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Anatomy and Physiology > The Nervous System > Flashcards

The Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What 2 parts make up the nervous system?

A
  1. CNS - brain and spinal cord

2. PNS - motor and sensory nerves

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2
Q

What is the function of the nervous system?

A
  1. To receive information about internal tissues and organs
  2. To receive information from the external environment
  3. To interpret the information received
  4. To send impulses throughout the body via the nervous system to stimulate activity
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3
Q

Describe the movement of an impulse from receptor to effector

A

Receptor (sensory organ) detects stimulus. An impulse is then sent via a sensory neuron in the PNS to synapse with an intercalated neuron in the CNS. this neuron then synapses with a motor (efferent) neuron in PNS and stimulates activity in an effector (muscle or gland)

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4
Q

Why are neurons specialised?

A

To allow the conduction of electrical (nervous) impulses along its length.

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5
Q

Describe the structure of a neuron

A

Dendrites (carry impulse towards cell body) group together to form a dendron and attaches to cell body. Cell body contains the nucleus. Then branches down into a long axon. The axon carries nerve impulses away from the cell body. The axon can be myelinated (schwann cells and gaps between called nodes of ranvier). The whole axon is surrounded by a connective tissue sheath called a neurilemma. The axon terminates in synaptic bulbs.

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6
Q

What is myelin? What is its purpose?

A

Fatty substance
Insulates Axon
Speeds up impulse

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7
Q

What three forms can a neuron be?

A
  1. Unipolar (one entry and exit to cell body)
    - usually sensory neurons
  2. Bipolar (one entrance to cell body, one exit)
    - rare, found in ear and eye
  3. Multipolar (multiple entrances and an exit)
    - most motor and interneurons)
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8
Q

What is the name of the gap between two neurones?

Between a neuron and a muscle?

A

Synapse

Neuromuscular Junction

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9
Q

What is essential for neurotransmission?

A

Adequate levels of Ca ions

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10
Q

What allows movement of an impulse across a synapse or NM junction?

A

Neurotransmitters

Most commonly Acetylcholine

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11
Q

Describe how neurotransmitters work

A

A nerve impulse travels down to pre-synaptic terminal and releases the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. It diffuses across the gap and combines with the post-synaptic membrane ‘exciting’ it and allowing the nerve impulse to continue down the next nerve.

The neurotransmitter is then broken down by enzymes, reducing the level and the whole thing resets for the next impulse

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12
Q

Name 2 other Nervous System Cells?

A
  1. Neuroglia
    - surround neurons and provide support for them and provide nutrients
  2. Schwann Cells
    - produce myelin
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13
Q

What is the difference between grey and white matter

A

White matter contains myelinated fibres (axons) and Grey matter contains cell bodies (little or no myelin)

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14
Q

What are the 3 sections of the brain?

A

Forebrain
Midbrain
Hindbrain

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15
Q

What does the forebrain include?

A 
The cerebrum
The thalamus
The hypothalamus
The optic chiasma
Oflactory Bulbs
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16
Q

What is the function of the cerebrum?

A

Receives and processes information from all over the body relating to conscious thought and action (e.g. smell, taste, vision and hearing).
Also site for pain, awareness, memory, learning and personality.

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17
Q

What are the folds of the cerebrum called?

A

Up folds are called gyri and down folds are called sulci.

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18
Q

Describe the structure of the cerebrum

A

2 cerebral hemispheres joined by the corpus callosum and are separated by a deep groove called the longitudinal sulcus.
Cerebral surface is highly folded for large surface area.

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19
Q

What lobes make up the cerebral hemisphere?

A

Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal

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20
Q

Where is the thalamus found? What is its function?

A

Deep in the forebrain, at the base of the cerebral hemispheres. It relay impulses to and from the cerebral cortex

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21
Q

Describe the location and function of the hypothalamus

A

Lies just above the pituitary gland
Regulates autonomic nervous system and pituitary gland
Role in homeostasis (BP, temp etc)
Forms a link between the nervous and endocrine system

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22
Q

Where and what is the optic chiasma?

