EXAM 2 - AERIN 2 Flashcards
(102 cards)
1) I can describe the general organization of the spinal cord, including the arrangement of white and gray matter, spinal nerves, and the cauda equina.
Spinal cord general
The spinal cord is a cylinder of nervous tissue, continuous with the lower end of the brain - surrounded by the vertebral column
The inside of the spinal cord is grey matter and the outer coat is white matter (opposite of the cortex)
From superior to inferior, the spinal nerves emerge from cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal
31 pairs of spinal nerves branch off the spinal cord at regular intervals
1) I can describe the general organization of the spinal cord, including the arrangement of white and gray matter, spinal nerves, and the cauda equina.
Cauda equina + regions
The spinal cord only extends about 2/3rds of the column length to the L2 vertebra
The parts that have cell bodies (grey natter)
The bottom 1/3rd of the column that contains myelinated axons, no spinal cord proper = cauda equina
A spinal tap can remove CSF or an epidural in the cauda equina can be used to avoid damage of the spinal cord.
Cauda equina is composed of what regions?
Lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions
I can identify and describe the functions of the following structures of the spinal cord: dorsal horn; ventral horn; dorsal root ganglia; dorsal root; ventral root; and spinal nerve.
Dorsal (back) horn v Ventral (front) horn
Dorsal (back) horn: half of grey matter associated with SENSORY neurons (cell bodies)
Ventral (front) horn: half of grey matter associated with MOTOR neurons (cell bodies)
I can identify and describe the functions of the following structures of the spinal cord: dorsal horn; ventral horn; dorsal root ganglia; dorsal root; ventral root; and spinal nerve.
Dorsal root ganglia, dorsal root, ventral root
Dorsal root ganglia: cell bodies of afferent (SENSORY) neurons found in the intervertebral foramen (not in the spinal cord itself)
- Afferent fibers originate in the periphery as sensory receptors and terminate in the dorsal horns, where they synapse on interneurons or efferent neurons
Dorsal root: the afferent (sensory) limb of each spinal nerve found in the vertebral canal
Ventral root: efferent motor limb of spinal nerves that conduct efferent (motor) impulses and are found in the vertebral column
- Project axons into the periphery
- Are in the spinal cord
I can identify and describe the functions of the following structures of the spinal cord: dorsal horn; ventral horn; dorsal root ganglia; dorsal root; ventral root; and spinal nerve.
spinal nerve
Spinal nerve: less than 1 cm in length formed by the union of dorsal and ventral roots from same spinal cord level and are found in the intervertebral foramen
I can identify and describe the functions of the following structures of the spinal cord: dorsal horn; ventral horn; dorsal root ganglia; dorsal root; ventral root; and spinal nerve.
ascending v descending bundles
Ascending bundles: myelinated axons carry sensory information to the brain
Descending bundles: carry commands to motor neurons
T/F: spinal nerves are composed of the axons of both afferent and efferent neurons?
T
T/F: Dorsal root ganglia contain the cell bodies of efferent neurons?
F
3) I can compare the organization and function of the efferent pathways of the PNS that are composed of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
Pathway 1 - somatic
PNS → effector in muscle
Somatic - Cell bodies located in groups in the brainstem or ventral horn of the spinal cord - large diameter myelinated axons leave the CNS and pass straight to skeletal muscles where they release ACh - excitation of motor neurons leads only to contraction of skeletal muscles; there are no somatic neurons that inhibit skeletal muscles - muscle relaxation involves inhibition of motor neurons in the spinal cord
3) I can compare the organization and function of the efferent pathways of the PNS that are composed of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
pathway 2 - autonomic
PNS → autonomic → somatic motor neurons either in sympathetic active) or parasympathetic (rest)
Autonomic neurons
- Controls glands and muscles of internal organs
- The autonomic NS is made up of 2 neurons in series that connect the CNS and the effector cells
- First neuron has cell body in CNS - second cell body is outside - autonomic ganglion
- The neurotransmitter released between pre and post ganglionic neurons - ACh
- The neurotransmitter released between postganglionic neuron and target differs between sympathetic and parasympathetic
- Signal can be excitatory or inhibitory
- ANS divided into Sympathetic and parasympathetic
4) I can compare the general anatomy and function of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
Function
Both branches of the autonomic nervous system innervate most organs, an arrangement called DUAL INNERVATION
Sympathetic
- Most active during periods of excitation or physical activity
- Coordinates group of physiological changes known as fight-or-flight
- Includes and increase in rate or force of heart contractions, a shift in blood flow from GI organs to skeletal and cardiac muscles and energy stores are mobilized
- Inhibits digestion, etc
Parasympathetic
- Most active during resting conditions
- Stimulates the digestive organs, enhancing digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Inhibits the cardiovascular system - decreasing HR - rest-and-digest
4) I can compare the general anatomy and function of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
anatomy
Neurons of sympathetic and parasympathetic leave CNS at diff levels
S: exit spinal cord from thoracic and lumbar regions
- Most ganglia lie close to SPINAL CORD forming the sympathetic drunk
- Sympathetic ganglia contain postganglionic nerve cell bodies give the trunk a “beaded” appearance.
