Nervous System Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?

Brain (correct)

Spinal cord (correct)

Lungs

Heart

What connects the body's organs and limbs to the Central Nervous System?

Peripheral Nervous System

What does the Autonomic Nervous System control?

Involuntary bodily functions

What type of functions does the Somatic Nervous System control?

Voluntary bodily functions Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major functions of the Nervous System?

Sensory Reception and Integrative Functions Signup and view all the answers

The order of stimulus from sensory to effector involves stimuli, nerve impulse, and ______.

effectors Signup and view all the answers

What is a stimulus?

A thing that initiates nerve impulses Signup and view all the answers

What is an effector?

A response Signup and view all the answers

Motor functions involve complex muscle-and-nerve acts that produce ______.

movement Signup and view all the answers

What does 'electrochemical' describe in relation to a nerve impulse?

Partially electric and partially chemical Signup and view all the answers

What is a synapse?

Connection of two neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

Speeds up nerve impulses Signup and view all the answers

What does the axon do in a nerve cell?

Carries the nerve impulse Signup and view all the answers

What do dendrites do in a neuron?

Receive signals Signup and view all the answers

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse Signup and view all the answers

Which type of neurons are classified as multipolar?

Most of the brain and spinal cord neurons Signup and view all the answers

Where are bipolar neurons found?

In the eyes, nose, and ears Signup and view all the answers

What sensory function do unipolar neurons perform?

Accepts sensory messages Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of sensory neurons?

Transmit sensory information Signup and view all the answers

What do interneurons connect?

Peripheral nerves to Central Nervous System Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of motor neurons?

Responsible for making an action or movement happen Signup and view all the answers

What does the sodium-potassium pump do?

Changes the charge of the neuron Signup and view all the answers

What is depolarization in nerve impulses?

Electrical charge increases to Action Potential Signup and view all the answers

What is repolarization?

Electrical charge decreases to Resting Potential Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of 30mV?

It is the highest charge during action potential Signup and view all the answers

What does -70mV signify?

Resting Potential Signup and view all the answers

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

Non-active state of a neuron Signup and view all the answers

What starts an action potential?

Threshold Potential Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take to send a nerve impulse?

5 milliseconds Signup and view all the answers

Name the four major brain structures.

Cerebellum, Cerebrum, Diencephalon, Brainstem Signup and view all the answers

What area does the cerebrum control?

Brain area, divided into right and left hemispheres Signup and view all the answers

What does the diencephalon consist of?

Hypothalamus and Thalamus Signup and view all the answers

What does the cerebellum coordinate?

Voluntary movements Signup and view all the answers

What happens with an injury to the cerebellum?

Tremors or movement issues Signup and view all the answers

What connects the brain to the spinal cord?

Brain stem Signup and view all the answers

What does the right cerebral hemisphere control?

Left body functions and creative traits Signup and view all the answers

What functions does the left cerebral hemisphere control?

Right body functions and logical tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the corpus callosum?

Connects the left and right hemispheres Signup and view all the answers

What are gyri?

Brain ridges or wrinkles Signup and view all the answers

What are sulcus?

Shallow wrinkles of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is a fissure in the brain?

Deep groove of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What did the Split Brain Experiment discover?

Differences in right and left brain hemispheres Signup and view all the answers

What functions does the frontal lobe control?

Logic, decision making, concentration, and personality Signup and view all the answers

What does the parietal lobe control?

Touch, pressure, temperature, and pain Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary functions of the temporal lobe?

Hearing and memory Signup and view all the answers

What does the occipital lobe control?

Vision Signup and view all the answers

What do Broca's and Wernicke's areas control?

Language and speech Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the hippocampus?

Controls memory Signup and view all the answers

What does the thalamus do?

Accepts sensory messages Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Regulates body temperature and metabolic processes Signup and view all the answers

What does the amygdala control?

Emotions Signup and view all the answers

Which organs make up the limbic system?

Thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, olfactory bulbs Signup and view all the answers

What does the midbrain control?

Reflexes Signup and view all the answers

What does the medulla oblongata do?

Transfers messages and controls autonomic functions Signup and view all the answers

What do autonomic functions regulate?

Involuntary actions Signup and view all the answers

What is the reticular formation's role?

Mediates the overall level of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What can damage to the reticular formation lead to?

Comatose state Signup and view all the answers

What effect do consistent barbiturate drugs have on the reticular formation?

Decreases its functionality Signup and view all the answers

What are meninges?

Protective covering of the brain and spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What does meningitis refer to?

Infection of the meninges Signup and view all the answers

What do ascending nerves do?

Carry sensory information upward from the spinal cord to the brain Signup and view all the answers

What are descending nerves responsible for?

Nerves pathway going down the spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What is the cervical plexus?

The first four cervical spinal nerves Signup and view all the answers

What does the brachial plexus do?

Sends signals to the spine, shoulders, arms, and hands Signup and view all the answers

What are intercostal nerves?

Network of nerves in the thoracic region of the spine Signup and view all the answers

What is the lumbosacral plexus?

Network of nerves at the base of the spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What is the sciatic nerve?

