Human Structure & Function > How do we control ourselves? > Flashcards

How do we control ourselves? Flashcards

(40 cards)

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1
Q

What are the functions of the Nervous System?

A
  1. Maintaining homeostasis
  2. Receives sensory input
    o Internal
    o External
  3. Integrating information
  4. Motor output
  5. Establish and maintain mental activity
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2
Q

What are the structural divisions of the nervous system?

A

-Central nervous system (CNS)
o Brain and spinal cord
-Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
o Spinal nerves and cranial nerves

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3
Q

What is a Neuron, Axon, Nerve & Sensory Receptors?

A
  • Neuron (nerve cell): basic structural unit of the nervous system
  • Axon: nerve fibre
  • Nerve: bundle of axons (or nerve fibres) and their sheaths (outer covering)
  • Sensory receptors: separate specialised cells which detect temperature, pain, touch, pressure, light, sound, odour and other stimuli
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4
Q

What is a Action Potential, Effector organ/cell, Ganglion, Plexus and Synapse?

A
  • Action potential: electrical signal
  • Effector organ or effector cell: the organ, tissue or cell in which an effect or an action takes place
  • Ganglion: collection of cell bodies located outside the CNS
  • Plexus: extensive network of axons or cell bodies
  • Synapse: junction of a neuron with another cell e.g. end of a neuron with a muscle cell or another neuron
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5
Q

Describe the Autonomic nervous system.

A
  • Involuntary and under subconscious control
  • Action potentials in the motor neurons travel from the CNS to smooth or cardiac muscle, or glands
  • Two-neuron system
  • Cell bodies of the neurons are located in the CNS and autonomic ganglion
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6
Q

Describe the Somatic nervous system

A
  • Voluntary and under conscious control
  • Action potentials in the motor neurons travel from the CNS to skeletal muscles
  • Single neuron system
  • Cell bodies are located in the CNS
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7
Q

What are the cells of the NS (CNS & PNS)

A

-Neuron
-Neuroglia
CNS
-Astrocytes
-Ependymal cells
-Microglia
-Oligodendrocytes
PNS
-Schwann cells
-Satellite cells

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8
Q

Describe the structure of a Neuron

A

-Structural unit of the nervous system
-Dendrites
o Dendritic spines
-Cell body (soma)
-Axon
o Axon hillock
o Initial segment
o Trigger zone
o Axon collaterals
o Axon terminal or presynaptic terminal
o Terminal boutons or synaptic knobs

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9
Q

What are the types of neurons in terms of function?

A
  • Sensory (afferent) neuron – information to the CNS
  • Motor (efferent) neuron – information away from the CNS
  • Inter-neuron – information from one neuron to another neuron
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10
Q

What are the types of neurons in terms of structure?

A
  • Multipolar
  • Bipolar
  • Unipolar
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11
Q

What are Astroycyte Cells?

A
  • Forming a supporting framework for blood vessels and neurons
  • Assists in the formation of tight junctions between endothelial cells of the capillaries
  • Respond to tissue damage in the CNS
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12
Q

What are Ependymal Cells?

A

-Line the central cavities of the brain and spinal cord

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13
Q

What are Microglial Cells?

A
  • Monitor the health of surrounding neurons

- Phagocytose microorganisms, infection, trauma or inflammation

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14
Q

What are Oligodendrocytes?

A

-Cover axons which forms an insulating sheath around them → myelin sheath

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15
Q

What are Schwann Cells?

A
  • Also called neurolemmocytes
  • Form a myelin sheath around axons
  • Insulating
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16
Q

What are Satellite Cells?

A
  • Provide support and nutrition to cell bodies in ganglia

- Protect cell bodies from harmful substances

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17
Q

What is in the Grey Matter in the CNS & PNS?

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A

CNS: Brain= Outer cortex of brain & nuclei
Spinal Cord= Inner ‘grey’ part
PNS:Ganglion

18
Q

What is in the White Matter in the CNS & PNS?

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A

CNS: Brain=Deeper nerve tracts
Spinal Cord=Outer part
PNS:Nerves

19
Q

What is a membrane potential?

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A

-Membrane potential= the difference in charge across the cell membrane

20
Q

What characteristics of a cell membrane allow a membrane potential to occur?