A

Situated on the ventral side of the midline cerebrum.

Y-shaped crossing over of the nerve fibres associated with the eye

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23
Q

Where and what are the olfactory bulbs?

A

Situated at most rostral part of cerebrum

Convey stimuli associated with smell

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24
Q

What percentage of neurons are found in the cerebrum?

A

90%

25
Q

What is the midbrain ?

A

Small area situated deep in the cranium
Passes impulses from the hindbrain, and the senses of sight and hearing to the forebrain
Responsible for the maintenance of conscious state

26
Q

Where is the hind brain?

A

Most caudal part of the brain and is continuous with the spinal cord

27
Q

What is the function of the hindbrain? What does it contain?

A

Contains:

  1. Pons (or brainstem)
    - contains control centres for respiration
  2. The Medulla Oblongata
    - contains control centres for blood pressure and respiration
  3. The cerebellum
    - controls balance and coordination
28
Q

What is the function of the ventricles in the brain?

A

Set of 4 interconnected cavities within the brain that produce and circulate CSF. The choroid plexus within the ventricle produces the CSF.
They are continuous with the spinal cord allowing the free flow of CSF

29
Q

Where are the ventricles specifically found?

A

2 lateral ventricles within the cerebral hemispheres
3rd ventricle is dorsal to the thalamus
4th ventricle is beneath/rostral to the cerebellum

30
Q

What is the function of CSF?

A
  1. Bathes the brain in fluid protecting it from injury
  2. Carries waste products from the brain cell metabolism away
  3. May transport some hormones across the brain
31
Q

What protects the brain and spinal cord?

A

Bony protection from the cranium bones and the vertebrae

The entire CNS is covered by a layer of protective membranes called the meninges.

32
Q

What are the layers of the meninges from bone to CNS

A
  1. Vertebrae
  2. Dura mater
  3. Arachnoid layer
  4. Subarachnoid space
  5. Pia mater
  6. Spinal Cord
  7. Pia mater
  8. Subarachnoid space
  9. Arachnoid layer
  10. Dura mater
  11. Vertebrae
33
Q

What does the spinal cord exit the skull via?

A

Foramen magnum

34
Q

Name and describe the 3 main layers of the meninges

A
  1. Dura mater
    - tough fibrous outer layer
  2. Arachnoid layer
    - web-like membrane
    - closely attached to inner layer of the dura
    - Below is the subarachnoid space which contains CSF and is the site for spinal anaesthesia
  3. Pia mater
    - vascular innermost membrane
35
Q

A CSF tap is taken from the cisterna magna and the lumbar cistern. Where are these located?

A

Cisterna Magna - between skull base and Atlas

Lumbar cistern - Between L5&6 (in dogs) and L6&7 (in cats)

36
Q

Where does the spinal cord start and finish?

A

Runs from the medulla oblongata to the caudal equina (bundle of nerve fibres) at Lumbar region.

37
Q

Where do nerves leave the spinal cord?

A

A pair of nerves come off at each intervertebral space. The nerve on each side of the cord is divided into 2 roots: The dorsal root (carries sensory fibres into the cord) and the ventral root (carries motor fibres away from cord)

38
Q

What does each dorsal root possess?

A

A ganglion - where cell bodies of sensory nerves are found.

39
Q

What type of matter is the outer layer of the spinal cord?

A

White Matter composed of myelinated nerve fibres which run to and from the brain.

40
Q

What are somatic nerves?

A

Relate to body wall. Carry info to and from the voluntary muscles

41
Q

What are visceral nerves?

A

Relate to organs within the body wall

Carry info to and from involuntary muscles

42
Q

What is the Pneumonic for remembering the Cranial Nerves?

A

On occasion, our trusty truck acts funny.

