Neuro Review

Question 1

What is a Nervous System

Answer 1

Because we are not a plant, we are animals. We use the nervous system to process information about the environment and then respond with behavior. We do it with electricity.

Question 2

Neuron

Answer 2

Brain cells are specialized to send electric signals.

Question 3

Cell Body

Answer 3

Contains the nucleus and cellular organelles.

Question 4

Dendrite

Answer 4

Branches from the cell body that receive signals.

Question 5

Axon

Answer 5

Extension of the cell body to transmit signals to others.

Question 6

Glial Cells

Answer 6

Most brain cells are not neurons but are glial cells. Glial cells help support neurons.

Question 7

Where do neurons receive signals from?

Answer 7

Received at the dendrites and if enough signals are received, the neuron will send signals to other neurons.

Question 8

Where are the signals sent down?

Answer 8

They are sent down the axon. Axons can be very long.

Question 9

What are bundles of axons?

Answer 9

Nerves.

Question 10

How do Neurons Communicate?

Answer 10

They communicate through the synapses, which are small gaps. They communicate by sending chemical messages called neurotransmitters.

Question 11

What do neurotransmitters bind to?

Answer 11

They bind to receptors on the receiving neuron which is called the post-synaptic neuron.

Question 12

Neurotransmitters can be …?

Answer 12

Excitatory- increase the rate of fire
Inhibitory- decrease the rate of fire

Question 13

How do chemical messages turn into electric signals?

Answer 13

The action potential

Question 14

How is an action potential triggered?

Answer 14

It is triggered by neurotransmitters in the synapse.

Question 15

Action Potential

Answer 15

It is a temporary change in polarity. The neuron goes from being negatively charged to being positively charged.
Action potentials are “All or Nothing”- it either fires or doesn’t. The strength of the action potential is always the same.

Question 16

What is the firs step of Action Potential?

Answer 16

Resting Potential. Maintaining equilibrium of positive and negative ions inside the outside of the cell. At rest, the inside has negative charge.

Question 17

What is the second step of Action Potential?

Answer 17

Depolarization. Ion channels are active. Positive ions enter. Net charge becomes positive.

Question 18

What is the third step of Action Potential?

Answer 18

Repolarization. Positive ions get kicked out and return to being negatively charged.

Question 19

What is the 4th step of Action Potential?

Answer 19

Hyperpolarization. Temporarily too much negative charge. Unable to fire again until returning to resting potential.

Question 20

Ion Channels

Answer 20

Each ion has specific ion channels to move in or out of the cell.

Question 21

Positive ions

Answer 21

Sodium(Na+)
Potassium(K+)
Calcium(Ca+)

Question 22

Negative Ions

Answer 22

Chlorine(Cl-)

Question 23

Na+/K+ pumps

Answer 23

3Na+ ions move outside for every 2K+ move inside

Question 24

Resting Potential

Answer 24

-70 millivolts maintained by keeping a higher concentration of Na+ outside the cell than inside.

Question 25

Leak Channels

Answer 25

Always open allow ions to move freely in or out of the cell

Question 26

Gated Channels

Answer 26

open in response to specific channels. Two types, chemically gated and voltage gated.

Question 27

Chemically gated

Answer 27

open when neurotransmitters bind

Question 28

Voltage-Gated

Answer 28

open due to a change in electric potential

Question 29

When does an Action Potential occur?

Answer 29

Excitatory neurotransmitters open enough chemically gated channels to then cause voltage-gated channels to open. Sodium (Na+) rushes in to depolarize the axon.

Question 30

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Answer 30

Glutamate Norepinephrine Dopamine Open more Na+ channels

Question 31

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Answer 31

Serotonin Dopamine GABA Open more Cl- channels

Question 32

What are the most common neurotransmitters through the brain and the nervous system?

Answer 32

Glutamate (Excitatory) and GABA (Inhibitory)

Question 33

Which neurotransmitters create specific "circuits between brain regions?

Answer 33

Serotonin Dopamine Norepinephrine

Question 34

Whats the difference between a neurotransmitter and a hormone?

Answer 34

Neurotransmitters are chemical messages that allow communication between neurons. Hormones are chemical messages that allow communication between different brain and body regions.

Question 35

What are hormones produced by?

Answer 35

They are produced by different endocrine glands: pituitary gland pineal gland adrenal gland ovaries and testes

Question 36

what are parts of the Nervous System?

Answer 36

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System.

Question 37

Central Nervous System

Answer 37

Brain and the spinal cord.

Question 38

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 38

Autonomic(guts) and Somatic(senses, muscles) System.The autonomic system has two parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Question 39

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 39

"Fight or Flight"

Question 40

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 40

"Rest and Digest"

Question 41

Grey Matter

Answer 41

This is where cell bodies of neurons are most concentrated and where the "processing happens". A lot of bodies are working.

Question 42

White Matter

Answer 42

This is where neurons are most concentrated and it connects the different areas of the brain. They are white because of the fat (myelin). They send stuff from city to city.

Question 43

Cerebrum

Answer 43

Cerebal Cortex which is the wrinkly outer area, is relatively thin and has 4 lobes. The frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.

Question 44

Hippocampus

Answer 44

Involved in forming long term memory.

Question 45

Amygdala

Answer 45

Involved in emotional processing Salience Detector

Question 46

Basal Ganglia

Answer 46

Involved in coordinating voluntary movement.

Question 47

What does the Diencephalon contain?

Answer 47

It contains that the Thalamus which is the relay station for sensory info. The information gets "sorted and shipped" out of here. It also contains the Hypothalamus. It is connected to the pituitary gland, allows brain to regulate hormones in the body, maintains the body's homeostasis, and controls activity of an autonomic nervous system.

Question 48

Cerebellum

Answer 48

Helps process sensory information used to maintain balance. Name means "little brain".

Question 49

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Answer 49

screens incoming information, is responsible for alertness.

Question 50

Brain Stem or Medulla

Answer 50

Messages from the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system enter and exit from here.

Question 51

How does the Nervous System Respond to Stress?

Answer 51

The hypothalamus responds by triggering a stress response.

Question 52

What are the two pathways for a stress response?

Answer 52

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system so "fight or flight" or the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).

Question 53

What is the pathway for the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 53

Hypothalamus -> sympathetic nervous system->adrenal medulla(inner part of the adrenal gland)-> secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Question 54

What is the pathway for HPA Axis?

Answer 54

Hypothalamus ->Pituitary ->Adrenal Cortex(outer part of the adrenal gland->secretes cortisol.

Question 55

The HPA Axis

Answer 55

The hypothalamus release corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) CRH causes the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) ACTH in blood causes the adrenal gland to release cortisol.

Question 56

Why are there two different types of stress responses?

Answer 56

Activation of the "flight or fight" response is associated with adrenaline(epinephrine) and useful for fast responses to immediate threats. Activation of the HPA allows for a sustained stress response. Cortisol regulates metabolism and immune functioning.