Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

RUSVM Physiology 1 > Neurophysiology - CNS, PNS, CSF, BBB > Flashcards

Neurophysiology - CNS, PNS, CSF, BBB Flashcards

(56 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What are the 2 subdivisions of the CNS?

A

Brain

Spinal Cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Functions of brain

A

Receive and process sensory information
Initiate responses
Store memories
Generate thoughts and emotions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Functions of spinal cord

A

Conduct signals to and from brain

Control reflex activities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 2 main subdivisions of the PNS?

A

Sensory (afferent) (visceral and somatic)

Motor (efferent) (visceral and somatic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Function of sensory (afferent) division

A

Bring info from receptors to CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Functions of visceral sensory division

A

Provide info about internal organs via visceral receptors and sensory neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Functions of somatic sensory division

A

Provide info about position, touch, pressure and pain via somatic receptors and sensory neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Function of motor (efferent) division

A

Carry motor commands from CNS to peripheral tissues and systems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Functions of visceral motor division

*2 subdivisions

A

Autonomic regulation of smooth and cardiac muscle, glands, and adipose tissue.

Sympathetic (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic (rest and digest)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Function of somatic motor division

A

Control skeletal muscle contractions (voluntary)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Parts of a neuron (7)

A
  1. Dendrites - receive info
  2. Cell body (soma) - contains oraganelles
  3. Axon - ext of cell membrane, carries info
  4. Axon Hillock/Trigger Zone - axon origin, AP origin
  5. Presynaptic Terminal - transmits info
  6. Myelin Sheath - increases transfer speed
  7. Nodes of Ranvier - Gaps in myelin sheath
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Structural classifications of neurons (4)

A
  1. Multipolar - most common - 1 axon, many dendrites
  2. Bipolar - 2 processes (1 axon, 1 dendrite)
  3. Pseudounipolar - single stem process that bifurcates to form 2 processes (1 to PNS, 1 to CNS)
  4. Unipolar - dendrites and axon stem from a single process. Common in insects
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Functional classifications of neurons (3)

A
  1. Sensory - most pseudounipolar, send info from receptors toward CNS
  2. Interneurons (association) -multi or bipolar, in CNS, connect sensory and motor neurons.
  3. Motor - multipolar, send info from CNS to muscles/glands (effector organs)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Types of Glial cells (5)

A
  1. Microglial cells (CNS)
  2. Astrocytes (CNS)
  3. Oligodendrocytes (CNS)
  4. Ependymal cells (CNS)
  5. Schwann cells (PNS)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Astrocyte functions

A

Star shaped w/ long processes.

Structural and metabolic support for neurons

form inner and outer glial limiting membrane

neurotrophic (neuronal survival)

elongate axons/dendrites

tissue repair

neuron communication

control neurotrans around synapse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Oligodendrocyte functions

A

Support to axons of neurons in CNS
Processes to form myelin
Myelinate most axons > 1um diameter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ependymal cell functions

A

Cover ventricles of brain, central canal and choroid plexus.

Involved in creating CSF.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Schwann cell functions

A

(neurolemmocytes).

Support axons of neurons in PNS (similar to oligodendrocytes).

Each cell forms internodes of myelin sheath.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Major functional areas of the brain (5)

A
  1. Cerebrum (telencephalon)
  2. Cerebellum
  3. Thalamus
  4. Hypothalamus
  5. Brainstem
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Functions of cerebrum

A

Role in conscious experience of sensation and initiation of voluntary movement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Functions of cerebellum

A

Role in synchronizing muscle activity and controlling equilibrium and eye movement.
Works with vestibular system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Damage to cerebellum causes:

A

Loss of spatial accuracy and smooth execution of movement.

Loss of equilibrium.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Functions of thalamus

Study These Flashcards
A

Pre-processes all info reaching the cerebral cortex.

Extends into cerebral hemisphere; gateway to cortex.

Essential for consciousness, attention, and alertness.

24
Q

What’s up with the limbic system?

