Unit 1 - Introduction to Neuroscience Flashcards
three basic functions performed by nervous system
- sensation - receive sensory input from internal and external environments
- perception - create internal maps of this info via integration and evaluation
- action - respond in an adaptive manner to stimuli
5 distinguishing features of advanced nervous systems
- cellular specializations
- areal specializations (collections of cells grouped together for common purpose)
- functional cooperation (ensembles of neurons acting in synchrony to produce desired outcome
- adaptability
- high information storage capacity
dendritic arbors
pyramidal and Purkinje cells
collect and/or integrate information, then send (typically strong projection) to a target
what do bipolar cells tend to be?
relay stations, capable of varying degrees of integration
difference between retinal bipolar cell and retinal ganglion cell
both have dendrites on one side of cell body and axon on another
- RBC dendrites are smaller
- RGC dendrites spread out wider
what types of cells have the largest dendritic arbors?
cerebellar purkinje cells
astrocytes
- what they are
- what they do
- what they develop from
(neuro) glial cell found in CNS with long cytoplasmic processes that bridge neurons and capillary endothelial cells
- provide both mechanical and metabolic support for neurons, regulating environment in which they function
- contribute to BBB and control transport of substances from blood to neural tissue
- help coordinate nerve pathway development
- develop from embryonic ectoderm
oligodendrocyte
- what they are
- what they do
- what they’re made from
(neuro) glial cell found in CNS with limited number of dendritic processes
- provide electrical insulation for adjacent neurons by forming a part of the myelin sheath for saltatory conduction
- develop from embryonic ectoderm
microglia
- what they are
- what they do
- what they’re made from
small (neuro)glial cell found in CNS
- provide protective function to nervous tissue by becoming phagocytic
- derived from hematopoetic sources
what 3 “f”s form natural boundaries in the brain?
fissures, folds, and folia
what are groups of adjacent areas called?
lobes
what are the best predictors of intelligence?
foliation and neuronal density
Galvani’s method of study
attach cut end of a nerve to 2 rods of different metals, suspend cut nerve by brass hook attached to ground, with foot touching grounded silver plate
-kicks repeated indefinitely
what are the 3 major functional classes of neurons?
sensory/afferent - long dendrite and short axon; carry messages from sensory receptors to CNS
motor/efferent - long axon and short dendrites; transmit messages from CNS to muscles/glands
interneurons - found only in CNS where they interconnect neurons
difference between free nerve endings and thicker endings
-types of thicker myelinated axons
free - little/no myelin, most sensitive to pain and temperature
thicker - myelinated from several classes of mechanoreceptors
-Pacinian - vibration
-Ruffini and Merkel disks - sustained pressure
-Messiner - light touch
