The central nervous system Flashcards
what are the functions of the CNS ?
- subconscious neural regulation of your internal environment
- emotions
- voluntary control of movement
- perception
- higher learning such as memory
Afferent division of PNS
carry info from the periphery to the brain
efferent division
CNS sends info back to the periphery through this division
Afferent Neuron
majority of the neurones that make up the PNS , peripheral ending contains a sensory receptor
inter neuron
comprised of about 99% of neurons ad lie completely within the CNS and are connector neurons that lie between afferent and efferent neurons - play important role in integrating responses ( higher learning
Efferent Neurons
Cell bodies lie within the CNS where they receive converging pre synaptic inputs
- when they initiate an action potential it travels down the efferent fibre to the effector organ
- efferent fibre lies mainly outside the CNS
Glial cells
in both the CNS and PNS , they use chemical signals to communicate in between other glial cells and neurons
what sort of tissue does glial cells form ?
they form connective tissue in the brain and their primary role is to support and maintain homeostatic control of extracellular environment around the neurons
90% of the CNS
Oligodendrocytes
form the myelin sheath that surround some neuronal axons in the CNS allows for faster signalling
Schwann cells
found in the PNS , can only myelinated one segment of an axon of a single neuron
Ependymal cells
line the areas of the brain and spinal cord in the fluid filled areas ( ventricles ) and contain cilia to produce a current in fluid –> production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Astrocytes
most numerous class of glial cells,
what are the functions of glial cells ? theres 6
1) form the primary connective tissue to hold the neurons in their proper spatial relationship 2) induce the blood vessels of the brain to undergo changes necessary to establish the blood brain barrier
3) help in the repair of brain and spinal cord injuries
4) Help to halt neurotransmitter activity
5) enhance synapse formation and modify synaptic transmission
6) take up excess K+ to maintain the proper extracellular environment for neurons ( raising K+ will increase likely hood of going to threshold and make neurons more excitable
Micro glia
non neuronal cells that are a type of immune cell found within the CNS
inactive micro glia
typically not active and have many dendrite like branches - secret nerve growth factor to support other neurons andglial cells
activated microglia
become activated when they sense any kind of pathological change ( cytokines, plaques, cell death , they become activated and phagocytose foreign particles , reduce inflammation and release cytotoxic chemicals ( they have the ability to destroy normal cells i.e. cause disease
what protects the brain and spinal cord ?
cranium / skull and the vertebrae surround the spinal cord
What are the protective membranes of the CNS
dura mater arachnoid mater pia mater cerebro spinal fluid blood brain barrier
dura mater
the outermost layer, tough, double membrane that lies next to the bon. certain regions create the dural sinuses which are blood filled spaces
Arachnoid mater
the middle meninges , delicate and highly vascularized
transfer of cerebrospinal fluid from the sub arachnoid space is done through ?
arachnoid granulation villi penetrate through the dura and extend into the sinuses
Pia Mater
inner most membrane, is highly vascularized and tightly adheres to the surface of the brain and the spinal cord
Cerebrospinal fluid
protect the brain by acting as a shock absorber , has similar density to tissue , fluid is located in the sub arachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater
Cerebrospinal fluid is essential for what ?
transfer of materials between blood and neural tissue , brains interstitial fluid supplies the neurons and glial cells while the CSF has strong influence on the blood stream
blood brain barrier
endothelial cells of the brain capillaries are joined together by tight junctions to prevent materials from passing between the cells . therefore exchange of materials between the brine must pass thought the endothelial cells