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A
  1. Differences in ionic concentration (particularly for Na+ and K+ ) across the cell membrane
  2. Permeability of the cell membrane to ions
21
Q

What are non-gated ion channels?

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A
  • Also known as ‘leak’ ion channels
  • Ion specific
  • Cell membrane has more K+ leak ion channels compared to Na+ leak ion channels
22
Q

What are gated ion channels?

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A
  • Gated ion channels – require signals to open them
  • Ligand-gated ion channel
  • Voltage-gated ion channel
  • Other-gated ion channel
23
Q

What is a resting membrane potential?

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A

-Resting membrane potential – the difference in charge across the cell membrane in a resting cell

24
Q

What occurs at a resting membrane potential?

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A
  • Intracellular side is more negative
  • RMP of neurons = - 70 mV where the negative sign indicates the charge on the intracellular side of the cell.
  • RMP caused by leak ion channels and the Na+/K+ pump
25
What is Depolarisation, Hyperpolarisation and Repolarisation?
Depolarisation – when the membrane potential becomes more positive i.e. the inside of the cell becomes more positive. E.g. - 70 mV  - 30 mV Hyperpolarisation – when the membrane potential becomes more negative i.e. the inside of the cell becomes more negative. E.g. - 70 mV  - 75 mV Repolarisation – membrane potential returns to normal
26
What is a graded potential?
- Graded potentials can lead to action potentials - Graded potential – short-lived, localised changes in membrane potential - Often occur in dendrites or the cell body of a neuron - Ability to summate - Decremental - Not able to transfer information over long distances
27
What is afterpotential?
Afterpotential – short period of hyperpolarisation of an action potential
28
What is the first step of the operation of the gates?
1. Resting membrane potential: - All gated Na+ and K+ channels are closed. - K + leak channels (not visible on this image) are open which allow movement of K+ to the outside of the cell. This creates a negative intracellular charge = RMP. - Na+ /K+ pump (not visible on this image) also creates the RMP.
29
What is depolarisation in the operation of the gates?
2. Depolarisation: - Na+ gated channels open and Na+ moves into the cell and inside of the cell becomes more positive. - K + gated channels are closed. - Membrane potential becomes more positive.
30
What is repolarisation in the operation of the gates?
3. Repolarisation: - Na+ gated channels close. - K + gated channels open and K+ moves out of the cell and the intracellular side becomes more negative. - Membrane potential becomes more negative.
31
What happens at the end of repolarisation and the afterpotential in the operation of the gates?
4. End of repolarisation, and the afterpotential: - Na+ gated channels close. - K + gated channels close as well but they close slowly so K+ continues to leave the cell and this produces the afterpotential. - Membrane potential becomes very negative.
32
What happens at the resting membrane if the operation of the gates?
5. Resting membrane potential: - Na+ gated channels are closed. - K + gated channels are closed. - Resting membrane potential is re-established by Na+/K+ pump (an active process as it is against their concentration gradients) which redistribute ions as all Na+ and K+ gated channels are closed.
33
What dose the refractory period consist of?
- Absolute refractory period | - Relative refractory period
34
Where does the propagation of axon potentials occur and what does it follow?
- This takes place in unmyelinated axons only - Following depolarisation, each segment of the axon membrane becomes repolarised - The propagation of the action potential occurs in one direction
35
What is Saltatory Conductiomn?
Propagation of action potentials in myelinated axons
36
What are the parts of a synapse and what are electrical & chemical synapses?
- Junction of a neuron with another cell e.g. end of a neuron with a muscle cell or another neuron - Pre-synaptic - Synapse - Post-synaptic - Electrical synapses → current - Chemical synapses→ chemicals e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters
37
How are neurotransmitters removed?
- Breakdown by enzymes - Re-absorption back into the presynaptic terminal - Diffuse away from the synapse
38
What are reflexes?
- Automatic response to a stimulus - Are somatic or autonomic - Are homeostatic
39
What are the components of reflexes?
- Sensory receptor - Sensory neuron - Interneuron - Motor neuron - Effector organ
40
What are the types of reflexes?
- Stretch (monosynaptic) - Golgi tendon - Withdrawal
Human Structure & Function
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