Week 3 - Nervous System 1 Flashcards
What are some relevant nursing actions?
- Assessment and recording of neurological observations
- Care of the unconscious patient
- Eye and ear medications, theatre nursing (anaesthetics)
- Peri-operative nursing, management of sleep and pain
- Assistance with lumbar puncture (spinal tap), tympanic temperature, spinal reflex testing, personal protective equipment (PPE).
Draw the organisation of the organisation of the nervous system
.
The structural cell units of the nervous system that transmit electrical signals are the _____________
Neurons
The nervous system of the body is made up of two sections. These are the ___________ and the _______________
- CNS
- PNS
The central nervous system is composed of the ___________ and the ____________
- Brain
- Spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system is composed of the __________ and the ____________
- Cranial
- Spinal nerves
The peripheral nervous system is also divided into two divisions. These are the ______________ and the ______________
- Sensory
- Motor
The motor division of the peripheral nervous system is divided into the __________ and the ______________
- Somatic
- Autonomic
The protective and supporting cells of the nervous system are called _____________
Neuroglia
State why brain cancers originate from the neuroglia and meninges, not the neurons.
- Neuroglia undrgo mitosis
- Neurons amitotic (no centrioles)
Identify the structural feature of the neuron on the previous page that indicates that this neuron belongs to the peripheral nervous system.
Shwann Cells
Describe the role(s) of the myelin sheath
- White fatty material around axon of some neurons
- Insulates axon to speed up nerve impulse (signal) transmission
Describe the events associated with an action potential (or nerve signal).
Electrical event, once initiated spreads along neuron toward axon terminal, due to the influx of Na+
Name the chemical substance that is in the synaptic vesicles of the axon terminal.
Neurotransmitter
Name three neurotransmitters.
- Acetylcholine
- Adrenalin (epinephrine), nor adrenalin (nor epinephrine)
- Serotonin, dopamine
Name the five essential components of a somatic reflex arc
- Receptor
- Sensory organs
- Integration centre (neurosoma of motor or interneuron)
- Motor neuron
- Effector
Name the muscle that contracts in the knees
Quadriceps
Name the mixed nerve that carries this sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) information toward and away from the spinal cord.
Femoral
Name the three areas of the brain stem
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla oblongta
Explain why trauma to the base of the brain is often more dangerous than to the front.
- Medulla oblongata = respiratory, cardiac, vasomotor etc centres (nuclei)
- Reticular activating system (RAS) extends length of brain stem (consciousness)
List the structures through which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates
- Ventricles of brain, subarachnoid space, central canal of spinal cord
- Reabsorbed into veins via arachnoid granulations
List the function(s) of CSF.
- Buoyancy for brain (decrease brain weight)
- Protects
- Oxygen, glucose, proteins, electrolytes, waste etc
Protective and supportive cells of the nervous system
Neuroglia
Nerve cells that transmit information as electrical signals
Neurons
Most abundant support cell: Covers brain surface, helps form blood brain barrier
Astrocyte
Ciliated support cell that lines the inside of cavities of brain and spinal cord; helps produce CSF
Ependymal cell
Support cell that engages in phagocytosis of pathogens and cell debris
Microglia
Support cell that forms the myelin sheath around neurons in the PNS
Shwann
Octopus-shaped support cell that forms the myelin sheath around neurons in the CNS
Oligodendrocyte
Clusters of neurosoma (grey matter) within the CNS
Nuclei
Clusters of neurosoma within the PNS
Ganglai
State the most obvious effect(s) from damage to the occipital area.
Visual disturbances
State the most obvious effect(s) from damage to the temporal lobe.
- Hearing
- Speech
- Language
- Memory disturbances
Name the two pairs of arteries that supply blood to the brain
- Internal carotid
- Vertebral
The above anterior and posterior blood vessels are connected by small communicating arterial branches (anastomosis). Name this circle of blood vessels in the brain.
Cerebral arterial circle (circle of willis)
Sleep is a temporary state of unconsciousness (in contrast to coma) from which one can be awakened. Across one night, humans progress through five cycles of sleep, each cycle being composed of lightest (stage 1) to deepest (stage 4) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, stage four is only attained in the first ______ cycles of the first ______ hours.
Two; three
Excess consumption of ______ is(are) associated with a lower quality of sleep e.g., fragmented sleep, less deep sleep and less REM sleep. Also, beyond 30 years of age the amount of deep sleep reduces.
- Ultra processed foods
- Alcohol, some medication
- Caffeine
Boredom is a cue to the body that it needs to move. Regular exercise is associated with deeper sleep, better cognition and off setting of dementia. Interestingly, exercise results in the enlargement of the ______ (sea horse-shaped), one of only two places in the nervous system that can perform mitosis. This structure is associated with memory as part of the limbic system of the ______.
Hippocampus; brain
