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BIOL 446 Physiological Ecology > Exam 2: Nervous Systems > Flashcards

Exam 2: Nervous Systems Flashcards

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1
Q

How do actional potentials differ from hormones?

A

Rapid and precise signaling

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2
Q

How do steroids differ from action potentials?

A

Slow, long-lasting, systemic signals

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3
Q

What is a ganglion?

A

A collection of neurons used for interpreting, receiving, and transmitting signals

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4
Q

How do neuron membranes relate to circuits?

A

Ions flows through a channel bringing charge and changing charge on either side of the membrane

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5
Q

What charge does the intracellular space near a neuron membrane exhibit during hyperpolarization?

A

Negative

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6
Q

What charge does the intracellular space near a neuron membrane exhibit at resting potential?

A

Negative

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7
Q

What charge does the intracellular space near a neuron membrane exhibit during depolarization?

A

Positive

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8
Q

What are action potentials?

A

voltage dependent signals created by change in membrane potential

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9
Q

What causes depolarization of neurons?

A

rapid opening of voltage gated Na+ channels releases Na+ in the cell

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10
Q

What causes repolarization of membranes

A

Na+ channels are closed and K+ channels out of the cell are opened

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11
Q

How does axon diameter affect the conduction velocity of axon potentials?

A

Conduction velocity increases with increase is axon diameter

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12
Q

What is patch claming?

A

laboratory manipulation individual membrane channels in neurons to study membrane potential and electric capabilities

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13
Q

How does temperature affect generation of action potentials?

A

Generation and transmission occurs faster because voltage-gated ion channel kinetics are faster at higher temperatures

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14
Q

How do myelin sheath speed up action potentials?

A

The action potential jumps between the nodes of Ranvier

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15
Q

Do endotherms have larger or smaller diameter axons? Why?

A

Smaller because their higher body temps allow them to still conduct signals quickly

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16
Q

What is the first step in transmitting neurotransmitters across a synapse?

A

Action potential opens voltages gated Ca2+ channels

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17
Q

What occurs after an action potential open voltage gated Ca2+ channels in a presynaptic neuron?

A

Vesicle containing neurotransmitters mobilize and adhere to the presynaptic membrane

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18
Q

How do postsynaptic neurons receive neurotransmitters?

A

neurotransmitters bind to the postsynaptic receptor and triggers opening of ion channels

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19
Q

What are the three kinds of neurotransmitters?

A

Cholinergic compounds (acetylcholine)
Biogenic Amine compounds (Norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA)
Amino Acids (glutamate)

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20
Q

What do ionotropic neurotransmitters do?

A

Induce a conformational change in postsynaptic receptor that opens ion channel

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21
Q

What do metabotropic neurotransmitters do?

A

Bind to the postsynaptic receptor and trigger release of a G-coupled protein, which causes ion channels to open

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22
Q

What is an excitatory post synaptic potential?

A

When a neurotransmitter triggers depolarization of the membrane

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23
Q

What is an inhibitory post synaptic potential?

A

when a neurotransmitter triggers polarization of the membrane

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24
Q

Why is it important that neurons create both inhibitory and excitatory post synaptic potentials?

A

Because which neurotransmitters are expresses influences likelihood of action potential being generated

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25
What is synaptic depression?
A gradual decrease in amplitude of post synaptic potentials
26
What is synaptic facilitation?
Repeated stimulation by presynaptic neuron increases amplitude of postsynaptic potentials
27
What is the benefit of synaptic facilitation and depression?
They increase or decrease signal intensities based on need
28
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
Contains the majority of neurons and is where information processing occurs
29
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
Neurons that receive stimuli and bring them to the CNS, and carry information away from the CNS
30
What is a reflex?
Reception of signal by afferent neuron -> interpretation by CNS interneurons -> PNS motor neurons receive signal from CNS
31
What is centralization of the nervous system described as?
Localization of integrating neurons in a central area
32
What is a benefit of centralization?
It is easy to receive messages and distinguish them from one another
33
What is cephalization of the nervous system?
Integration neurons and structures are concentrated at one end of the body
34
How is the CNS of insects unique from other animals?
It is located ventral
35
Describe an arthropod's CNS
Ganglia extend in a line from the brain and down the abdomen
36
Describe a vertebrate's CNS
Segmented nerves run down from the brain and along the spinal cord
37
What are the five principles of organization in vertebrate brains?
1. Brain function is modular - Parts in the brain can change function over a person's lifetime and areas rely on each other for function 2. Brains have integrated maps - Specific areas in the brain can be identified for specific functions 3. Size matters - larger brains are more advanced 4. Brain evolution relates to expansion of the forebrain 5. Neural circuits are plastic
38
Why does a larger brain mean it is more advanced?
Larger brains have more neurons and can send and receive signals faster
39
Why is expansion of the forebrain associated with brain evolution?
The forebrain relates to personality and late gratification
40
Why are neural circuits plastic?
Signal strengths can be manipulated, and synapses can be generated to form new pathways
41
What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
The somatic division and the autonomic division
42
What is the purpose of the somatic nervous system?
To integrate external stimuli and control voluntary movement of skeletal muscle
43
What is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?
To integrate internal stimuli and control a wide variety of tissues
44
What are three major tissues the autonomic nervous system controls?
Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
45
How many motors neurons are used to connect the CNS to skeletal muscle?
One
46
In the autonomic nervous system, what connects the CNS to target tissues?
a preganglionic neuron, a ganglion, and then a post ganglionic neuron
47
What are the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric
48
What is the purpose of smooth muscle?
to regulate internal functions
49
Why is it beneficial for the autonomic nervous system to have multiple neural connections when sending signals?
Allows one signal to trigger many responses
50
What neurotransmitters are used in the sympathetic nervous system?
Cholinergic and adrenergic
51
How do the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons compare in the sympathetic nervous system?
Preganglionic neurons are short and postganglionic neurons are long
52
What neurotransmitters are used in the parasympathetic nervous system?
Cholinergic transmitters?
53
How do the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons compare in the parasympathetic nervous system?
Preganglionic neurons are long and post ganglionic neurons are short
54
What kind of neurotransmitters does the enteric nervous system use?
All different kinds
55
What does the enteric nervous system control?
Gut signaling
56
What is the vagus nerve?
The longest nerve in the body that conducts 90% of enteric signals
57
What nervous system sends the strongest signals the CNS?
Enteric
58
What do four things do biological clocks control?
Temperature, sleep cycle, urine volume, Na+/Ca2+ excretion
59
What are biological clocks mostly determined by?
Light availability
60
What is a free running rhythm?
When a natural circadian rhythm occurs in the absence of cues
61
What do clock genes do? How do they work?
Negative feedback loop where BMAL1 and CLOCK trigger PER expression which is inhibitory to BMAL
62
How do clock gene pathways regulate circadian rhythms?
Regulate secretion of sleep hormones like melatonin

BIOL 446 Physiological Ecology (8 decks)

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