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Physiology And Disease > The Nervous System > Flashcards

The Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Anatomical Images

A

Images from human cadavers illustrating anatomy.

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2
Q

Neurons

A

Fundamental cell unit of the nervous system.

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3
Q

Action Potential

A

Electrical impulse traveling along a neuron’s axon to the terminals so neurotransmitter is released at synapse.

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4
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical released into the synapse that initiate another action potential in the post synapse of another neuron

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5
Q

Neuroanatomy

A

Study of the structure of the nervous system.

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6
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Neurons that receive sensory input from receptors.

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7
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons that process and relay information.

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8
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Neurons that activate muscle effectors.

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9
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord; main control center.

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10
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

Nerves outside the CNS; connects to body.

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11
Q

PNS and CNS neurones are…

A

Bundled into “nerve fibres”

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12
Q

Nerve Fibres

A

Axons bundles together (potentially 1m long), including mylinated and unmyliated axons

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13
Q

Innervate

A

To stimulate

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14
Q

Dermatomes

A

Innervation patterns of the spinal nerves - body regions innervated by specific spinal nerves (CTLSC)

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15
Q

What is the general direction of correspondance of dermatomes to the spinal cord?

A

Top down. But this isn’t always the case as Cervical and Thoracic nerves are present in the arms, not just the neck and chest

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16
Q

What is needed for linking symptoms to site of spinal cord injury?

A

Sensation and motor control mapping to specific sections of the spinal cord

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17
Q

Spinal Nerves

A

31 pairs of nerves exiting the spinal cord to innervate regions of the body

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18
Q

C T L S C

The 5 sections the spinal nerves are split into.

A
  • Cervical (C1-C8)
  • Thoracic (T1-T12)
  • Lumbar (L1-L5)
  • Sacral (S1-S5)
  • Coccygeal (C0)
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19
Q

What and where is the Cauda equina?

A

A bundle of nerves beginning in the middle of the lumbar region of the spine which are separated and control the bladdar, anus, leg and perineum.

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20
Q

Cranial Nerves

A

12 pairs of nerves directly from the brain.

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21
Q

What makes certian spinal injuries more severe?

A

Increases severity of damage up the spinal cord could lead to paralysis and loss of breathing ability as they are closer to the brain.

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22
Q

Vagus nerve

A

A cranial nerve that controls autonomic function

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23
Q

Olfactory (I) nerve

A

A sensory cranial nerve for smell

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24
Q

Audition

A

Ability to hear is controlled by cranial nerves (vestibulocochlear)

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25
Q

Paraplegia

A

Paralysis of the lower half of the body

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26
Q

Quadriplegia

A

Paralysis below the neck

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27
Q

Afferent Branch

A

Sensory branch responsible for sensation.

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28
Q

Efferent Branch

A

Somatic motor branch responsible for movement control.

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29
Q

Sensorimotor circuit

A

network of neurons in the spinal cord and brain that allows organisms to sense and respond to their environment. Contains sensory “afferent branch” and somatic (part of efferent) branch.

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30
Q

Reflexes

A

Automatic responses to stimuli, bypassing conscious control (some subconcious perception of pain).subconscious

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31
Q

Are motor neurons part of the CNS or PNS?

A

Their cell body is in the CNS but they are still part of the PNS

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32
Q

What neurones are involved in a reflex?

A

Sensory and motor. Sometimes a relay (interneuron) is involved.

33
Q

Dorsal root ganglion

A

Cluster of sensory neuron cell bodies that transmits sensory information from the body to the spinal cord from the afferent axon

34
Q

Ventral root

A

part of the spinal nerve that transmit motor signals from spinal cord to the PNS and then effector (skeletal muscle)

35
Q

Two main sensorimotor tracts in spinal cord

A

Spinothalamic and Pyrimidal

36
Q

Spinothalamic Tract

A

Afferent (so type of sensory) pathway for pain (nociception), temperature, and light touch.

37
Q

Pyramidal Tract

A

Efferent (so consists of motor neurons) pathway for voluntary muscle control from the brain

38
Q

How does a light signal from the afferent branch reach the brain for processing?

A

Via the spinothalamic tract.
1. Sensory neurons cross to the contralateral side of spinal cord
2. Accending sensory fibres pass up via the medulla to the thalamus (this relays sensory information to the cortex)
3. Neurones pass from thalamus to the somatosensory areas of brain (thalamus) to process the sensory information

39
Q

How does a signal from the efferent branch reach an effector?

