

A

6-9 months

41
Q

Explain the behaviours of securely attached infants

A

Settles easily with mother upon reunion

History of consistently responsive care giving

42
Q

Insecurely attached avoidant children

A

Ignores or avoids mother upon reunion, history of particularly unavailable or unresponsive care giving

43
Q

Insecurely attached resistant children

A

Difficult setting upon reunion

History of inconsistent, unpredictable caregiving

44
Q

Authoritarian

A

Parent feels need to control, values obidience, demands respect, feels superior to child

45
Q

Permissive

A

Do not control children

Child controls parent

46
Q

Authoritative

A

Sets standards but gives child choices, recognises good in child but does not neglect the bad
More confident and nurturing parents

47
Q

What does non verbal communication include ?

A

Body language, important in formation of relationships, aids to verbal communication

48
Q

How does language aid learning?

A

Uses signals to represent information

49
Q

What is learning?

A

The acquisition of new knowledge, behaviour, skills, values or preferences

50
Q

Types of learning

A

Trial and error - improves repeated trial and improved results

Repetition - aids the learning of a new motor skill by creating new neuronal pathways

Imitation - individual observes and replicates another’s behaviour

51
Q

Extinction

A

Loss of certain behaviour patterns when they are not rewarded

52
Q

Shaping

A

Rewarding of responses that approximate to desired behaviour

53
Q

Generalisation

A

A response to similarities

54
Q

Discrimination

A

Consideration of differences

55
Q

Social Facilitation

A

A competitive situation may change behaviour

Competition generally improves behaviour

56
Q

Deindividuation

A

Loss of identity by an individual person when in a group

  • stops ur own thoughts
  • anti social behaviour
  • when u become a member of a group you submerge your personality into the group identity
  • can hide in a group
  • group size, large group promotes deindividulisation
57
Q

Internalisation

A

Changing beliefs as a result of persuasion

58
Q

Identification

A

Changing beliefs to be like an admired or influencing source

Human Biology - structure and Function Of Neurons (3 decks)

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