Week 9 Neuromuscular Physiology

Question 1

What are the general functions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

• Master controlling & communicating system of the body,
• Communicates via electrical impulses,
• Monitors stimuli via afferent sensory input,
• Processes & interpret information via sensory integration,
• Produces a rersponse via efferent motor output.

Question 2

How would you classify the nervous system?

Answer 2

1. Structural - CNS (brain & spinal cord) & PNS (nerves that extend from the CNS),
2. Functional - Sensory/Afferent & Motor/Efferent (Somatic/voluntary nervous system & Autonomic/involuntary nervous system)

Question 3

What makes up the PNS?

Answer 3

• Crainial nerves (12) carrying information from the brain,
• Spinal nerves (31) carrying information to & from the spinal cord.

Question 4

Name 3 parts of a basic nerve cell?

Answer 4

1. Cell body - nucleus, cytoplasm (perikaryon), cytoskeleton(neurofilaments & tubules, neurofibrils), organelles (mitochondria, golgi apparatus, free ribosomes, RER).
2. Dendrites.
3. Axon - containing axoplasm surrounded by axolemma.

Question 5

Name 2 types of nerve cells?

Answer 5

Mulipolar, bipolar, unipolar, anaxonic.

Question 6

Describe myelination?

Answer 6

• “Rolled cell” electrically insulates axon,
• Increases speed of nerve conduction,
• Formed by Schwann cells in PNS,
• Oligodendrocytes form myelin in CNS.

Question 7

What are the 3 stages of PNS repair?

Answer 7

1. Chromatolysis - occurs shortly after axon damage,
2. Wallerian degeneration - distal portion degrades,
3. Regeneration - intact neurolemma cells divide, formation of regeneration tube, new axon will reform, eventually myelin too.

Question 8

What are 2 effects of aging on the nervous system?

Answer 8

• REduction in brain mass,
• Delays in synaptic transmission,
• Slower response times,
• Decreased refexes,
• Short term memory lapses.

Question 9

Give 2 effects of stress on the nervous system>

Answer 9

• CNS stimulation,
• Increased brain activity,
• Increased endorphines,
• Chronic stress → Headaches & insomnia.

Question 10

Name 3 diseases of the nervous system?

Answer 10

• Multiple Sclerosis,
• Parkinson’s disease,
• Alzheimer’s,
• Motor neurone disease,
• Meningitis,
• Encephalitis,
• Spina bifida,
• Cerebral Palsy