The Nervous System Flashcards
The peripheral nervous system is divided into two major subdivisions. Can you name and explain these subdivisions?
- the somatic: governs voluntary functions
- the autonomic: which has two subdivisions( the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems) they work together to carry out involuntary physiological processes such as regulation of bp, heart rate, and digestion
What’s in a neuron?
The cell body(soma), contains a nucleus, the dendrites( which transmits electrical impulses to the cell bod), and the axons( which transmit electrical impulses away from the cell body)
What are acetylcholine and norepinephrine?
- acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic and voluntary nervous system
- norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter found in the synaptic terminals of the sympathetic nerves
What does the thalamus do in the brain ?
Relay and processing centres for sensory info
What does the hypothalamus do ?
Centres controlling emotions, automatic functions and hormone production
What is the function of the pituitary gland ?
Release of hypothalamic hormones.
Secretion of hormones regulating endocrine activity
What does midbrain do ?
- processing of visual and auditory data
- generation of involuntary somatic motor responses
- maintenance of consciousness
What is the function of pons ?
- relays sensory info to cerebellum and thalamus
- involuntary somatic and visceral motor centres
What does the medulla oblongata do ?
- relays sensory info to the thalamus
- autonomic centres for regulation of visceral function
List the functions of the cerebrum?
- Conscious thought processes
- intellectual functions
- memory storage and processing
- involuntary regulation of the somatic motor patterns
List the functions of the cerebellum?
- involuntary control of complex somatic motor patterns
- memory storage of learned motor patterns
- adjusts output of other somatic motor centres in brain and spinal cord
Can you name the part of the brain where these senses come from ? 1-speech 2-personality 3-vision 4- balance and coordination 5-sensory 6-motor
1-temporal lobe of the cerebrum 2-frontal lobe of the cerebrum 3-occipital cortex 4-in the cerebellum 5-in the parietal lobes 6-frontal lobes
Describe the reticular activating system?
It is a diffuse system of interlacing nerve cells responsible for maintaining consciousness and ability to respond to stimuli
Key myotomes for neurological evaluation
Arm extension (C5) Elbow extension (C7) Small finger abduction (T1) Knee extension (L3) Ankle flexion (S1)
Key dermatome locations
Collar region (C3) Little finger (C7) Nipple line (T4) Umbilicus (T10) Small toe (S1)
PSNS consists of nerve roots branched from
Sacral region Cranial nerves (primarily vagus)
SNS consists of nerve roots branched from
Thoracic and Lumbar regions
What are the 4 categories of peripheral nerves?
- Somatic sensory
- Somatic motor
- Visceral (autonomic) sensory
- Visceral (autonomic) motor
2 types of sympathetic ganglia?
Sympathetic chain ganglia
Collateral ganglia
Postganglionic nerve fibres that exit the sympathetic chain ganglia have what effects when stimulated?
Stimulation of secretion by sweat glands Constriction of blood vessels in skin Increase blood flow to skeletal muscles Increase heart rate and force of cardiac contractions Bronchodilation Stimulation of energy production
Post ganglionic nerve fibres that exit the collateral ganglia have what effects when stimulation? (SNS)
Reduction of blood flow to abdominal organs
Decrease digestive acitvity
Relaxes smooth muscles of urinary bladder
Releases glucogen stores from liver
What are the adrenergic sympathetic receptors?
Alpha 1
Alpha 2
Beta 1
Beta 2
What are the sympathetic receptors?
Adrenergic
Dopaminergic
Parasympathetic nerve fibres that leave the brain stem travel with what 4 cranial nerves?
Occulomotor (iii)
Facial (vii)
Glossopharyngeal (ix)
Vagus nerve (x)
What are the two types (and subtypes) of acetylcholine
Nicotinic (neuron and muscle)
Muscarinic
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there ?
31 pairs
Describe a plexus?
It permits peripheral nerve roots to rejoin and function as a group
What is the phrenic nerve responsible for ?
Diaphragm control
Can you name the 4 categories of peripheral nerves ?
- somatic sensory: these afferent nerves transmits sensations involved in touch, pressure, pain, temp, and position
- somatic motor: these efferent fibres carry impulses to the skeletal muscles
- visceral sensory: these afferent tracts transmit sensations from the visceral organs. Such as full bladder or need to defecate
- visceral motor: these efferent fibres exit the central nervous system and branch to supply nerves to the involuntary cardiac muscle and smooth muscles of the viscera organs
