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Clinical Physiology > Nervous System 1 > Flashcards

Nervous System 1 Flashcards

1
Q

How many percent is the nervous system within our body?

A

3% (2kg)

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2
Q

How many cranial nerves are there?

A

12

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3
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves do we have?

A

31 pairs

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4
Q

How many neurons do we have in the brain?

A

100 million

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5
Q

What are the 3 main functions of the nervous system?

A

Sensory function
Sensory receptors | Detect internal (e.g. blood acidity) & external stimuli (e.g. raindrops
on skin) | Carried to brain via spinal cord and cranial nerves
Integrative function
Integrates (i.e. processes) sensory information | Analyses & stores information |
Perception is integrative – Conscious awareness of sensory stimuli
Motor function
Occurs after integration of sensory information | Elicits a motor response to activate
effectors (e.g. muscles & glands)

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6
Q

What are the 2 main subdivisions of the nervous system?

A

The central nervous system (CNS) – Brain & spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) – All nervous tissue outside of the CNS

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7
Q

What is the central nervous system?

A

The central nervous system (CNS) – Brain and spinal cord

Respond to stimuli
Generate nervous signals
Targets effectors via peripheral nervous system

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8
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system?

A

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) – All nervous tissue outside of the CNS
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Enteric nervous system (ENS)

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9
Q

The nervous system is primarily comprised of 2 types of cells. What are they?

A

Neurons
Neuroglia

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10
Q

Do neurons possess electrical excitability?

A

Yes

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11
Q

Neurons respond to a stimulus & convert it into an action potential. True or False

A

True

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12
Q

What is the cell body of a neuron?

A

The spherical part of the neuron which control all functions of the cell
Shares basic human cell organelles
Nucleus surrounded by a cytoplasm
Lysosomes
Mitochondria
Golgi complexes
Rough endoplasmic reticulum

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13
Q

What are the dendrites of a neuron?

A

Dendrites - Segments of the neuron that receive stimulation in order for the cell to become active
The receiving end of the neuron
Highly branched
Conduct impulses to the cell body
Contain organelles (control cell growth & produce energy)

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14
Q

What is the axon of a neuron?

A

Axon - Conduct impulses away from the cell body toward another neuron or effector cell
Axon hillock - Where the axon joins the cell body
Initial segment - Beginning of the axon
Trigger zone - Junction between the axon hillock and
the initial segment

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15
Q

What is the axon terminal of a neuron?

A

End point of the axon that conduct impulses away from the cell body toward another neuron
Where the axon divides into fine processes
Axon terminals swell into bulb-shaped
structures - Synaptic end bulbs

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16
Q

How are neurons classified?

A

according to the number of processes that extend from the cell body
Multipolar
Several dendrites & 1 axon
Brain| Spinal cord
Bipolar
1 dendrite & 1 axon
Eyes | Olfactory region
Unipolar
Dendrites with 1 axon fused together
Sensory receptors

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17
Q

How are neurons functionally classified?

A

Sensory (afferent) - Contain sensory receptors | Conveys an action potential towards CNS | Mostly unipolar
Interneurons (Associated) - Located in CNS between sensory & motor receptors | Integrate (process) sensory
information & elicit a motor response | Mostly multipolar
Motor (efferent) - Convey action potentials away from CNS towards effectors in PNS | Mostly multipolar

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18
Q

What are astrocytes?

A

Star shaped | Most numerous neuroglia
Contain microfilaments – Provide strength
Form blood brain barrier – Wrap around neurons & isolate CNS from rest of body
Secretion of chemicals associated with growth regulation
Maintain neural environment – Facilitate K
+ concentration
Influence synapse formation – Role in memory & learning

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19
Q

What are oligodendrocytes?

A

Neuroglia - Smaller with fewer processes than astrocytes
Form myelin sheath around (multiple) CNS axons

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20
Q

What are Microglia?

A

Neuroglia - Function as phagocytes
Remove cellular debris

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21
Q

What are Ependymal cells?

A

Neuroglia - Cuboidal to columnar cells with microvilli & cilia
Protect & nourishes the brain & spinal cord
Produce, monitor & assist the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid
Help form blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier

22
Q

What are Schwann Cells?

A

Encircle PNS axons
Myelinate single axons
Can enclose up to 20 non-myelinated axons

23
Q

What are satellite cells?

A

Surround neuronal cell bodies
Structural support
Regulate material exchange between
neurons & interstitial fluid

24
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

Electrically insulates axons to increase the speed of nerve impulse conduction
Produced by oligodendrocytes in CNS
Produced by Schwann cells in PNS
Spiral multiple times around axons (~100 layers)

25
What are the nodes of ranvier?
Gaps of myelin sheath on axons
26
What is myelination?
1 Schwann cell wraps around 1 axon segment between 2 nodes Nervous impulse ‘jumps’ between nodes
27
What is white matter composed of?
Composed mainly of myelinated axons
28
What is grey matter composed of?
Contains cell bodies, dendrites & unmyelinated axons & neuroglia Nissl bodies provide grey colour
29
What does the somatic nervous system consist of?
Motor neurons that convey information from somatic receptors in head, body wall, & limbs Motor neurons that convey information from receptors of the special senses (hearing, vision, taste & smell) Sent to CNS Motor neurons conduct impulses to skeletal muscles only Response is consciously controlled - Voluntary
30
What does the autonomic system consist of?
Sensory neurons that convey information from autonomic sensory receptors in visceral organs (e.g. stomach & lungs) Sent to CNS Motor neurons conduct impulses to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle & glands Response is unconsciously controlled – Involuntary Sympathetic or Parasympathetic (fight or flight | rest & digest)
31
What does the enteric nervous system consist of?
100 million neurons in enteric plexuses (bundles of nerves) spanning the length of the gastrointestinal tract Some communication with CNS Sympathetic or Parasympathetic (fight or flight | rest & digest) Functions independently of the ANS & CNS
32
What are the 2 different types of stroke?
Ischaemic Blood flow occluded due to blood clot | 85% of cases Haemorrhagic Weakened blood vessel supplying the brain has burst
33
What is the treatment for strokes?
Medication to prevent & dissolve blood clots | Lower blood pressure & cholesterol | Surgery to remove clot
34
What is the recovery for a stroke?
Physical rehabilitation | Mental rehabilitation | Patients may never fully recover
35
What is the link to a stroke and the nervous system?
Stroke may lead to irreversible brain damage (ischaemic core) Ischaemic stroke causes a state of excitotoxicity Excitotoxicity is caused by oxygen deprivation (anoxia) Anoxia causes glutamate transporters to fail in CNS Accumulation of glutamate around neurons stimulate the neuron to death
36
What is a neurotransmitter?
A substance released by a nerve that effects the function of another nerve, muscle, gland or cell
37
Approximately how many types of neurotransmitters are there?
There are approximately 100 different types of neurotransmitter
38
What are the functions of a neurotransmitter?
Open or close ion channels | Second messengers | Excitation or inhibition of impulses |
39
What are the 2 types of classifications of neurotransmitter?
Small molecule neurotransmitters Acetylcholine | Amino acids | Biogenic amines | ATP | Purines | Nitric oxide Neuropeptides 3-40 amino acids linked by peptide bonds | Enkephalins | Endorphins | Dynorphins | Substance P
40
What is Acetylcholine (ACh)?
Best-studied neurotransmitter Excitatory neurotransmitter at some sites - Neuromuscular junction | Inotropic receptors open cation (positively charged) channels Inhibitory neurotransmitter at other sites - G-proteins that open potassium channels | Inhibition of heart rate
41
What do the amino acids, Glutamate & Aspartate do?
Yield powerful excitatory effects Half of synapses in brain communicate via glutamate
42
What do Gamma aminobutric acid (GABA) & Glycine do?
Inhibitory effects GABA is most common in CNS | Glycine is most common in spinal cord Anxiety medication (e.g. Valium) enhance action of GABA.
43
What are Biogenetic amines?
Modified amino acids through removal of carboxyl group (decarboxylation)
44
What do Adrenaline & Noradrenaline do?
Biogenetic amine - Increase arousal | Excitatory effects throughout body | Released by adrenal gland into blood
45
What is dopamine?
Biogenetic amine - Activated by emotional responses | Addictive behaviours | Pleasurable experience
46
What is seratonin?
Biogenetic amine - Involved in sensory perception | Thermoregulation | Control of mood | Appetite | Induction of sleep
47
Derivatives of ATP are also neurotransmitters . True or False?
True - Adenosine di-phosphate (ADP) Adenosine mono-phosphate (AMP)
48
What is nitric oxide?
Neurotransmitter with widespread effects throughout the body Catalysed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from arginine NO is not synthesised & packaged into vesicles in advance (unlike other neurotransmitters) NO is formed on demand, acts immediately & exists in circulation for ~10 seconds
49
What are the roles of nitric oxide?
Production of cyclic GMP (second messenger) Role in memory & learning Vasodilation of blood vessels
50
What are neuropeptides?
Neurotransmitters consisting of 3-40 amino acids linked by peptide bonds Neuropeptides are formed in the neuron cell body, packaged in vesicles & transported to axon terminals Several neuropeptides use the same receptors as opioid drugs (e.g. morphine & heroin), including: Enkephalins (200 x stronger than morphine)| Endorphins | Dynorphins The opioid peptides are the natural painkillers of the body Acupuncture may produce analgesia (loss of pain) via release of opioids

Clinical Physiology (12 decks)

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