Neurons Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the job of the nervous system?

A

To collect and process information from the outside and inside environment, and to respond to that information

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2
Q

What is the job of the peripheral nervous system?

A

The job of the PNS is to collect information about the body’s external environment

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3
Q

What makes up the peripheral nervous system?

A

nerves and supporting cells

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4
Q

What is the job of the central nervous system?

A

to process the info from the PNS and curate a response that’s delivered to the appropriate part of the body

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5
Q

What are neurons?

A

Cells that nerve impulses are transmitted through

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6
Q

What are the 3 types of neurons? List their functions

A
  1. Sensory neurons: carry impulses from the sensory organs to the spinal cord and brain
  2. Motor neurons: carry impulses from the brain and the spinal cord to the muscles and glands
  3. Interneurons: process info from sensory neurons and send it to other interneurons or motor neurons
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7
Q

What makes up the central nervous system?

A

the brain and spinal cord

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8
Q

What is the largest part of the neuron? What does it contain?

A

The largest part is the cell body; contains organelles and stuff

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9
Q

Describe dendrites

A

short, branded extensions that spread out from the cell body; receive impulses

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10
Q

Describe axons

A

long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body. Transmits impulse

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11
Q

What is at the end of an axon?

A

A small swelling called an axon terminal

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12
Q

What is a myelin sheath? What does it do?

A

A myelin sheath is an insulating membrane that surround an axon; it has gaps called nodes. The myelin sheath insulates and helps transmit the impulse quicker

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13
Q

T or F: Neurons don’t have electrical potential

A

False: neurons have an electrical charge

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14
Q

What is the voltage charge of the inside of a neuron during resting potential?

A

-70mV

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15
Q

Describe the activities of resting potential in a neuron

A

During resting potential, sodium (Na+) ions pass to the outside of the membrane using the sodium-potassium protein pump. 3 sodium ions pass to the outside at a time, and 2 potassium ions go inside the membrane with every turn. Thus, the inside of the neuron membrane becomes negatively charged relative to the outside of the cell.

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16
Q

Describe the activities of action potential in a neuron

A

During action potential, the potassium ions that were previously inside the cell membrane start to move out through the sodium potassium protein pump; sodium ions that were on the outside of the membrane start to move in. This changes the charge of the neuron. Action potential is a reversal or charges from resting potential

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17
Q

What is a nerve impulse?

A

A stimulus that causes a nerve to go from resting potential to action potential

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18
Q

What causes an impulse to begin?

A

An impulse begins when a neuron is stimulates by another neuron or by the environment.

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19
Q

What is a threshold?

A

The minimum level of stimulus that’s required to cause an impulse in a neuron

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19
Q

What happens if an impulse doesn’t reach a threshold?

A

It won’t bereacted to

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20
Q

What is a synapse?

A

The point at which a neuron transfers an impulse to another cell

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21
Q

What is an synaptic cleft?

A

he gap between an axon terminal and an adjacent cell

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22
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemicals that transmit an impulse across a synapse to another cell

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23
Q

What are the parts of the brain responsible for (general)?

A

Processing and relaying info

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24
Q

Describe the spinal cord

A

The main communication link between the brain and the rest of the body

25
Q

What is a reflex?

A

A quick, automatic response to a stimulus

26
Q

What part of the nervous system controls reflexes?

A

the spinal cord :)

27
Q

What does the cerebrum do?

A

Controls voluntary functions. Cite of intelligence, learning, and judgement

28
Q

What is divided into 2 hemispheres?

A

the cerebrum

29
Q

What divides the cerebrum into 2 hemispheres?

A

The corpus callosum

30
Q

T or F: Each hemisphere of the cerebrum deals with the opposite side of the body

A

True

31
Q

How many layers is the cerebrum divided into?

A

2

32
Q

What is the outer layer of the cerebrum?

A

Cerebral cortex

33
Q

Describe the cerebral cortex (what its made up of, function)

A

Consists of densely packed nerve cell bodies (AKA grey matter). Job is to process info from the sense organs and control body movements.

34
Q

What kind of thought process happens in the cerebral cortex?

A

Thoughts, plans and learning abilities are developed and processed

35
Q

What is the inner layer of the cerebrum?

A

white matter

36
Q

Describe white matter (consistency, job)

A

Whitish color comes from bundles of axons with myelin sheaths. These axons connect different areas of the cerebral cortex, or they may connect the cerebrum to other areas of the brain such as the brain stem.

37
Q

What is the limbic system responsible for?

A

Emotions, behaviors, and memories. Connected to the ‘pleasure center’.

38
Q

What does the thalamus do?

A

Receives messages from sensory receptors throughout the body and then relays the info to the proper region of the brain

39
Q

What is the 2nd largest region of the brain?

A

cerebellum

40
Q

What does the cerebellum do?

A

Information about muscle and joint position are sent here. Sensory info allows the cerebellum to coordinate and balance the actions of the muscles

41
Q

What is the function of the brain stem?

A

Connecting the brain and spinal cord. Also regulates the flow of information between brain and rest of body. Keeps body functioning during sleep

42
Q

What is dopamine?

A

A neurotransmitter used by synapses that is associated with the brain’s pleasure and reward center

43
Q

How does the brain react to excessive dopamine? What is the effect of this?

A

It reduces the number of receptors for the neurotransmitter. Thus, normal activities no longer produce the sensations of pleasure they once did.

44
Q

What does the PNS consist of (divisions)?

A
  1. Sensory division
  2. Motor division
45
Q

What does the sensory division do (PNS)?

A

transmits impulses from the sense organs to the central nervous system

46
Q

What does the motor division do (PNS)?

A

transmits impulses from the CNS to the muscles and glands

47
Q

What are sensory receptors?

A

Cells that transmit info about changes in the environment

48
Q

How can sensory receptors be categorized?

A

by the type of stimulus they respond to

49
Q

What is the function of the somatic nervous system?

A

Regulates body activities that are voluntary

50
Q

What are reflex arcs?

A

The way responses to reflexes travel through the body

51
Q

Describe the path of the reflex arc (5 steps).

A
  1. Sensory receptors react to a sensation and send an impulse to sensory neurons
  2. Sensory neurons relay the info to the spinal cord
  3. An interneuron in the spinal cord processes the info and forms a response
  4. A motor neuron carries impulses to its effector, a muscle that stimulates
  5. The muscle contracts and you respond
52
Q

What does the autonomic nervous system do?

A

Regulates activities that are involuntary

53
Q

What does the autonomic nervous system break down into?

A
  1. Sympathetic nervous system
  2. Parasympathetic nervous system
54
Q

What is the organization of the body (units)/

A
  • Cells
  • Tissues
  • Organs
  • Organ systems
55
Q

What is the CNS surrounded by? What is its function?

A

Surrounded by 3 layers of connective tissues; this absorbs shock, protecting the brain

56
Q

What does the hypothalamus do?

A

Maintains body homeostasis

57
Q

What is the somatic nervous system neurotransmitter

A

acetylcholine

58
Q

What triggers sympathetic nervous system response?

A

Release of hormone epinephrine (aka adrenaline)

59
Q

How does a hormone release in the blood affect the body?

A

It prolongs and enhances the effects of a sympathetic response