PS: exist spinal cord from brainstem and sacral regions
- Lie within or close to THE ORGANS the postganglionic neurons innervate
Fibers
S: fibers leave the spinal cord in first thoracic and second lumbar segments
- Sympathetic trunks extend entire length of cord - some preganglionic axons turn to travel up or down before forming synapses
PS: in cranial portion, pregangionic original from cranial nerve nuclei located in brainstem, travel with axons in cranial nerves
- One key cranial nerve - vagus nerve carries 75% of all parasympathetic fibers (there are 2 - one on each side
Key feature of sympathetic - preganglionic neurons originate in thoracic and lumbar spinal regions
Key note: both always on, one will predominate
5) I can identify the neurotransmitters of the PNS.
Adrenal Medulla pathway specific
The adrenal medulla is a modified sympathetic ganglion
Preganglionic neurons project from the spinal cord to the adrenal medulla where they synapse
Release ACH in adrenal medulla to a chromaffin cell that releases epinephrine to the blood that enters the tissues
Chromaffin cells secrete catecholamines directly into blood ( NO AXONS)
80:20 epinephrine:norepinephrine
Neurotransmitters of PNS
Neurotransmitters:
- Somatic branch of PNS: ACh
- Autonomic NS
- Sympathetic:
ACh between pre and postganglionic cells whether in ganglion or adrenal medulla
- Adrenal medulla pathway
- Sympathetic:
Epinephrine released into blood stream and bind to Adrenergic receptors
- Spinal cord pathway
Postganglionic cell releases NE (norepinephrine) which also binds to adrenergic receptors
- Parasympathetic: ACh for both receptors
I can identify the receptors of the PNS.
Receptors:
- Somatic branch of PNS: N-AChR (@skeletal muscles)
- Autonomic NS
a. Sympathetic: N-AChR between pre and post, Adrenergic receptors for organs
b. Parasympathetic: N-AChR for postganglionic cell, M-AChR for organ
N-AChR : nicotinic AChR - responds to nicotine
M-AChR: muscarinic - responds to the mushroom poison Atropine - competitive antagonist of M-AChR
Agonist v antagonist
Agonists: molecules that bind to a receptor and trigger signalling pathways
Antagonists: molecules that bind to a receptor but DO NOT trigger signalling pathways
Direct v indirect agonists/antagonists
Direct: bind to receptor
E.g. atropine
Indirect: indirectly reduces or increases neurotransmitter to bind more
1) I can describe the basic principles of electricity in physiological systems.
All cells have a slight charge
Intracellular K+ high, phosphate ions + negatively charged proteins are the major anion, some protein anions inside cells do not have matching cations —> inside slightly negative
ECF - Na+, Cl-, some cations outside cells do not have matching ions that are slightly positive
Two compartments exist in a state of electrical disequilibrium
Key laws:
= Law of conservation of electrical charges
= Opposite charges attract; like charges repel each other
Separating positive charges from negative charges requires energy
Conductor versus insulator
= Conductor: when separated positive and negative charges move freely toward each other, the material through which they move is called a conductor
= Insulator: separated charges cannot move through an insulator
2) I can describe the influence of an electrochemical gradient upon the movement of ions across a plasma membrane.
Plasma membranes are not permeable to ions except when channels are open
Electrical gradients are positive ions moving toward negative charged side or both
Chemical gradients are individual ion concentrations
This is created by transporters: sodium/potassium pump
Change of 1 ion creates a +1 outside, -1 inside so difference of 2
The electrochemical gradient at the resting, that potential difference is the resting membrane potential
3) I can compare the measurement of electrical gradients using relative and absolute scales.
Absolute potential takes only the amount of ions moved
Relative scales is where a +1 and -1 charge means a difference of 2 so the charge is -2 resting potential because you assume the outside is 0
Electrodes are created from hollow glass tubes drawn to fine points - a recording device and a reference electrode put in
4) I can predict the direction of movement of an ion across a plasma membrane given the concentration and charge of ions inside and outside the cell.
Some K+ ions leak out via channels and the - charge increases as K+ leaves because proteins are negative and cannot diffuse out
There becomes an electrical gradient - eventually the electrical force pulling the K+ in becomes equal to the K+ chemical gradient out, the net movement of K+ moves out
5) I can calculate the membrane potential of a cell using the Nernst equation
The membrane potential that exactly opposes the concentration gradient of the ion is known as the equilibrium potential (Eion)
Nernst equation (ONLY 1 ION)
Eion = (61/z) log ([ion]out/[ion]in)
z=valence of the ion
Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation.
Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz Equation (multiple ions)
Note: Cl reversed because Cl is an anion so it has the opposite effect
K+ leak channels influence the resting membrane potential the most, but a small number of sodium leak channels are open in the resting state
The Na+/K+ pump maintains - 2 K+ in, 3 Na+ out - unequal keeps it negative