The Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What response do nerves of the sympathetic nervous system exhibit?

A

The ‘fight or flight’ response

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2
Q

Is the autonomic nervous system voluntary or involuntary? What can it be further split into?

A

The autonomic nervous system is involuntary - it can be further split into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

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3
Q

What movement does the somatic nervous system control? What neurotransmitter is used in this system?

A

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement, via acetylcholine neurotransmission

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4
Q

What neurotransmitter is used by the sympathetic nervous system?

A

Noradrenalin

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5
Q

Sympathetic nerve fibres innervated all vessels except what?

A

Capillaries and precapillary sphincters

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6
Q

How does noradrenalin from the sympathetic nervous system act on vessels in the skin?

A

It causes vasoconstriction, preventing blood loss to open wounds

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7
Q

What neurotransmitter used in the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Acetylcholine

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8
Q

What 3 places in particular does the sympathetic nervous system promote blood flow?

A

The heart
The brain
Skeletal muscle

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9
Q

What is endocrine communication?

A

Secretion of hormones directly into the bloodstream, as opposed to a duct

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10
Q

Name the 9 major endocrine glands.

A
Pancreas
Thymus
Pineal glands
Gonads
Adrenal glands
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Thyroid gland
Parathyroid gland
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11
Q

What Greek word does the word ‘hormone’ come from?

A

To excite or arouse

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12
Q

What 2 organs are considered the ‘conductors’ of the endocrine system?

A

The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland

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13
Q

What is the role of the thymus?

A

It is involved in the maturation of bone marrow-derived stem cells into immunocompetent T lymphocytes, via production of thymosin (which promotes T cell maturation) - this process is know as thymic cell education

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14
Q

What is a portal system? Which 2 places is this type of system found in the human body?

A

2 capillary systems in series - these are found in:

  • hepatic portal system
  • hypothalamo-hypophyseal system
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15
Q

What is neurocine communication? What 3 organs use this type of signalling?

A

Neurocrine communication involves stimulation by a neuron to release molecules into the bloodstream - 3 organs that use this are:

  • anterior pituitary
  • posterior pituitary
  • adrenal medulla
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16
Q

State how the sympathetic nerves affect different organs.

A
Eyes - pupils dilate
Salivary glands - inhibits production of saliva
Lungs - bronchodilation 
Heart - increases heart beat
Stomach - inhibits digestion
Kidneys - stimulates adrenaline and noradrenaline release
Liver - promotes glucose release 
Bladder - relaxes bladder
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17
Q

How does the sympathetic nervous system affect veins leading to the heart?

A

It causes venoconstriction, which increases cardiac return

18
Q

Describe the synthesis, storage, transport, and location of receptor of peptide hormones.

A

Peptide hormones are sysnthesised beforehand, and are stored in secretory vesicles - they are transported dissolved in plasma, and bind their receptors on the surface of the cell membrane

19
Q

What organ serves as the point where the nervous system and the endocrine system communicate?

A

The hypothalamus

20
Q

State how the parasympathetic nerves affect various organs.

A
Eyes - pupils constrict
Salivary glands - stimulates saliva production
Lungs - stimulates bronchoconstriction 
Heart - decreases heart beat
Stomach - stimulates digestion
Kidneys - inhibits adrenaline and noradrenaline secretion
Liver - stimulates bile secretion 
Bladder - contracts bladder
21
Q

Describe the mechanism of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. What is the action of its feedback loop?

A

The hypothalamus produces TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) which travels through the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system to the pituitary gland where it stimulates TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) secretion into the bloodstream - this reaches the thyroid gland and stimulates the release of T3 & T4, which stimulate metabolism - these then act in a negative feedback loop

22
Q

Describe the synthesis, storage, transport, and location of receptor of steroid hormones.

A

Steroid hormones are synthesised on demand and as such have no need to be stored - they are transported in the blood bound to carrier-proteins, and act mainly on receptors at the nuclear envelope (although some act at the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm)

23
Q

There are 2 tyrosine-derivative hormones - what are they?

A

Catecholamines and thyroid hormones

24
Q

How may the pituitary gland be divided?

A

Into 2 lobes - the posterior pituitary and the anterior pituitary

25
Q

Which part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is an example of neurocrine secretion?

A

The secretion of TRH and its subsequent transport through the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system

26
Q

What makes the pineal gland visible on an X-Ray scan?

A

It becomes calcified in early adulthood

27
Q

Where are the adrenal glands located? What response are they involved with?

A

The adrenal glands are located superior to the kidneys, and are involved in the stress response

28
Q

Where are the principal effectors of the stress response localised?

A

The hypothalamus
The anterior pituitary
The adrenal glands

29
Q

What 2 structures make up the adrenal gland?

A

The cortex and the medulla

30
Q

List 2 adrenal cortical steroids, and an example of each. Where are they secreted from?

A

Glucocorticoid (cortisol)
Mineralocorticoid (aldosterone)
They are secreted from the cortex of the adrenal glands

31
Q

What type of feedback exists in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis? What hormone produces this feedback?

A

Negative feedback via cortisol

32
Q

In the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, what hormone is involved in endocrine secretion across the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system? What molecule does this stimulate?

A

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone travels through the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system from the hypothalamus, and stimulates adrenocorticotropic hormone at the anterior pituitary gland

33
Q

Describe how the tyrosine derivatives (thyroid hormone and catecholamines) are synthesised, stored, transported, and the location of their receptor. How do they differ?

A

Catecholamines are synthesised beforehand and stored in secretory vesicles - they are transported diffused in the plasma, and bind receptors on the cell membrane
Thyroid hormones are sysnthesised beforehand, and their precursor is stored in secretory vesicles - they travel in the bloodstream bound to carrier proteins, and their receptors are located at the nuclear envelope

34
Q

Once bound to their homologous receptor, which 2 hormones mediate their effects via secondary messenger systems?

A

Peptide hormones and catecholamines

35
Q

Where are chromaffin cells located? What substances do they release, and what type of innervation results in this release?

A

Chromaffin cells are located in the medulla of adrenal glands (the adrenal medulla) and secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline upon stimulation by the sympathetic nervous system

36
Q

What effect does receptor-ligand binding of steroid hormones and thyroid hormones produce? Where therefore do they bind their receptor?

A

Activation of genes for transcription and translation - they bind their receptor at the nuclear membrane

37
Q

List 4 effects of adrenaline/noradrenaline.

A

Increased heart rate
Increased breathing rate
Increase blood glucose (more glycogen broke down to glucose)
Increased metabolic rate

38
Q

What primary hormone does the pineal gland secrete? How does this hormone act?

A

The pineal gland secretes melatonin - this controls cardiac rhythm

39
Q

Name 2 hormones that are secreted by the posterior pituitary.

A

Oxytocin

ADH

40
Q

What does melatonin inhibit? Conversely, what inhibits melatonin release?

A

Melatonin inhibits the release of gonadotrophins (LH & FSH) - light exposure inhibits melatonin secretion

41
Q

Which plane does the pineal gland sit on?

A

The midline

42
Q

What class of hormone does the adrenal cortex secrete?

A

Steroid hormones