Very Good Vehicle Any How

43
Q

Name and Number the Cranial Nerves

A
  1. Olfactory
  2. Optic
  3. Oculomotor
  4. Trochlear
  5. Trigeminal
  6. Abducens
  7. Facial
  8. Vestibulocochlear (auditory)
  9. Glossopharyngeal
  10. Vagus
  11. Accessory (spinal)
  12. Hypoglossal
44
Q

What is the function of the following nerves?

  1. Olfactory
  2. Optic
  3. Oculomotor
  4. Trochlear
A
  1. Smell - innervate the olfactory organ
  2. Sight - innervate retina
  3. Eye movement - innervate eye muscles
  4. Eye movement - one eye muscle
45
Q

What is the function of the following nerves?

  1. Trigeminal
  2. Abducens
  3. Facial
  4. Vestibulocochlear
A
  1. Jaw movement, touch and pain
    - innervate jaw muscle, teeth and facial skin
  2. Motor to eye movement - innervate one eye muscle
  3. Salivation, facial expression, sweet, sour and salt
    - innervate cheek, face, muscles and tongue
  4. Hearing and balance
    - innervate cochlea and semi lunar canals
46
Q

What is the function of the following nerves?

  1. Glossopharyngeal
  2. Vagus
  3. Accessory
  4. Hypoglossal
A
  1. muscles of swallowing, bitter taste
    - innervate tongue and pharyngeal muscle
  2. Speech, swallow, stimulates peristalsis, slows HR
    - innervate larynx, pharynx, heart, gut
  3. Motor to neck muscles
    - innervate head and neck
  4. Motor and sensory to tongue muscle
    - innervate tongue
47
Q

What is the odd cranial nerve and why?

A

Vagus. All cranial nerves innervate the head or neck except the vagus nerve.

48
Q

What are the 2 types of reflexes?

A

Conditional

  • occur in conjunction with specific, regular events
  • e.g. salivation to ringing of a bell
  • can be overcome by conscious control

Unconditional

  • cannot be overruled
  • e.g. knee-jerk reflex
49
Q

What is a reflex arc?

A

Fixed, involuntary response.

An automatic protective reflex that ONLY involves the spinal cord

50
Q

Describe the pedal reflex

A

Finger touches flame
Pain sensor in the finger sends sensory impulse
Travels towards spinal cord and in through dorsal root
Sensory neuron synapses with relay neurone in grey matter
Relay neuron synapses with the motor neuron
Exits via ventral root and travel to arm muscle
Motor neuron forms a synapse inside the muscle and instructs it to withdraw finger from flame

51
Q

What is the difference between mesosynaptic and polysynaptic?

A

Mesosynaptic only involves one synapse, polysynaptic involves at least one intercalated neuron in a pathway

52
Q

Describe the autonomic nervous system?

A

Self-governing
Usually takes place without conscious control
Controls internal functions e.g. organs, blood vessels, smooth and cardiac muscle and glands.
It is made up of the sympathetic NS and the parasympathetic NS.

53
Q

Describe the sympathetic NS

A

STRESS

  • flight or fight or fright
  • diverts blood to brain, heart and away from skin
  • increases blood flow to skeletal muscle
  • increases heart rate and respiratory rate
  • releases adrenaline
  • dilutes pupil
54
Q

Describe the Parasympathetic NS

A

PEACE

  • relaxed or digesting a meal
  • Constricts pupil
  • decreases heart rate and respiratory rate
  • stimulates secretion of saliva and tears
  • stimulates peristalsis and secretion of digestive juice
  • decreases blood pressure
  • promotes blood supply to visceral organs
55
Q

What nerve fibres are parasympathetic?

A

3, 7 and 9

56
Q

What nerve supplies the thoracic and absominal viscera?

A

Vagus

57
Q

What nerve fibres supply the pelvic viscera?

A

Parasympathetic nerve fibres from S1 and S2

58
Q

Describe the structure of parasympathetic nerve fibres

A

Have very short post ganglionic fibres as they synapse very close to their target organ

59
Q

Where do sympathetic nerve fibres leave the spinal cord?

A

T1 to L4 or 5. They have long, post-ganglionic fibres

Anatomy and Physiology (15 decks)

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