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Biomedical science Pharmacology and Physiology > Overview of the nervous system > Flashcards

Overview of the nervous system Flashcards

1
Q

What are the features of the axon and describe these features

A

Axons conduct nerve impulses.

Axon hillock - Tapers away from soma to form initial segment

Axon ‘proper’ - Branching to form axon collaterals (and recurrent collaterals)

Axon terminal - Site at which axon comes into contact with other neurons at a synapse

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2
Q

How are axon terminals different to the axon proper

A

Cytoplasm - Microtubules do not extend into terminals from proper.

Axon terminal contains synaptic vesicles available for neuron to neuron communication. Rich in proteins and mitochondria, higher energy needs

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3
Q

What is myelin

A

Membranous sheath that wraps around and insulates axon

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4
Q

What are nodes of Ranvier

A

Gaps within the myelin sheath - Enriched in voltage-gated Na+ ion channels

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5
Q

What are dendritic spines

A

Sacs of membrane protruding from dendrites to receive synaptic input

They come in sizes and types (e.g. cups, mushrooms) sensitive to type and amount of synaptic activity

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6
Q

What are the two parts of the human nervous system

A

CNS - Brain and spinal cord

PNS - Autonomic, somatic nervous systems

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7
Q

What is the somatic nervous system

A

Component of peripheral nervous system that innervates the skin, joints and skeletal muscle

Helps movement

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8
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system

A

Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions - Innervation to cardiovascular system, internal organs and smooth muscle

Heart rate, bp, breathing, digestion

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9
Q

What physical features are present in the cerebrum of the brain

A

Bumps called gyri
Grooves called sulci
Deep grooves called fissures

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10
Q

What are the postcentral and precentral gyrus responsible for and what are they separated by

A

Postcentral - Somatic sensation e.g. touch
Precentral - Voluntary movement

Separated by central sulcus

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11
Q

What does the superior temporal gyrus do and what is it separated by

A

Audition
Separated by lateral fissure

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12
Q

What is the frontal lobe responsible for

A

Voluntayr movement, behaviour

Attention, planning, decision making, motivation, emotional regulation

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13
Q

What is the temporal lobe responsible for

A

Auditory processing and interpretation, memory

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14
Q

What is the parietal lobe responsible for

A

Sensory processing and interpretation
Proprioception (I.e. equilibrium and balance of the body)

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15
Q

What is the occipital lobe responsible for

A

Visual processing and interpretation (Distance, depth perception, colour, object and face recognition)

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16
Q

Where is the hippocampus and what is its function

A

Embedded within the temporal lobe
Learning, memory formation and retrieval
REgulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis

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17
Q

What happens if there is hippocampal dysfunction

A

Anterograde amnesia - Unable to create new memories

Retrograde amnesia - Generally unable to recall past memories

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18
Q

What is the basal ganglia

A

Large and functionally diverse set of neural structures embedded deep within the cerebral hemispheres

Caudate, putamen globus pallidus

19
Q

Describe basal ganglia functions

A

Regulation of movement

20
Q

What happens with basal ganglia dysfunction

A

GABAergic neurons - Huntington’s disease

Dopaminergic neurons - Parkinson’s disease

21
Q

What is the diencephalon

A

Between cerebrum and midbrain, consist of thalamus and hypothalamus

21
Q

What is the diencephalon

A

Between cerebrum and midbrain, consist of thalamus and hypothalamus

22
Q

Describe thalamic function

A

Thalamus contain lots of nuclei. Some nuclei relay between sensory and motor systems and the cerebral cortex.

Some nuclei regulate arousal and pain, mood, motivation and cognition

23
Q

What is synaesthesia

A

Blending of information streams - Some people can ‘hear colour’ or ‘feel sounds’

24
Q

Describe hypothalamic function

A

Smaller collection of nuclei

Some nuclei involved in homeostatic, reproductive and other diverse functions (fight/flight)

25
Q

What happens in hypothalamic dysfunction

A

Hypothyroidism - Underproduction and release of thyroid
Hyperthyroidism - Excessive

26
Q

What is the brainstem

A

Between diencephalon and spinal cord, comprises midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata

27
Q

What does the midbrain do

A

Control of eye movements, auditory and visual processing

28
Q

What do the pons do

A

Relay of motor information from cerebral hemispheres to medulla, spinal cord and cerebellum

29
Q

What does the medulla oblongata do

A

Cardiovascular and respiratory homeostasis
Reflexive actions including vomiting swallowing coughing and sneezing

30
Q

What is ‘brainstem dead’

A

Unable to regain consciousness or breath without life support

There is a loss of blood circulation to all brainstem regions

31
Q

Describe locked-in syndrome

A

When you are awake and conscious but have no means of producing speech, limb or facial movements

Involves loss of blood circulation to pons

32
Q

What is the function of the cerebellum

A

Detects differences in ‘motor error’ between intended and actual movement.

Helps the motor cortex to produce precise and co-ordinated movement

33
Q

How are seal and other animal cerebellums similar to human’s

A

Cerebellum utilised in synchronisation of movement with musical rhythm. (e.g. seals doing tricks)

34
Q

Name the vertebrae of the spinal cord and their location

A

Cervical vertebrae - Neck, C1-C7
Thoracic vertebrae - Ribs, T1-T12
Lumbar vertebrae - Lower back, L1-L5
Sacral vertebrae - Pelvic area, S1-S5

35
Q

What is a dorsal root

A

Bundle of sensory neuron axons that carry sensory information into the spinal cord

36
Q

What is a ventral root

A

Bundle of motor neuron axons that carry information away from the spinal cord to striated muscle

37
Q

What is grey and white matter

A

Grey - Neuronal cell bodies divided into horns
White - axon bundles divided into columns.

38
Q

Describe spinal cord function

A

Motor neurons innervate skeletal muscle allowing for movement. Also contains motor tracts that carry information for motor movement down from the brain.

Spinal cord also receives sensory information from the periphery of body and contains pathways by which sensory information is transmitted to the brain.

39
Q

Describe tetraplegia

A

Full or partial loss of sensation and movement in all four limbs and torso (damage in cervical area)

40
Q

Describe paraplegia

A

Full or partial loss of sensation and movement in both legs and torso

Caused by damage in the thoracic, lumbar or sacral areas

41
Q

What is the meninges and describe its function

A

3 membrane layers covering the brain and spinal cord - Dura mater, arachnoid membrane and pia mater

Protection, passage of CSF, and support of cerebral and spinal blood vessels.

42
Q

What is the ventricular system and describe its function

A

Comprises of CSF-filled spaces - Lateral ventricles, third ventricle, fourth ventricle

Protection of the brain, transport of nutrients and waste, regulation of buoyancy (through CSF)

43
Q

What is the vasculatory system and describe its function

A

Two pairs of arteries suppliyng blood to the brain - Internal carotid and vertebral

Anterior circulation - Carotid arteries, supplies forebrain

Posterior circulation - Vertebral arteries, supplying brainstem, cerebellum and upper spinal cord

They deliver oxygen, remove CO2 and transport nutrients and waste

Biomedical science Pharmacology and Physiology (11 decks)

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