The Nervous System Flashcards
the nervous system and endocrine system coordinate
other organ systems to maintain homeostasis
the nervous system is
fast, short acting
the endocrine system is
slower, but longer lasting
the nervous system is
the most complex system in the body
functions of the nervous system
-monitors the body’s internal and external environments
-integrates sensory information
-coordinates voluntary and involuntary responses
anatomical divisions are
central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
central nervous system (CNS)
-made up of the brain and spinal cord
-integrates and coordinates input and output
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
-all the neural tissues outside of the CNS
-the connection between the CNS and the organs
functionals divisions are
afferent and efferent divisions
afferent division (in)
includes sensory receptors and neurons that send information to the CNS
efferent division (out)
includes neurons that send information to the effectors, which are the muscles and glands
efferent division divided into
somatic nervous system (SNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS)
somatic nervous system (SNS)
controls skeletal muscle
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
controls smooth and cardiac muscle, and glands
two parts of autonomic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic divison
neurons
-cells that communicate with one another and other cells
-have a very limited ability to regenerate when damaged or destroyed
basic structure of a neuron includes
-cell body
-dendrites
-axons
-axon terminals
dendrites
which receive signals
axons
which carry signals to the next cell
axon terminals
bulb-shaped ending that form a synapse with the next cell
cell bodies contains
-mitochondria, free and fixed ribosomes, and rough endoplasmic reticulum
-the axon hillock
-where electrical signal begins
structural classification of neurons
based on the relationship of the dendrites to the cell body
-multipolar, unipolar, bipolar neurons
multipolar neurons
are the most common in the CNS and have two or more dendrites and one axon
unipolar neurons
have the cell body off to one side, most abundant in the afferent division
bipolar neurons
have one dendrite and one axon with the cell body in the middle, and are rare (special senses)
sensory neurons also called
afferent neurons
sensory neurons
-total million or more
-receive information from sensory receptors
somatic sensory receptors
detect stimuli concerning the outside world, in the form of external receptors
-and our position in it, in the form of proprioceptors
visceral or internal receptors
monitor the internal organs
motor neurons also called
efferent neurons
motor neurons
-total about half a million in number
-carry information to peripheral targets called effectors
somatic motor neurons
innervate skeletal muscle
visceral motor neurons
innervate cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands
interneurons (also called association neurons)
-by far the most numerous type at about 20 billion
-are located in the CNS
-function as links between sensory and motor processes
-have higher functions
-such as memory, planning, and learning
neuroglial cells
-are supportive cells and make up about half of all neural tissue
-four types are found in the CNS
-two types in the PNS
4 types of neuroglial cells in CNS
-astrocytes
-oligodendrocytes
-microglia
-ependymal cells
2 types of neuroglial in PNS
-satellite cells
-schwann cells
astrocytes
-large and numerous neuroglia in the CNS
-maintain the blood-brain barrier
oligodendrocytes
-produce an insulating membranous wrapping around axons called myelin
-small gaps between the wrapping called nodes of Ranvier
myelinated axons constitute the white matter of the CNS
-where cell bodies are grey matter
-some axons are unmyelinated
microglia
-the smallest and least numerous
-phagocytic cells derived from white blood cells
-perform essential protective functions such as engulfing pathogens and cellular waste
ependymal cells
-line the fluid-filled central canal of the spinal cord and the ventricles of the brain
-the endothelial lining is called the ependyma
-it is involved in producing and circulating cerebrospinal fluid around the CNS
satellite cells
-surround and support neuron cell bodies
-similar in function to the astrocytes in the CNS
schwann cells
-cover every axon in PNS
-the surface is the neurilemma
-produce myelin
organization of the nervous system in the PNS
-collections of nerve cell bodies are ganglia
-bundled axons are nerves
-including spinal nerves and cranial nerves
-can have both sensory and motor components
organization of the nervous system in the CNS
-collections of neuron cell bodies are found in centers, or nuclei
-neural cortex is a thick layer of gray matter
-white matter in the CNS is formed by bundles of axons called tracts, and in the spinal cord, form columns
-pathways are either sensory or ascending tracts, or motor or descending tracts
the membrane potential exists because of
-excessive positive ionic charges on the outside of the cell
-excessive negative charges on the inside, creating a polarized membrane
-an undisturbed cell has a resting membrane potential measured in the inside of the cell in millivolts
-the resting membrane potential of neurons in -70 mV
factors determining membrane potential
-extracellular fluid (ECF) is high in Na+
-intracellular fluid (ICF) is high in K+ and negatively charged proteins (Pr-)
-proteins are non-permeating, staying in the ICF
changes in membrane potential
-stimulus causes opening of Na+ channels
-opening of Na+ channels results in an influx of Na+
-moving the membrane toward 0 mV, a shift called
depolarization
-opening of K+ channels results in an efflux of K+
-moving the membrane further away from 0 mV, a shift
called hyperpolarization
-return to resting from depolarization: repolarizing
a change in the membrane that travels the entire length of neurons (action potentials)
a nerve impulse
if a combination of graded potentials causes the membrane to reach a critical point of depolarization, it is called the threshold (action potentials)
then an action potential will occcur
action potentials are
-all-or-none and will propagate down the length of the neuron
-from the time the voltage-gated channels open until repolarization is finished:
-the membrane cannot respond to further stimulation
-this period of time is the refractory period
-and limits the rate of response by neurons
propagation of an action potential
-occurs when local changes in the membrane in one site:
-result in the activation of voltage-gated channels in the
next adjacent site of the membrane
-this causes a wave of membrane potential changes
-continuous propagation
-occurs in unmyelinated fibers and is relatively slow
-saltatory propagation
-is in myelinated axons and is faster
the synapse
-a junction between a neuron and another cell
-occurs because of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters
-communication happens in one direction only
-between a neuron and another cell type is a neuroeffector junction
-such as the neuromuscular junction or neuroglandular junction
a synapse between two neurons occurs
-between the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron
-across the synaptic cleft
-to the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic neuron
the synapse between two neurons neurotransmitters
-stored in vesicles of the axon terminals
-released into the cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
important neurotransmitters
-acetylcholine (ACh)
-norepinephrine (NE)
-dopamine, GABA, and serotonin
-at least 50 less-understood neurotransmitters
-NO and CO
norepinephrine (NE)
in the brain and part of the ANS
dopamine, GABA, and serotonin
are CNS neurotransmitter(only in the CNS)