Nervous system Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are the main components of the nervous system?
Central Nervous System (CNS): Composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Includes all nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.
function of the nervous system?
Detects stimuli from the environment and inside the body.
Processes information and coordinates appropriate responses.
Regulates body functions, including movement, sensory perception, and homeostasis.
main divisions of the nervous system?
Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movement and sensory input.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responsible for?
The ANS regulates involuntary functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and digestion.
It consists of two branches:
Sympathetic Nervous System: Activates the fight-or-flight response.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: Promotes rest-and-digest activities.
How does the ANS differ from the somatic nervous system?
ANS: Controls involuntary functions (e.g., heart rate, digestion).
Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements and sensory information (e.g., muscle movement).
Describe the development of the nervous system during embryonic development.
Neural plate forms from the ectoderm (outer layer of the embryo).
Neural groove develops as the neural plate folds.
The neural tube forms by the fourth week of embryonic life and will eventually give rise to the brain and spinal cord.
What are the major parts of the brain, and what are their functions?
Cerebrum: Controls voluntary movement, sensory perception, thought, and emotions.
Cerebellum: Coordinates balance, muscle coordination, and fine motor control.
Brainstem: Regulates basic life functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
function of the spinal cord?
The spinal cord serves as a communication highway between the brain and the body.
It also controls reflexes, which are rapid, automatic responses to stimuli.
What are neurons, and what are their main functions?
Neurons are the functional cells of the nervous system that transmit electrical signals.
Functions:
Sensory neurons: Detect stimuli.
Motor neurons: Control muscle movement.
Interneurons: Relay signals between sensory and motor neurons.
types of neurons?
Pyramidal neurons: Large, with branched dendrites and a long axon.
Bipolar neurons: One axon and one dendrite.
Purkinje cells: Highly branched cells found in the cerebellum.
Granule cells: Small neurons with short axons.
What is the blood-brain barrier, and how does it function?
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a selective barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood while allowing essential nutrients to pass through.
It is formed by tight junctions between the endothelial cells of the blood vessels in the brain.
structure of the brain, and what are its main components?
Cerebrum: Divided into lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital).
Cerebellum: Located at the back of the brain, responsible for balance and motor control.
Brainstem: Connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates essential functions.
What is the role of the corpus callosum in the brain?
The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres, allowing them to communicate with each other.
function of the thalamus in the brain?
The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals, transmitting information from the body to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.
What are ganglion cells, and what is their role in the retina?
Ganglion cells are the final neurons in the retina.
They transmit visual information from the retina to the brain via the optic nerve.
function of the cerebellum?
The cerebellum coordinates balance, fine motor control, and muscle coordination, allowing for smooth, controlled movements.
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in regulating body functions?
The ANS controls involuntary functions such as heartbeat, digestion, and breathing.
It is divided into the sympathetic (activates fight-or-flight response) and parasympathetic (promotes rest and digestion) systems.
function of the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus regulates basic physiological processes such as temperature, hunger, thirst, and hormone secretion.
It also controls the pituitary gland, which influences growth, metabolism, and reproductive functions.
How do reflex arcs work in the nervous system?
A reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls a reflex action.
It involves a sensory neuron that detects a stimulus, a motor neuron that carries the response, and often an interneuron in the spinal cord.
function of the spinal cord in relation to reflexes?
The spinal cord processes reflex actions, which are rapid, automatic responses to stimuli, often bypassing the brain for quicker action.
what does the autonomic nervous system include?
The autonomic nervous system includes control of heart rate,
smooth muscle contraction and release of hormones from
glands
what pathway is pupil dilation an exampe of??
the sympathetic pathway
During embryonic development of the brain, what eventually becomes the spinal cord?
neural tube
which part of the brain is resp for visual processing??
occipital lobe