Major nerve extending down the back of the thigh Signup and view all the answers

What are excitatory neurotransmitters?

Starts up (stimulates the brain) Signup and view all the answers

What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?

Calm the brain and help create balance Signup and view all the answers

What is acetylcholine?

Neurotransmitter for skeletal muscle contractions Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of endorphins?

Reduces pain and triggers fight or flight response Signup and view all the answers

What does norepinephrine do?

Neurotransmitter that causes a feeling of well-being Signup and view all the answers

What is dopamine's role?

Regulates attention, cognition, movement, pleasure, and hormonal processes Signup and view all the answers

What does serotonin cause?

Feeling of sleepiness Signup and view all the answers

Why are personality disorders difficult to treat?

There is no one cure for any type of personality disorder Signup and view all the answers

What age do symptoms typically appear for schizophrenia in men?

Around age 18 Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the olfactory bulb?

Sense of smell Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Central Nervous System

Comprises the brain and spinal cord.
Responsible for processing and integrating information.

Peripheral Nervous System

Consists of body nerves connecting the CNS to organs and limbs.
Facilitates communication between the CNS and the rest of the body.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.

Somatic Nervous System

Manages voluntary muscle movements and control over skeletal muscles.

Major Functions of the Nervous System

Sensory Reception: Peripheral neurons monitor environmental conditions (e.g., light, sound, temperature).
Integrative Functions: Repeated sensory messages lead to memory and subconscious motor functions.

Order of Stimulus Processing

Stimuli: Physical or chemical signals induce responses (e.g., hot room).
Nerve Impulse: Signals are sent to the brain.
Effectors: Muscles and glands react (e.g., sweating).

Key Neuroscience Concepts

Stimulus: Initiates nerve impulses.
Effector: The response mechanism (e.g., sweating).
Motor Functions: Complex actions facilitating movement (e.g., walking, typing).

Nerve Impulses and Transmission

Electrochemical Nature: Nerve impulses consist of electrical changes (action potential) and neurotransmitters.
Synapse: Site where nerve impulses transmit between neurons.
Myelin Sheath: Covers nerve fibers to increase impulse speed.

Neuron Types

Multipolar Neuron: Most common in the brain and spinal cord, myelinated.
Bipolar Neuron: Found in sensory organs, connects PNS to CNS.
Unipolar Neuron: Accepts sensory messages, located outside of the CNS.
Sensory Neuron: Transmits sensory information, typically unipolar.
Interneuron: Connects peripheral nerves to the CNS, typically bipolar.
Motor Neuron: Initiates movement, typically multipolar.

Ion Channels and Action Potentials

Sodium-Potassium Pump: Alters neuron's charge by moving sodium and potassium ions; essential for generating nerve impulses.
Action Potential Phases:
- Sodium channels open, followed by potassium channels.
- Changes electrical charge from resting potential to action potential (30 mV), then back.

Brain Structures and Functions

Cerebrum: Main area divided into left and right hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum.
Cerebellum: Coordinates motor activities like balance and posture.
Brain Stem: Connects the brain to the spinal cord; regulates essential autonomic functions.

Hemispheric Functions

Right Hemisphere: Controls left body, associated with creativity and visual tasks.
Left Hemisphere: Controls right body, engaged in logical reasoning and calculations.

Brain Anatomy

Gyri and Sulcus: Ridges and shallow grooves on the brain's surface; fissures are deep grooves.
Frontal Lobe: Involved in logic, decision-making, and personality.
Parietal Lobe: Processes touch, pressure, and pain sensations.
Temporal Lobe: Responsible for hearing and memory.
Occipital Lobe: Governs vision and sight.

Memory and Emotion Regulation

Hippocampus: Crucial for forming new memories and linking emotions to sensory experiences.
Amygdala: Processes emotions and responds to threats.

Limbic System

Includes thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus; integral for emotion control.

Meninges and Protective Functions

Meninges: Protective coverings of the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis: Infection of the meninges, resulting from various pathogens.

Nervous System Pathways

Ascending Nerves: Carry sensory information to the brain.
Descending Nerves: Conduct commands from the brain to the body.

Nerve Plexuses

Cervical Plexus: First four cervical spinal nerves.
Brachial Plexus: Supplies the upper limbs.
Lumbosacral Plexus: Nerves at the base of the spinal cord.
Sciatic Nerve: Largest nerve, extending from lower spinal cord to the thigh.

Neurotransmitters

Excitatory Neurotransmitters: Activate the brain (e.g., acetylcholine).
Inhibitory Neurotransmitters: Calm the brain (e.g., GABA).
Dopamine and Serotonin: Affect mood and sleep; low levels are linked to disorders.

Personality Disorders

Difficult to treat due to individual differences; no one-size-fits-all treatment.

Schizophrenia

Symptoms typically appear around ages 18 in men and 25 in women, peaking between ages 25-40.

Olfactory Bulb

Related to the sense of smell; plays a role in memory association, as linked to the hippocampus.

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Description

Explore the key components of the nervous system with these flashcards. From the Central Nervous System to the Autonomic Nervous System, you'll learn essential definitions and functions. Perfect for students seeking to reinforce their understanding of neuroanatomy.