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Science for Medicine > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the CNS split into?

A

The brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system split into?

A

Somatic

Autonomic

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3
Q

What composes the brainstem?

A

Midbrain
pons
Medulla

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4
Q

What are the meninges?

A

The coverings of the spinal cord

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5
Q

What is the diencephalon split into?

A

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

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6
Q

What info do the afferent fibres carry?

A

Sensory

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7
Q

What info do the efferent fibres carry?

A

Motor

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8
Q

What is the grey matter?

A

Ganglion

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9
Q

What is the white matter?

A 
Axons
Cell axons (myelinated)
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10
Q

Why is the white matter white?

A

Because of the myelination of the axons

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11
Q

What is the soma?

A

Cell body

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12
Q

What do astrocytes maintain?

A

External environment for neurons

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13
Q

What do oligodendrocytes form?

A

Myeline sheath

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14
Q

What do microglia do?

A

Act as phagocytic hoovers

Mop up infection

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15
Q

What is the RMP?

A

-70mV

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16
Q

What maintains the RMP?

A

Leaky potassium channels

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17
Q

Why does the K+ move out of the leaky channels?

A

Because it is going down its concentration gradient

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18
Q

Why does the K+ not move out till equilibrium is reached?

A

Because eventually the electrical gradients pulls the K+ back

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19
Q

What is the equilibrium potential?

A

The membrane potential at which the electrical gradient is exactly opposite and equal to the conc. gradient

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20
Q

How can too much K+ be bad?

A

Conc. gradient is reduced
Electrical gradient is reduced
RMP is decreased
Can be at threshold constantly firing AP

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21
Q

What does hyperkalemia cause?

A

Ventricular fibrillation

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22
Q

What protects the brain from ion conc. changes?

A

Blood brain barrier

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23
Q

Whilst the equilibrium potential for K+ is around -90MV the RMP is -70mV … why?

A

Because there are other leaky channels
Na+
And Cl-

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24
Q

What is indirectly needed for RMP?

A

Sodium potassium pump

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25
What does the sodium potassium pump maintain?
Conc. gradient needed to generate the RMP
26
What is the RMP dominated by?
The permeability of the cell to K+
27
What happens when more K+ channels are opened?
The K+ flows out and the cell hyperpolarises
28
What happens when more NA+ channel are opened?
Na+ flows in | And the cell depolarises
29
What happens when more Cl- channels are opened?
Cl- flows in and the cell hyperpolarises
30
What happens when Ca+ channels are opened?
Ca+ flows in and the cell depolarises
31
How do axons send signals over long distances?
AP
32
What is the magic threshold for AP?
-55mV
33
When the AP reached the end of the axon what does it do?
Releases neurotransmitters
34
Where is the end plate potential?
At the NMK=J
35
Where is the pacemaker potential?
At pacemaker tissues
36
Where are generator potentials?
At sensory receptors
37
Why are graded potentials also called decremental potentials?
Because they can only operate very locally as the current leaks out
38
What does the amplitude in graded potential signify?
The stimulus intensity
39
What is depolarising?
Made more positive
40
What is hyperpolarising?
Made more negative
41
How do we hyperpolarise a cell?
Allow more chlorine in | Allow more potassium out
42
How do we depolarise a cell?
Allow more Na+ in | Block K+ from leaving
43
What causes a fast IPSP?
Allowing more Cl- in
44
What causes aa slow IPSP?
Letting more K+ out
45
What causes fast EPSP?
Letting more Na+ in
46
What causes slow EPSP?
Stopping K+ leaving | This is more of a gradual process
47
How are the postsynaptic potentials produced?
By neurotransmitters opening or closing ion channels | Ligand gated
48
How are the action potential produced?
Depolarising the membrane potential opening ion channels | Voltage gated
49
Can graded potentials summate?
Yes
50
What is summation?
When sub-threshold come together to fire an AP
51
What is synaptic integration?
Process of summing up all inputs to determine whether or not the initial segment reaches threshold
52
What happens when the RMP reaches -55mV?
Massive sudden depolarisation and AP is fired
53
After an AP what happens?
Their is a massive repolarisation even beyond RMP
54
What channels open when RMP = -55mV?
All sodium channels open
55
How does the cell repolarise?
All sodium channels close | Voltage gated potassium channels open
56
What is the refractory period?
The time when the Na+ channels will not respond as they need to recover after aP
57
Are AP fired to different aptitudes?
No always the same aptitude
58
What indicated the size of the stimulus in AP?
The frequency
59
Why are AP self propagating?
One AP automatically triggers the next to have an AP
60
What can conduction be improved by?
Myelination | Large axons
61
Why do large axons increase conduction?
Less resistance
62
Why does myelination increase conduction?
Makes membrane less leaky | Decreases membrane capacitance
63
What does MS do?
The immune system attacks the myelin | Meaning the AP decay quicker
64
What does GBS affect?
The particular peripheral myelin | Meaning the AP decay quicker
65
Can AP summate?
No They are all or none Always the same aptitude
66
What does the graded potential decide?
If AP will be fired
67
What does tetrodotoxin do?
Blocks Na+ channels so blocks AP
68
What does Joro Spider toxin do?
Blocks Ca2+ channels Stops transmitter being released Essentially paralysing
69
What does botulinum toxin do?
Blocks the transmitter release as vesicles get stuck
70
What does curare d?
Blocks Ach receptors so blocks end plate potential
71
What do anticholinesterases no?
Block Ach breakdown | Transmission at NMJ is increases as neurotransmitter is still in synpase
72
What kind of potentials can CNS synapses have?
Fast Slow ESPS Fast Slow ESPS
73
What is an axo-somatic synapse?
Between axon and cell body
74
What is an axo-dendritic synapse?
Between axon and dendrite
75
What is an axo-axonal synapse?
Between axon and axon
76
What is convergence?
When many come together to one?
77
What is divergence?
When one spreads off into many
78
What is feedback inhibition?
When the branch reaches back and prevents another AP being fired
79
What is monosynaptic?
When there is one synapse
80
What is polysynaptic?
When there is more than one synapse

Science for Medicine (13 decks)

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