Nervous System Review Guide

These flashcards summarize essential concepts and facts related to the nervous system as reviewed in the lecture.

What are the three main functions of the nervous system?

1. Sensory input 2. Integration 3. Motor output

What branch of the nervous system is made of the brain and spinal cord?

Central nervous system

What branch of the nervous system carries impulses toward the CNS?

Afferent

What branch of the nervous system carries impulses away from the CNS?

Efferent

Which branch of the nervous system deals with sensory input from skin, skeletal muscle, and joints?

Somatic nervous system

Which branch of the nervous system deals with sensory input from internal organs?

Autonomic nervous system

What part of the nervous system deals with voluntary motor output?

Somatic nervous system

What part of the nervous system deals with involuntary motor output?

Autonomic nervous system

Which part of the nervous system is known as ‘fight or flight’?

Sympathetic nervous system

Which part of the nervous system is known as ‘rest and digest’?

Parasympathetic nervous system

What are nerves called in the CNS and PNS?

CNS - neurons; PNS - spinal and cranial nerves

What is the difference between white matter and grey matter?

Grey matter - neuron cell bodies; unmyelinated axons; White matter - myelinated axons

What are dendrites?

They take impulses toward the cell body.

What is an axon?

It carries impulses away from the cell body.

What is the cell body of a neuron?

It does not divide after birth.

What is the function of the axon hillock?

It determines if the impulse will be sent down the axon.

What is myelin?

It is made of fat, insulates, protects the axon, and speeds up impulses.

What are the nodes of Ranvier?

Spaces between the myelin.

What is the function of Schwann cells?

They make the myelin sheath in the PNS.

What do axon terminals do?

They release neurotransmitters (ACH).

What is saltatory conduction?

It speeds up neural impulses by allowing the signal to jump and skip parts of the axon.

What are the two functions of myelin?

It speeds up the impulse and protects the axon.

What happens if someone is not producing myelin?

Their nerve cells would slow down, potentially causing weaker muscles, poor coordination, bad vision, numbness, and cognitive disabilities.

What type of cells do not undergo mitosis?

Nerve cells because they are highly specialized.

What are the three types of neurons?

1. Multipolar - motor; efferent; 2. Bipolar - sensory; afferent; 3. Unipolar - sensory; afferent.

What supporting cells are found in the CNS?

Glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes.

What supporting cells are found in the PNS?

Satellite cells and Schwann cells.

What is the function of microglia?

They are phagocytes that get rid of debris like dead brain cells or bacteria.

What do astrocytes do?

They anchor neurons to blood.

What is the role of ependymal cells?

They line brain cavities and the spinal cord.

What do oligodendrocytes do?

They make myelin in the CNS.

What is a reflex?

A rapid, predictable, and involuntary response.

What are the five steps of the reflex arc?

1. Sensory receptor: reacts to stimulus; 2. Afferent neurons: transmit stimulus; 3. CNS: integration center; 4. Efferent neurons: transmit response signal; 5. Effector organ: muscle or gland is stimulated.

What are the four main regions of the brain?

1. Cerebrum; 2. Cerebellum; 3. Diencephalon; 4. Brain stem.

What are gyri?

Elevated ridges of tissue.

What are sulci?

Shallow grooves in the brain.

What are the three main fissures of the brain, and what do they divide?

1. Longitudinal fissure - divides left and right hemispheres; 2. Lateral fissure - divides temporal from frontal and parietal lobes; 3. Central fissure - separates frontal from parietal lobe.

What are the four lobes of the brain and what do they control?

1. Frontal lobe - movement and executive function; 2. Parietal lobe - somatosensation; 3. Occipital lobe - vision; 4. Temporal lobe - hearing, memory, smell, and visual recognition.

What is the function of basal nuclei in the brain?

They modify instructions sent to skeletal muscles.

What is Broca’s area and where is it located?

Specialized speech area located in the frontal lobe.

What is Wernicke’s area and where is it located?

Area for comprehension of speech; located in parietal and temporal lobe.

Where is the cerebellum located and what does it control?

Located under the occipital lobe; it controls balance, equilibrium, and coordination.

What are the three parts of the brain stem and what do they control?

1. Midbrain - vision and hearing; 2. Pons - controls breathing; 3. Medulla oblongata - heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

What are the three parts of the diencephalon and their functions?

1. Hypothalamus - maintains homeostasis; 2. Thalamus - relays sensory information; 3. Epithalamus - regulates sleep-wake cycles.

What does the choroid plexus do?

Makes cerebrospinal fluid.

What part of the brain controls sleep cycles and produces melatonin?

Pineal gland.

Define meningitis.

Inflammation of the meninges.

What is a concussion?

A slight brain injury that is not always permanent.

Define contusion.

Bruising of the brain.

What is aphasia?

A language disorder caused by stroke or brain injury.

Define ataxia.

Clumsiness and loss of balance due to cerebellum damage.

What characterizes Parkinson's disease?

Problems initiating movement, hand tremors, and dopamine deficiency.

What is Huntington's disease?

Breakdown of nerve cells in the brain causing movement and thinking problems.

What does Alzheimer's result in?

Dementia, memory loss, mood changes, hallucinations, and brain atrophy.

What causes a stroke?

Lack of blood flow to brain tissue.

What is epilepsy?

Uncontrolled or abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

What is Bell's palsy?

Inflammation or swelling of the facial nerve.