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Nervous System Flashcards

(59 cards)

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1
Q

Which systems allow us to respond to internal and external stimuli

A

Nervous + endocrine

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2
Q

What is the difference between the endocrine and nervous system

A

Endo = produces hormones that are transported in blood system, hormones are generally slow acting
Nervous = responds to external stimuli and involves co-ordination of muscles and some glands, results in quick short lived respones

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3
Q

What do hormones play a role in

A

Reproduction, controlling growth and homeostasis

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4
Q

What can nervous systems be divided into

A

Pns and cns

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5
Q

Hat is the difference between pns and cns

A

Cns - brain and spinal cord
Pns - nerves that conduct impulses to and from brain

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6
Q

How can the pns be further subdivided

A

Pns can be either sensory neurons or motor neurons
Motor neurons can be either somatic (= skeletal muscle) or autonomic =(cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, glands)
Autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves

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7
Q

How is the central nervous system protected

A

Brain= skull
Spinal cord = vertebrae
Brain surrounded by three membranes aka meninges
Cerebrospinal fluid found in between meninges

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8
Q

What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid

A

Act as shock absorber
Supply cns with nutrients and oxygen
Remove waste
Prevents dehydration

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9
Q

What is the difference between grey and white matter

A

Grey = contains cell bodies of neurons
White = contains elongated axons of neurons

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10
Q

Where is white and grey matter found in the brain and spinal cord

A

Brain - grey matter on the outside, surrounds white matter
Spinal cord - white matter on outside surrounding grey matter

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11
Q

What are the three main parts of the brain

A

Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Medulla oblangata

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12
Q

What are other important parts of brain besides the 3 main parts

A

Hypothalamus
Corpus callosum
Hypophysis/pituitary

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13
Q

What is the corpus callosum important for

A

Brain divided into left and right hemisphere
Left side controls right side body and right side controls left side body
Neurons cross from one side to the other in corpus callosum

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14
Q

What is the cerebrum responsible for

A

Higher mental functions e.g reasoning, judgement, thought, intelligence
Origin for all voluntary actions
Receiving and interpreting senses

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15
Q

What is the cerebellum responsible for

A

Balance
Co-ordinating and controlling voluntary actions
Muscle tone and posture

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16
Q

How is the medulla oblangata different from the rest of the brain

A

Has grey matter on the inside

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17
Q

What is the medulla oblangata responsible for

A

Transmits electric impulses between spinal cord and brain
Controls autonomic function e.g heartbeat, rate and depth of breathing, peristalsis, constrict and dilation of blood vessels

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18
Q

What is the structure of the spinal cord

A

Grey matte forms h shape on inside
Spinal nerves arise from both sides
Each nerve has dorsal and ventral root
Dorsal has sensory neurons, ventral has motor neurons
Nerves enter spinal cord between vertebrae

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19
Q

What is the spinal cord responsible for

A

Pathway for nerve impulses to and from brain
Reflex action

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20
Q

What is the hypothalamus responsible

A

Plays role in maintaining homeostasis : regulates bp, heartbeat, bdy temp, water levels
Controls emotions
Controls release of emotions from hypophysis (pituitary gland)

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21
Q

What does PNS consist of

A

Motor and sensory neurons

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22
Q

How can motor nerves be subdivided

A

Somatic nerves - conduct impulses from CNS to voluntary muscle
Autonomic nerves - conduct impulses from CNS to involuntary muscles (smooth muscle and cardiac muscle)

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23
Q

How many cranial and spinal nerves are there

A

Cranial - 12 pairs that connect to the brain
Spinal - 31 pairs

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24
Q

What is the function of the PNS

Study These Flashcards
A

To conduct impulses from the receptor the CNS and to conduct impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles and glands)

25
How can autonomic motor neurons be further subdivided
Sympathetic - prepare body for emergency by increasing heart rate, depth and rate of breathing, and bp Parasympathetic - antagonistic to sympathetic nerves, drop levels of nearest etc. back to normal
26
What is the general structure of neurons
Cell body that consists of nucleus and nissl granules Two outgrowths from cell body - dentrites and axons Axons = impulse away from cell body; dentrites = impulse to cell body Most axons and dendrites surrounded by myelin sheath Myelin she at made up of Schwann cells There are gaps between the Schwann cells = nodes of ranvier Outermost membrane of myelin sheath = neurilemma
27
Why is the myelin sheath important
Acts as an insulator so prevents nerve impulses from jumping sideways from neuron to another
28
How can neurons be classified according to function
Sensory - receptor to CNS Motor - CNS to effector Interneurons - connect motor neuron to sensory neuron
29
How can neurons be classified according to structure
Unipolar - one outgrowth : sensory neurons Bipolar - two outgrowths : interneurons Multipolar - many outgrowths : motor and interneurons
30
What is a synapse
A microscopic gap between two consecutive neurons where impulses travel
31
How is a nerve impulse transmitted from one neuron to the next
Impulse has jump across synapse to reach next neuron Axon releases chemical = neurotransmitter Neurotransmitter diffuses across synaptic cleft to next neuron Neurotransmitter only produced one side of neuron = one direction flow of impulse
32
How can an impulse be strengthened
Impulse from many neurons combined in one synapse
33
What happens to insignificant stimuli
Filtered ou to prevent overloading the brain
34
What is a reflex action
Fast, automatic response of an effector to a stimulus received by a receptor
35
Where are reflex actions controlled
Mainly spinal cord Reflexes such as coughing, sneezing controlled by medulla oblangata
36
What is a reflex arc
The pathway along which nerve impulses are carried from a receptor to an effector to bring about a reflex action. Ut is the functional unit or the nervous system
37
What is alzheimer’s disease
Irreversible disease that gradually becomes worse causing memory loss and decreased intellectual abilities Caused by plaque building up between neurons, affected parts of brain shrink
38
What are symptoms of alzheimer’s
Simple forgetfulness progressing to not being able to recognize friends and family Can lose ability to speak Loss of bodily functions leading to death
39
How can alzheimer’s be treated
No treatment to slow the disease Treatment to help maintain mental functions and control behavioural symptoms like aggression and sleeplessness
40
What is multiple sclerosis
Auto-immune disease where your own immune system starts to attack the neurons of the brain and spinal cord Slowly destroys myelin sheath Results in gradual loss of muscle control
41
What are the causes of multiple sclerosis
Viral infections can be trigger Genetic factors
42
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Loss of vision, inability to walk, loss of speech
43
Treatment for multiple sclerosis
No treatment Physiotherapy can help to cope with loss of muscle control
44
What is the difference between traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury
Traumatic - caused by blow to the head Acquired - caused by internal dmage as a result of stroke, hypoxia, cancer, infections etc.
45
What are the effects of brain injury
Loss of consciousness Concussion Headaches Poor judgement
46
What can cause spine damage
Car accidents, sports injuries, diseases like polio
47
What are symptoms of spine damage
Range from loss of sensation to paraplegia and quadraplegia
48
How can brain and spine damage be prevented
Don't play violent sports Wear seatbelts Don't drink and drive
49
What is a drug
A substance that changes normal body functions
50
What do drugs do to neurotransmitters
Stimulate or inhibit
51
What are the three categories of drugs and what are examples of drugs in each category
Stimulant - accelerate impulses : caffeine, nicotine, dagga Depressant - slow doen impulses : alcohol, dagga, heroine Hallucinogens - distort perceptions : dagga, ecstacy, LSD
52
What can dagga cause after intake
Drowsiness, decreased co-ordination, euphoria uncontrollable talking
53
What can high dosage of dagga lead to
Paranoia and hallucination
54
How does heroin work
Extracted from poppy plants White/brown powder usually injected Mimics endorphins
55
What is ecstacy
Stimulant commonly used at dance parties for extra energy
56
How does ecstacy work
Increases heart rate, bp and body temp Has negative effect on emotions, memory and ability to learn
57
What is tik used for
To stay awake for long periods of time
58
How does tik work
Causes excessive release of dopamine which over-stimulates the neurons of brain Createsfeeling of euphoria but damages neurons
59
What can long term use of til lead to
Insomnia, anxiety, paranoia

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