CNS
brain + spinal cord (together = neuraxis)
nerves in/out CNS
sensory/afferent = in
motor/efferent = out (incs glands etc)
response to stimulus
segmental reflex
just 2 neurons
possible w/o brain (so can be possible when dead)
e/g/ withdrawal reflex when grab toe
patella reflex
tap patella + knee kicks out - useful diagnostically to see if sensory + motor + muscle all working
shows there can be multiple sensory pathways at once - patella reflex + to brain saying ‘touched’
spinal cord structure
pathways in specific places in spinal cord - injury certain place will therefore cause certain symptoms, useful for diagnosis
upper motor neurones
part CNS
corticospinal + corticonuclear motor pathways
lower motor neurones
leave CNS + part PNS
2 types:
* alpha-motor
* gamma-motor
cranial + spinal nerves
nerves in/out bottom of brain (not many) + nerves in/out spine
v similar
neuron
nerve fibre
nerve
cell body
nerve cell
part neuron
‘trunking bunches axons + support cells
nucleus + G. app etc = soma = perikarion
basic properties neurones
effect of axon thickness
fatter axons conduct faster as less resistance electrical signal, e.g. evolved in squid
main fibre types
defined by characteristics neyronal axon
A fibres
Aa fibres
C fibres
saltatory conduction
elec current jumps from node to node along myelinated axon
why do myelinated neurons conduct faster
myelin insulates = conduction not disspated in tissues = faster
neurons cont salty sol bc salty sols conduct elec
effect cooling on neuronal conduction
decreases conduction velocity = decreased speed at which a pots gened + travel to brain = less a pots through = increased refractory periods = less pain
main factors affecting conduction velocity
refractory period
period in which can’t fire a pot
1. absolute = a pot impossible as Na+ channels inactivated
2. relative = stim not big enough cause a pot
* after a pot harder gen another as mem more neg + polarised + some Na+ channs inactivated
types neurones
multipolar neurone
pseudo-unipolar neuron