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Foundations Of Biology > The Nervous System > Flashcards

The Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the functional units of the nervous system called?

A

Neurons

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2
Q

What are the two main sub divisions of the nervous system called? What do they consist of?

A

The central nervous system - brain and spinal cord

The peripheral nervous system - nerves which connect the central nervous system to other parts of the body

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3
Q

What are sensory and motor functions of the nervous system?

A

Sensory functions involve receptors that detect internal and external changes
Motor functions stimulate effectors to respond

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4
Q

What are the roles of integrative neurons?

A

They link other neurons and pass messages to the appropriate parts of the brain or spinal cord

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5
Q

What are neuroglia? Give one example of a neuroglia in the central nervous system and describe its role.

A

Neuroglia support neurons by filling spaces, providing structural framework, producing myelin and carry out phagocytosis.
1. Oligodendrocytes produce myelin

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6
Q

Which cells form myelin sheaths in the:

  1. Central nervous system
  2. Peripheral nervous system
A
  1. Oligodendrocytes

2. Schwann cells

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7
Q

What three elements make up a neuron? What are the functions of these elements?

A

Cell body- contain nucleus
Dendrites- receive input and are the communication centre of the cell
Axon- send impulses of information away from the cell

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8
Q

What is an axon enclosed in?

A

A myelin sheath.

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9
Q

What are the three structural classifications of neurons?

A

Unipolar, multipolar, bipolar

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10
Q

What are the three functional classification of neurons?

A

Sensory, motor and interneurons

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11
Q

Describe the pathway of neurons in the nervous system

A

Sensory neurons receive an input from a source. An impulse is passed onto interneurons within the central nervous system. Interneurons pass the impulse between themselves until they reach an appropriate motor neuron which then responds by sending an instruction to an effector

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12
Q

What is an effector within the nervous system

A

Part of the body which responds to the instructions of neurons e.g. Muscles or glands

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13
Q

What are the names of the cells before and after a synapse?

A

Before- presynaptic neuron

After- postsynaptic neuron

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14
Q

What is the space of the synapse called?

A

A synaptic cleft

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15
Q

What biochemicals are involved in synaptic transmission?

A

Neurotransmitters

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16
Q

What part of the neuron realises neurotransmitter?

A

Synaptic vesicles in the synaptic knob

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17
Q

By which process does neurotransmitter pass across the synaptic cleft?

A

Diffusion

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18
Q

A neurotransmitter reaching the postsynaptic neuron either ……… a response or ………. an impulse

A

Stimulates

Prevents

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19
Q

Which ions pass through the cell membrane more readily? Potassium or sodium? What is the consequence of this? What is this called?

A

Potassium ions. There are therefore more potassium ions inside the cell and more sodium ions outside the cell. This gives the inside of the cell a negative charge. This is called a resting potential.

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20
Q

What happens to a cell when the resting potential decreases?

A

The cell becomes depolarised as the sodium potassium pump becomes activated.

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21
Q

What is the rapid sequence of depolarisation followed by polarisation called?

A

Action potential.

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22
Q

What two factors make an axon more effective at conducting impulses?

A

Axons with a myelinated sheath

Axons with larger diameters

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23
Q

What is the difference between an excitatory and inhibitory action?

A

Excitatory- triggers an impulse

Inhibitory- prevents a response

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24
Q

What is a neuronal pool?

A

Neurons in the CNS are organised into neuronal pools these are groups of neurons which work together to perform a common function.

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25
Q

Nerves are cordlike bundles of ………

A

Nerve fibres

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26
Q

Nerves can be ……… or ……….. or ……….. depending on their axons

A

Sensory or motor or mixed

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27
Q

What is a reflex arc. What is a reflex arc made up of?

A

An automatic, subconscious response to an internal or external change. A reflex arc is made up of a sensory neuron, interneurons and a motor neuron.

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28
Q

Give 5 examples of common reflexes

A

Sneezing, coughing, vomiting, swallowing, blinking

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29
Q

Where do meninges occur and what is their primary function?

A

Meninges surround the brain and spinal cord. They protect these precious and delicate body parts.

30
Q

What are the names of the three layers of a meninge?

A

Dura mater, arachnoid mater and Pia mater.

31
Q

What is the name of the fluid which fills the space between the arachnoid and Pia maters?