A

Via the pyramidal tract.
1. Upper motor neurons from the motor cortex project to the medulla
2. Motor neurons cross at the medulla to the contralateral side
3. Lower motor neurons exit the spinal cord to control skeletal muscle

40
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemicals released at synapses to transmit signals.

41
Q

What do the symptoms of damage to the NS reflect?

A

Anatomical location of the damage

42
Q

Individuals with Brown-Sequard syndrome have damage on one side of their spinal cord but symptoms on both sides of the body. Explain.

lost pain, temp& light touch on contralateral ,lost motor on ipsilateral

A

The damage interrupts both the spinothalamic and pyramidal tracts. The sensory neurons on one side of the body are unable to cross over and reavh the thalamus of the brain, hence loss of sensation on the contralateral side.
The motor neurons are unable reach the effectors on the same side henc loss of motor function on the ipsilateral side.

43
Q

Homeostasis

A

Regulation of internal environment for stability.

44
Q

Negative Feedback

A

Process to counteract changes in the body.

45
Q

Sensorimotor Circuits

A

Connections between sensory input and motor output.

46
Q

Dorsal Root

A

Pathway for sensory neurons entering the spinal cord.

47
Q

Ventral Root

A

Pathway for motor neurons exiting the spinal cord.

48
Q

Corticospinal Tracts

A

Upper motor neurons controlling voluntary movements.

49
Q

Interneurons in Reflexes

A

Process sensory input before activating motor output.

50
Q

Neural Communication

A

Involves electrical impulses and chemical signals.

51
Q

Lower motor neurons

A

Neurons that exit spinal cord to control muscles.

52
Q

Somatosensory areas

A

Brain regions processing sensory information.

53
Q

Hemi-section

A

Half-cut of spinal cord

54
Q

Ipsilateral loss

A

Loss of function on the same side as injury.

55
Q

Contralateral loss

A

Loss of function on the opposite side of injury.

56
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Prepares body for ‘fight or flight’ responses. Originates from thoracic-lumbar spine and has chain ganglia

57
Q

Examples of fight or flight symptoms by SNS

A
  1. Increased heart and breathing rate
  2. Inhibited digestion
  3. Glucose release
  4. Blood flow redirection to heart, lungs and muscles (vasoconstriction)
58
Q

Chain ganglia

A

Collection of sympathetic neuron cell bodies just outside the spinal cord.

59
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Restores body to resting state after stress. Originates from cranaial nerves and sacral spine. It’s ganglia are next to target organs - no chain ganglia.

60
Q

Ganglia

A

Collection of nerve cell bodies that are closely related. Eg ganglia of parasympathetic NS and chain ganglia of sympathetic NS.

61
Q

Preganglionic neurons

A

Neurons before the ganglia in ANS pathways.

62
Q

Postganglionic neurons

A

Neurons after the ganglia in ANS pathways.

63
Q

Vagus nerve

A

Key parasympathetic nerve influencing organ function.

64
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Neurotransmitter used by preganglionic ANS (sympathetic and parasympathetic) fibers.

65
Q

Noradrenaline

A

Neurotransmitter used by postganglionic sympathetic fibers.

66
Q

Dynamic homeostasis

A

Balance maintained by sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

67
Q

Why is the ANS an important drug target?

A

It regulates organ systems

68
Q

Beta-blockers

A

Drugs that block noradrenergic receptors to reduce anxiety by reducing the effects of the sympathetic nervous system (blood pressure).

69
Q

How do all the branches of the Nervous System interact?

A

gawefky

70
Q

Lesions

A

Kind of damage causing dysfunction in sensorimotor or autonomic systems. The effect dependent on location

71
Q

Lateral lesion

A

Pyramidal tract (motor) function spared

72
Q

Medial lesion

A

Pyramidal tract impaired

73
Q

Medullary syndrome

A

Condition often caused by stroke of arteries supplying medulla affecting medulla.

74
Q

Mellulary Syndrome symptoms

A
  • Vertigo
  • Impaired facial sensorimotor control
  • Autonomic dysfunction (pupil constriction, eyelid drooping, lack of facial sweating)
75
Q

Cranial nerves

A

Nerves originating from the brainstem, involved in ANS.

76
Q

Thoracic-lumbar spine

A

Origin of sympathetic nervous system fibers.

77
Q

Cranial and sacral spine

A

Origin of parasympathetic nervous system fibers.

78
Q

Sensorimotor processing

A

Integration of sensory input and motor output.

79
Q

Physiological anxiety symptoms

A

Physical manifestations of anxiety managed by medications.

Physiology And Disease (10 decks)

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