Study These Flashcards
A

Found at border between cerebrum and thalamus, the limbic system is a circuit that relates to behavior, arousal, emotions, and memory. It’s also related to the autonomic NS, which is why your emotions can affect visceral functions (HR, BP, GI motility)

25
Functions of hypothalamus
Homeostasis. Remember the 4 F's (fighting, fleeing, feeding, and sex). Neurological and endocrine connection. Secretes releasing and inhibitory hormones that control anterior pituitary secretion.
26
Sections of brainstem (3)
1. Medulla - HR, BP, breathing, circadian, swallowing (autonomous). End of stem. 2. Pons - maintain consciousness and alertness. Influence posture, locomotion and visceral funct. Pathway to relay sensory info between cerebellum and cortex. Middle of stem. 3. Midbrain - location of brainstem UMN pathways. Extrapyramidal tracts. Subconscious posture and voluntary learned movements. Top of stem.
27
What is gray matter?
Nerve cell bodies and their processes. (cerebral cortex). Where all the synapses are.
28
What is white matter?
Myelinated axons that connect different parts of gray matter to each other.
29
Functional areas of the cerebral cortex (3)
1. Motor 2. Sensory 3. Association
30
Function of sensory cortex
Receive sensory signals from brainstem and spinal cord. | Somatosensory, visual, auditory, vestibular, olfactory.
31
Function of motor cortex
Voluntary movement. Corticospinal/pyramidal tract: primary motor area - muscle activation Premotor frontal cortex - plan and organize movement Supplementary motor - preparatory orientation of the body to execute task
32
Function of association cortex
learning and intelligent behavior. Integrate sensory, memory, and behavior centers.
33
What's up with basal nuclei?
Gray matter nuclei within white matter of cerebral cortex. Help select appropriate movement pattern while suppressing less appropriate ones (inhibitory output). Inhibition by dopamine-containing neurons (degenertion = Parkinson's).
34
Microglial cell functions
Brain immune cells. Act as macrophages, clear debris by phagocytosis. Release NO to prevent viral infection. Role in developing brain - destroy unnecessary synapses.
35
Fibers in dorsal root of spinal cord
sensory
36
Fibers in intermediate horn of spinal cord
autonomic (not in lumbar)
37
Fibers in ventral root of spinal cord
motor
38
Where do the cord reflexes originate?
Cord gray matter, through dorsal horn. Signals travel to 2 locations; the gray matter for local reflexes, and then higher levels of the cord, brainstem, or cerebral cortex.
39
What are the main components of a spinal nerve? (3)
1. Roots (dorsal and ventral) 2. Main trunk 3. Peripheral branches
40
What are the 4 types of fibers in spinal nerves?
1. Somatic sensory - enter cord through dorsal roots from skin, muscle 2. Visceral sensory - enter cord through dorsal roots from thoracic and abdominal organs, olfactory epithelium, taste buds. 3. Somatic motor - leave cord through ventral root. Go to skeletal muscle. 4. Visceral motor - leave cord through ventral horn. Go to smooth/cardiac muscle, glands.
41
What are the 3 meninges?
1. Dura Mater 2. Arachnoid 3. Pia Mater
42
Characteristics of the Dura Mater
"hard mother", outermost layer, often fused with inner surface of skull. Thicker, protects CNS.
43
Characteristics of Arachnoid
"web form", spiderweb appearance, thin, loose CT. Subarachnoid space between arachnoid and pia mater traps CSF (circulates and is absorbed here).
44
Pia Mater
"soft mother", innermost layer, adheres to surface of CNS
45
Where can CSF be found?
Ventricular system and subarachnoid space. Also in the central canal running through core of spinal cord.
46
Where is CSF formed?
Most is formed at the Choroid Plexus in the lateral third and fourth ventricles.
47
Where is CSF absorbed?
Subarachnoid space, into venous sinuses through arachnoid villi. Absorption is unidirectional - can flow from SAS to venous outflow, but not the other way.
48
What are the functions of the CSF?
Protect brain and spinal cord Waste control system Distribution of some peptide hormones and growth factors Maintain consistent extracellular microenvironment for neurons and glia (micronutrients).
49
What is the cause of the low permeability of the BBB?
Endothelial cells forming capillary walls are tightly fused (tight junctions) rather than having pores between them. Foot processes of astrocytes around entire outer surface of capillary.
50
How are important nutrients transported across the BBB?
facilitated transport with carrier molecules receptor mediated transcytosis adsorptive transcytosis
51
BBB is highly permeable to
H2O, CO2, O2, most lipid soluble substances
52
BBB is slightly permeable to
electrolytes (Na, Cl, K)
53
BBB is impermeable to
Plasma proteins, non-lipid-soluble large organic molecules
54
Glucose transport across BBB
GLUT-1 facilitated diffusion
55
Large neutral amino acid transport across BBB
facilitated diffusion (Leu, Tyr, Val, phenylalanine)
56
How do small, neutral amino acids get through BBB?
They are synthesized in the CNS (Gly, Ala. Ser, Cys)

RUSVM Physiology 1 (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions