Week 1 Neuroendocrinology ✅ Flashcards by Amy Thomas

What is an action potential?

Electrical impulse - language of the nervous system

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What structures does the CNS consist of?

Brain and spinal cord

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Give 3 examples of stimuli neurons

Physical, chemical, thermal

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What are supporting cells?

Non-excitable cells, “neuroglia”
5x more abundant than neurons

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What is the function of dendrites?

Receive impulse and transmit to the post-synaptic neuron

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What is the function of the axon hillock?

Generate impulse in neuron from local potentials

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Where is the axon hillock located?

Summation Zone

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What are the 3 types of neurons and what is their function?

Afferent - sensory
Efferent - motor
Interneurons - integratons

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Where are the nerve terminals located?

Output zone

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What are the 4 nerve zones?

Input
Summation
Conduction
Output

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What is a unipolar nerve cell?

1 axon
1 nerve process
Not human (e.g. flies)

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What is a bipolar nerve cell?

1 axon
1 dendrite

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What is an example of a bipolar nerve cell?

Olfactory nerve
Retina
Ear nerves

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What is a multipolar cell?

1 axon
Multiple dendrites

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What is an example of a multipolar cell?

CNS, autonomic nervous system

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What is a pseudounipolar cell?

Like bipolar neurones
E.g. sensory neurons

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What is the function of an astrocyte?

Connect blood vessels to neuron

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Give an example of where an astrocyte is located

Blood brain barrier

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What is the function of microglia?

Protect CNS neurons by phagocytosis

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How many ventricles are there in the brain?

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What does the Corpus callosum do?

Connect the 2 cerebral hemispheres

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What is the function of ependymal cells?

They line the ventricles of the brain to protect them and produce CSF

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What is the absolute refractory period?

Time when Na channels open, close and K channels open - the membrane CANNOT RESPOND TO FURTHER STIMULATION

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What is the relative refractory period?

When K channels close and Na/K channels return to normal state, the membrane CAN ONLY RESPOND TO LARGER STIMULI

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What are the steps of the refractory period?

1. Resting membrane potential of cell is at -70mV 2. Cell is stimulated and charge becomes more positive, Na channels open 3. Membrane becomes +30mV, Na channels close and K channels open 4. Cell repolarises and charge goes below resting potential of -70mV - K channels close 5. Cell returns to -70mV

What is the resting membrane potential of a cell?

-70mV

What is the threshold of a neuron?

Minimum stimulus to create action potential

How does a cell repolarise to normal resting membrane potential?

Restored by sodium potassium pump

What is saltatory conduction and which cells does this apply to?

Faster conduction - jumps between nodes of ranvier Occurs in myelinated cells

What is the major extracellular cation?

Sodium

What is the major intracellular cation?

Potassium

What are the 3 meninges of the brain?

Dura mater Arachnoid mater Pia mater

What 3 parts of the brain make up the brain stem?

Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrain

What structures make up the forebrain?

Cerebrum and diencephalon

What structures make up the hindbrain?

Cerebellum, pons and medulla

What is the limbic system responsible for?

Emotions

What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

Motor - movement in the body

What is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Sensory cortex

What is the occipital lobe responsible for?

Visual cortex

What is the temporal lobe responsible for?

Auditory cortex, olfactory and gustatory

What structures make up the cerebral cortex?

Frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes

Name the structures of the brain from the cerebrum downwards

Cerebral cortex Basal ganglia Thalamus Hypothalamus Cerebellum Brain stem

What is the basal ganglia responsible for? What condition affects this area?

Coordination, planning of movement Parkinson's disease

What is the thalamus responsible for?

Sensory relay system from periphery

What is the hypothalamus responsible for?

Homeostasis

What is the cerebellum responsible for?

Planning, programming and coordination

What is the brain stem responsible for?

Heart rate centre respiratory rate blood vessel diameter (cranial nerves)

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

How many sacral vertebrae are there?

How many spinal nerves are there?

How many cranial nerves are there?

What is the difference between sulcus and grus?

Sulcus is a V shape Grus is a n shape

What is the Bell Magendie law?

Dorsal root is always sensory Ventral root is always motor

What is the role of the spinal cord in reflexes?

Integrating centre (pre-ganglionic)

What is the only hormone in positive feedback?

Oxytocin

What are the 3 types of synapse?

Axo-dendritic Axo-somatic Axo-axonic

What is a ganglion?

Collection of nerves in somatic and autonomic branches of PNS

What is the neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system?

Acetylcholine and noradrenaline

What is the neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Acetylcholine

What is the difference between exocrine and endocrine glands?

Exocrine secretes into ducts Endocrine secrete into blood - ductless

What is an example of an exocrine gland?

Salivary glands, parotid gland

Is the pancreas an exocrine or endocrine gland?

Both. Pancreatic juice is the exocrine part

What are the gonads?

Ovaries and testicles

Which gland releases melatonin?

Pineal gland

What hormones does the thyroid gland release?

T3 and T4

What hormone does the parathyroid release?

Parathyroid hormone

What hormone does the thymus gland release?

Thymosin hormone (mature T lymphocytes)

What hormones does the pancreas release?

Insulin and glucagon

What hormones does the ovaries release?

Oxytocin, Oestrogen

What hormone does the testicles release?

Testosterone

What are examples of steroid hormones?

Sex hormones, adrenal cortex hormones

What are examples of amine hormones?

Melatonin, thyroid hormones

What are examples of protein hormones?

Insulin, glucagon

What are examples of glycoprotein hormones?

FSH, TSH

What are examples of eicosanoid hormones?

Prostaglandins

What are examples of peptide hormones?

Oxytocin, Vasopressin

How do hormones work?

Bind to receptor and enter cell Initiate second messenger system Stimulate protein release

What does autocrine mean?

Acts on the same cell

What does paracrine mean?

Acts on nearby cells

What does endocrine mean?

Acts on cells via transport in the blood

How many cervical nerves are there?