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PARA4012: Anatomy and Physiology > The Neurological System > Flashcards

The Neurological System Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the classification of the nervous system

A

Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
- Somatic
- Autonomic

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2
Q

What are the 3 functions of the nervous sytem?

A

Sensory (sensory neurons)
Integrative (interneurons)
Motor (motor neurons)

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3
Q

What’s the difference between the autonomic and somatic NS? Give an example of each

A

Autonomic
- involuntary
- e.g. detection of blood pressure
Somatic
- voluntary
- e.g. walking

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4
Q

Describe the basic structure of a nerve cell: (4)

A

Dendrite
Cell body
Axon
Axon terminal

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5
Q

What is the function of dendrites?

A

Receive signals from surrounding area

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6
Q

What is the function of the cell body?

A

Contain all organelles

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7
Q

Neurons can also be categorised by the number of processes extending from the cell body. What are the 3 types of neuron classification?

A

Bipolar
Unipolar
Multipolar

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8
Q

What is the function of the axon?

A

Carry nerve signals away from cell body to axon terminal

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9
Q

Clusters of neuronal cell bodies are called:
___ in PNS
___ in CNS

A

Ganglions in PNS
Nucleus in CNS

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10
Q

Bundles of axons are called:
___ in PNS
___ in CNS

A

Nerve in PNS
Tract in CNS

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11
Q

What is the difference between white and grey matter?

A

White - primarily myelinated axons
Grey - neuronal cell bodies, un-myelinated axons and neuroglia

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12
Q

What is the function of Glial Cells (neuroglia)?

A

Type of cell that provides physical and chemical support to neurons and maintain their environment

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13
Q

What are 2 differences between glial cells and neurons?

A
  1. Glial cells don’t generate or propagate action potential
  2. Glial cells can multiply divide. Nerve cells can’t
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14
Q

What is the structure and function of astrocytes?

A
  • Star shaped, branched.
  • Found between neurons and blood vessels (anchor them together)
  • maintain blood brain barrier
  • create framework on CNS
  • repairing neural tissue
  • control interstitial environment
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15
Q

What is the structure and function of oligodendrocytes?

A
  • found aligned along thick nerve fibres
  • provide the myelin sheath around axons within brain and spinal cord
  • form internodes
  • small gaps in between (nodes of ranvier)
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16
Q

What is the structure and function of microglial cells?

A
  • phagocytize bacterial cells and cellular debris
  • transform into specialised macrophages
  • lengthy thorn-like processes which touch neurons to monitor their health
  • move towards injured or abnormal neurons
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17
Q

What are the the 4 types of CNS neuroglia?

A
  1. Astrocytes
  2. Ependymal cells
  3. Microglial cells
  4. Oligodendrocytes
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18
Q

What are the two types of PNS neuroglia?

A
  1. Satellite cells
  2. Schwann cells
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19
Q

What is the structure and function of Schwann cells?

A
  • from a myelin sheath around axons
  • repair damaged nerves (through Wallerian generation)
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20
Q

What is the structure and function of Satellite cells?

A
  • similar function to astrocytes in CNS
  • surround neuronal cell bodies
  • assist in regulating the external chemical environment (through material exchange between cell bodies and interstitial fluid)
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21
Q

Plasticity of the nervous system describes it’s ability to:

A

Change based on experience

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22
Q

PNS neurogenesis is possible if: (2)

A
  1. cell body remains intact
  2. schwann cells remain active
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23
Q

CNS neurogenesis is almost-non existent due to (2):

A
  1. the inhibitory influence of oligodendrocytes
  2. absence of growth stimulating cues
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24
Q

Describe function of the blood-brain-barrier?

A
  • acts to selectively allow certain molecules to pass and keep others from reaching brain
  • maintain constant internal environment of brain
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25
Q

Describe structure of blood brain barrier

A
  • three layers:
    1. capillary wall endothelium
    2. thick basal lamina
    3. bulb-like feet of astrocytes
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26
Q

What is saltatory conduction?

A

The way an electrical impulse skips between nodes of ranvier

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27
Q

What is the function of the myelin sheath? (2)

A
  1. increases axonal conduction velocity
  2. reduces capacitance of axonal membrane (amount of charge that can be stored)
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28
Q

What are the two types of synapses?

A
  1. Electrical
  2. Chemical
29
Q

Where are electrical synapses found?

A

In visceral smooth muscle and cardiac muscle

30
Q

Describe electrical conduction

A

electrical impulses conduct directly between neurons using gap junctions

31
Q

What molecule do chemical synapses use?

A

Neurotransmitters

32
Q

Describe the embryology of the CNS

A
  • begins as simple neural plate
  • folds to form a groove then tube, open at both ends
  • within tube, stem cells generate neurones and Glia
33
Q

How many ventricles are in the brain?