A

Cerebrospinal fluid.

32
Q

Where does the spinal cord extend from?

A

The brain into the vertebral canal.

33
Q

How many segments does the spinal cord have? What does each segment give rise to?

A

31 segments. Each segment gives rise to a pair of spinal nerves.

34
Q

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

A

It acts as a 2 way communication system between the brain and other body parts.

35
Q

What four sub divisions make up the brain?

A

Cerebrum, brainstem, diencephalon and the cerebellum

36
Q

Which four lobes make up the cerebrum?

A

Frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital

37
Q

What structure connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum

A

Corpus callosum

38
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

A thin layer of grey matter which lies at the surface of the cerebrum.

39
Q

What are the main functions of the cerebrum?

A

To perform higher brain functions, store information, make up our personalities and interpret sensory impulses.

40
Q

What are ventricles? What is usually present within the ventricles?

A

Ventricles are interconnected cavities within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem. Cerebrospinal fluid fills these ventricles.

41
Q

What does the diencephalon contain?

A

The thalamus and hypothalamus.

42
Q

What is the function of the thalamus?

A

The thalamus is a central relay station for incoming sensory impulses

43
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis

44
Q

What is the limbic system made up of. What does this system control?

A

Made up of the hypothalamus, thalamus and the basil ganglia the limbic system controls our emotional state and expression.

45
Q

What three sections make up the brainstem? What are the functions of each section?

A

Midbrain- contains reflex centres associated with eye and head movements
Pons- relays impulses between the cerebrum and other parts of the nervous system, also regulates breathing
Medulla oblongata- relays all ascending and descending impulses

46
Q

How many hemispheres make up the cerebellum?

A

2 hemispheres

47
Q

What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

A

The cerebellum functions primarily as a reflex centre for integrating sensory information required in the coordination of skeletal muscle movements and the maintenance of equilibrium

48
Q

What two types of nerve make up the peripheral nervous system?

A

Spinal nerves and cranial nerves

49
Q

How many cranial nerves exist within the peripheral nervous system?

A

12 pairs

50
Q

What are the three types of cranial nerve?

A

Sensory, motor and mixed

51
Q

What do cranial nerves connect the brain to?

A

The head, neck and trunk of the body

52
Q

How many spinal nerves are there within the peripheral nervous system

A

31 pairs

53
Q

What is the function of the spinal nerves?

A

To provide a two way communication system between the spinal cord and parts of the upper and lower limbs, the neck and the trunk of the body.

54
Q

What do spinal nerves emerge from?

A

A dorsal and ventral root.

55
Q

What is the main function of the autonomic nervous system?

A

To regulate and maintain homeostasis

56
Q

What two divisions make up the autonomic nervous system?

A

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

57
Q

What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

A

Sympathetic responds to emergency situations whereas the parasympathetic responds to normal situations

58
Q

What sort of nerve fibres are autonomic fibres?

A

Motor fibres

59
Q

Where do sympathetic fibres leave the spinal cord and synapse?

A

At the paravertebral ganglia

60
Q

Which different neurotransmitters to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems secrete?

A

Parasympathetic- acetylcholine

Sympathetic- norepinephrine

61
Q

Give examples of actions taken by the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Constricts pupils, slows heartrate, stimulates digestion

62
Q

Give examples of actions taken by the sympathetic nervous system

A

Increases heart rate, inhibits digestion, dilates pupils

63
Q

When is an action potential triggered?

A

Where there is enough depolarisation to reach the threshold potential.

64
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

The period after an action potential when a threshold stimulus will not trigger another action potential.

65
Q

What is the reason behind having a refractory period?

A

It ensues the action potential is only able to travel in one direction.

66
Q

When is an action potential triggered?

A

Where there is enough depolarisation to reach the threshold potential.

67
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

The period after an action potential when a threshold stimulus will not trigger another action potential.

68
Q

What is the reason behind having a refractory period?

A

It ensues the action potential is only able to travel in one direction.

69
Q

When is an action potential triggered?

A

Where there is enough depolarisation to reach the threshold potential.

69
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

The period after an action potential when a threshold stimulus will not trigger another action potential.

69
Q

What is the reason behind having a refractory period?

A

It ensues the action potential is only able to travel in one direction.

Foundations Of Biology (16 decks)

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