The Nervous System

Question 1

Components of the nervous system

Answer 1

1. Central nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral nervous system containing the sensory somatic and the autonomic which contains sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 2

Neurolgia - forms and what it does

Answer 2

1. (Support nourish and protect the neurons and maintain homeostasis in the interstitial fluid that bathes the neurones)
2. (Forms the myelin sheath)
3. The dendrites are the main receiving or input region
4. Integration occurs in the cell body
5. The output part typically is a single axon, which conducts nerve impulses toward another neuron, a muscle fibre or gland

Question 3

Neurons - specialised for

Answer 3

1. Cells specialised for nerve conduction
2. Provides the unique functions of the nervous system, such as sensing, thinking, remembering, controlling muscle activity and regulating glandular secretions

Question 4

Nerve conduction

Answer 4

Neurons communicate with one another using nerve action potential also called impulses

Question 5

Synapses

Answer 5

1. Neurones communicate with other neurones and with effectors at synapses in a series of events known as synaptic transmission
2. At a synapse, a neurotransmitter is release from a pre synaptic neurone into the synaptic cleft and then binds to receptors on the plasma membrane of the postsynaptic neurone

Question 6

8 major neurotransmitters

Answer 6

1. Noradrenaline – attention/fight or flight
2. Adrenaline – stress response
3. Dopamine – please/addiction
4. Acetylcholine – muscular function/memory
5. Serotonin – happiness/sleep-wake cycle
6. Gaba – calming
7. Endorphin – euphoria and well being
8. Glutamine – cognitive function

Question 7

The brain - halves

Answer 7

1. The brain weighs around 1.5kg
2. Processes emotions, solves problems and control vital function
3. 100 billion neurons
4. (Split into two halves – cerebellum and cerebrum)
5. (Cerebellum subdivides into 4 main areas)

Question 8

Cerebrum -
Cerebellum -

Answer 8

1.Speaking, reading, writing, listening
2. Emotion, detecting motion, imagination

Question 9

Brain stem

Answer 9

1. Hypothalamus – links the nervous system to the endocrine system
2. Mind-brain – conduction
3. Pons – conduction
4. Medulla oblongata – respiratory, cardiac, bp, temperature centres

Question 10

4 lobes

Answer 10

1. Frontal lobe – large role in voluntary movement, regulates activities like walking, control of emotion and behaviour, short term memory and non task based memories
2. Temporal lobe - visual memory, language, emotional control
3. Parietal lobe – proprioception, touch, spatial awareness, language processing
4. Occipital lobe – vision

Question 11

Cerebrospinal fluid CSF

Answer 11

1.CSF is clear, colourless liquid that carriers oxygen, glucose and other chemicals to neurons and neuroglia and relive their wastes and toxic substances
2. CSF produced in the choroid plexuses lateral ventricles
3. CSF circulates through the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord and through cavities called ventricles and canals

Question 12

The brain and spinal cord protection - meninges

Answer 12

The meninges are three layers of connective tissue that extend around the brain and the spinal cord

Question 13

Limbic system - what its called

Answer 13

1. Encircling the upper part of the brain stem and the corpus callous is a ring of structures on the inner border of the cerebrum and floor of the diencephalon that constitutes the limbic system (limbic border)
2. (The limbic system is sometimes called the emotional brain)
3. (It plays a primary role in a range of emotions including pain, pleasure, docility, affection and anger)

Question 14

Peripheral nerve anatomy

Answer 14

1. Each spinal nerve (cranial nerve) contains layers of protective connective tissue coverings
2. Individual axons are covered in an endometrium
3. Groups of axons with their endometrium are arranged into bundles, called fascicles, each of which is wrapped in perineurium
4. The superficial covering over the entire nerve is the epineurium

Question 15

Functions of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 15

1. (Some ANS neurons release acetylcholine and other release noradrenaline and its neuro transmitter results in excitation in some cases and inhibition in others)
2. Most parasympathetic release acetylcholine
3. Most sympathetic neurons release the neurotransmitter noradrenaline
4. The effects of NE are longer-lasting and more widespread
5. (Activation of the sympathetic division causes widespread responses collectively and referred to as the flight to fight response)
6. Activation of the parasympathetic division produces more restricted responses that typically are concerned with rest and digest activities

Question 16

Spinal cord

Answer 16

1. The grey matter of the spinal cord contains neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated axons, axon terminals and neuroglia
2. On each side of the spinal cord the grey matter is subdivided into regions called horns
3. The white matter primarily myelinated axons of neurons and is organised into white columns

Question 17

Enteric nervous system

Answer 17

1. Consists of neurons (nerve tissue) arranged in plexuses (bundle of nerves) in the gastrointestinal tract
2. Functions independent of autonomic and central system – involuntary control
3. This controls the movement and function of organs such as bowel and feeds back inflammation to the brain
4. Controls defecation and micturition

Question 18

Reflex arc

Answer 18

1. Sensory receptor
2. Sensory neurone
3. Integrating centre
4. Motor neurone
5. Effector

Question 19

Risk factors

Answer 19

1. Age
2. People from economically deprived area
3. Ethnicity

Answer 20

1. Stroke
2. Cva
3. Cvi
4. Hemorrhagic
5. Thrombolytic
6. Thrombosis
7. Embolism

Question 21

Ischaemic stroke

Answer 21

1. Caused by narrowing or blockage of one of the major arteries to the brain by the atherosclerotic disease process or by an embolism arising in the heart
2. Often occurs in sleep or after waking
3. May have a warning TIA

Question 22

Haemorrhagic stroke

Answer 22

1. Caused by long term effects of hypertension in the atherosclerotic vessel or from a burst aneurysm
2. Bleeding and resulting oedema can cause compression of the brain in the skull
3. Pressure on the brain stem results in coma and then death

Question 23

Other neurological diseases

Answer 23

1. Dementia
2. Epilepsy
3. Traumatic brain injury
4. Motor neurone disease
5. Multiple sclerosis
6. Spinal cord injury
7. Cerebral palsy
8. Guillain-barré syndrome