Veterinary Terminology: The Nervous System Flashcards
encephalo-
brain
cerebro-
spinal fluid
medullo-
medulla
myelo-
bone marrow
brain
part of the CNS (central nervous system)
responsible for coordinating the activity of all parts of multicellular animals
essential for the co-existence of widely disparate cellular populations
the first organ throughout recorded history that has developed the capacity to study itself
the central nervous system (CNS)
consists of the integrative brain, the more primitive brainstem, and the spinal cord
together with peripheral nervous system has a fundamental role in the control of behavior
brain protected by
bony skull case and mengines (connective tissue layers)
spinal cord protected by
individual, slightly moveable vertebral bones and mengines (connective tissue layers)
Mengines 3 connective tissue layers
dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater
fundamental cellular unit for the nervous system
Neurons
neurons
are very metabolically active
have the capacity for generating and propagating an electrical discharge (action potential)
have the means for restoring a resting state and generating another action potential after a short refractory period
action potential
generating and propagating an electrical discharge
refractory period
the period of time during which a neuron can’t re-fire
cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
a special medium that contains nutrients, electrolytes, water, respiratory gases, hormones, and neurotransmitters
blood-brain barrier
serves to isolate neurons from the general circulation
CSF tap
collecting a sample of CSF to determine whether a breakdown is occuring with the blood-brain barrier
neurons consists of three parts
soma- cell body
dendrites
axon
soma- cell body
contains organelles that are similar to other cells in the body
dendrites
extension from the cell body laden with receptive elements
axon
single, long and large process that leaves the cell body to form a synapse with a distant cell or cells
synapse
nerve ending
sensory (afferent) neurons
are responsible for conveying information about the external or internal environment to or within the CNS
thermoreceptors
receptors for temperature
chemoreceptors
receptors for chemical irritants
mechanoreceptors
receptors for pressure
nociceptors
receptors for pain
vagus nerve
information from receptors is conveyed to the brain via this nerve
motor (efferent) neurons
generate their own action potentials in response to what they receive from the periphery
dendritic zone
the action potential is an amalgamation of inputs from many afferent inputs
very large for motor neurons
reflex arc
a conversation between the central and peripheral nervous systems occurs by virtue of a receptor to afferent neuron to efferent neuron to effector cell loop