34
Q

What are the lobes of the cerebral cortex? (5)

A
  1. Frontal lobe
  2. Parietal lobe
  3. Occipital lobe
  4. Insula
35
Q

Describe the structure and function of the cerebrum

A
  • largest part, two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum
  • controls higher brain functions (e.g. interprets sensory impulses, reasoning, intelligence
36
Q

Describe the structure and function of the basal nuclei

A
  • masses of grey matter deep inside the cerebral hemispheres
  • relays motor impulses from cerebral cortex, passing into brain stem and spinal cord
37
Q

Describe the structure and function of the diancephalon

A
  • masses of grey matter (thalamus and hypothalamus)
38
Q

Describe the function of the thalamus

A

relays sensory impulses from other areas of nervous system to cerebral cortex

39
Q

Describe the function of the hypothalamus

A

helps maintain homeostasis by regulating visceral activities
links nervous and endocrine system

40
Q

Structure and function of brain stem

A
  • connects cerebrum to spinal cord
  • made up of:
    midbrain
    pons
    medulla oblongata
41
Q

Structure and function of the midbrain

A
  • Masses of grey matter, nerve fibre bundles, joins spinal cord to higher brain regions
  • Reflex centres move eyes, head and maintain posture
42
Q

Structure and function of the pons

A
  • bulge on underside of brain stem, contains masses of grey matter
  • relays impulses between medulla oblongata and cerebrum
  • regulates breathing rate and depth
43
Q

Structure and function of medulla oblongata

A
  • Enlarged continuation of spinal cord, extending from foramen magnum to pons, masses of grey matter
  • Conducts impulses between brain and spinal cord
  • Contains cardiac, vasomotor and respiratory control centres
44
Q

Describe the structure and function of the cerebellum

A
  • Large tissue mass inferior to cerebrum, posterior to brain stem
  • Two lateral hemispheres connected by vermis
  • Communicates with rest of CNS via tracts
  • Integrates sensory info about body, coordinates muscle activities, maintains posture
45
Q

What are the meninges?

A

3 layers of membranes which protect the brain and spinal cord
- inner: pia mater
- middle: arachnoid
- outer: dura mater

46
Q

Where are the ventricles located in the brain?

A

2 lateral ventricles
3rd is in the diancephalon
4th is in the hindbrain

47
Q

Describe the structure and function of the ventricles

A

Filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Keeps brain bouyant and cushioned

48
Q

Describe the spinal cord

A
  • suspended in vertebral canal, surrounded by meninges and CSF
  • continuous with medulla oblongata and extends to border of 1st lumbar vertebra
  • composed of grey matter in the centre surrounded by white matter
49
Q

Describe the reflex arc

A
  1. receptor
  2. sensory neuron
  3. integration centre
  4. motor neuron
  5. effector
50
Q

The somatic nervous system in made of
__ pairs of spinal nerves
__ pairs of cranial nerves

A

31spinal
12 cranial

51
Q

The sympathetic and parasympathetic branches are part of the ______ nervous system

52
Q

motor nerve fibres convey ___ impulses from brain to effector organs

53
Q

sensory neurons convey ____ impulses from sensory organs to brain

54
Q

How many of each type of spinal nerve are there?
___ cervical
___ thoracic
___ lumbar
___ sacral
___ coccygeal

A

8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal

55
Q

the spinal nerves leave the vertebral canal through the ____ _____ in pairs

A

intervertebral foramen

56
Q

each spinal nerve divides into a small ____ ____, a larger ____ ____ and an extremely small ____ ____

A

dorsal ramus
ventral ramus
meningeal branch

57
Q

the main portions of spinal nerves combine to form ___

A

plexuses (large masses of nerves)

58
Q

What are the 5 plexuses?

A

Cervical
Brachial
Lumbar
Sacral
Coccygeal

59
Q

Function of cervical plexuses

A
  • Supply structures at back and side of head and skin of front of neck to level of sternum
  • supply muscles of the neck e.g. trapezius
  • phrenic nerve passes through thoracic cavity to supply diaphragm
60
Q

Function of brachial plexuses

A
  • supply skin and muscles of upper limbs and some chest muscles eg radial nerve, ulnar nerve
61
Q

Function of lumbar plexuses

A

Supply muscles and skin in lower abdomen, all aspects of thighs and inginual regions. E.g. femoral nerve

62
Q

Function of sacral plexuses

A

Supply muscles and skin of pelvic floor, muscles around hip joint and pelvic organs. E.g. sciatic nerve

63
Q

Function of coccygeal plexuses

A

Supply skin around the coccyx and anal area

64
Q

How many cranial nerves are there?

65
Q

Function of autonomic NS

A

controls automatic functions
- smooth and cardiac muscle
- glands

66
Q

The sympathetic division originates in _____ neurons in the grey matter of the spinal cord, using the neurotransmitter ___

A

Preganglionic
Acetylcholine

67
Q

(Sympathetic) The pre-ganglionic neuron synapses with the ____ _____ neuron which terminates in the organ or tissue supples. This uses ____

A

post ganglionic
noreadrenaline

68
Q

In the parasympathetic NS, preganglionic neurons are located in the ____ ___ and ____

A

Spinal cord
Medulla

PARA4012: Anatomy and Physiology (10 decks)

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