nsci 2101 exam 1 lec 2

all life is made of ______

all life is made of ______

cells

cells use a complex set of chemical reactions/metabolism to do what?

• grow

• reproduce

• continue living

cell membrane

isolates cells’ chemical reactions from the outside world to allow conditions for life to be maintained. essentially separates alive from not alive

what ions do cells use their metabolic energy to pump into or out of themselves?

• sodium

• potassium

• calcium

three types of cells in the nervous system

• neurons

• glia

• vascular cells (blood vessels + blood)

5 parts of a neuron from left to right

dendrites, cell body, axon/myelin sheath, axon terminal

dendrites (purpose, length, what they look like)

receive synapses from axon terminals, can be 10s to 100s of micrometers, look like branches

cell soma/cell body

contains cell nucleus, synthesizes macromolecules (DNA, RNA, protein) and organelles and helps integrate/process electrical activity, can be roughly 5-100 micrometers

true or false: macromolecules and organelles are transported in both directions along axons

true

axons/nerve fibers

carry the nerve impulse (AP) away from cell soma, myelin speeds up conduction of impulses and functions like insulation, can be meters long

axon terminals

release neurotransmitters onto other neurons at synapses, where the neurons talk to eachother. can be 0.1-20 micrometers in diameter

what is the biggest cell in your body?

a neuron going from your head to your toe, can be 1.5 meters long

what are the different types of glia?

astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and ependyma

glia vary in _______

shapes and sizes

glia may have processes looking like ______ but nothing like an axon

dendrites

what are the functions of glia?

• local, slow modulation of neuronal activity, not rapid, not over long distances like neurons

• create myelin around axons

• scavenge dead cells

• line ventricles

glia have no ____

axons

astrocytes

glia that produce myelin in the central nervous system

oligodendrocytes

glia that produce myelin in the central nervous system and have multiple branches, unlike Schwann cells

microglia

glia that form an immune system in the CNS and do cleanup work like blood cells

ependyma

glia that line ventricles and produce cerebrospinal fluid

central nervous system

• parts are enclosed by bone, either the skull or vertebrae

• separated into areas of gray matter and white matter

• includes the brain and spinal cord and several types of neurons (motor neurons, interneurons, local interneurons)

peripheral nervous system

• parts are mainly found outside the skull and vertebrae

• composed of an assortment of nerves that reach every part of the head and body

• includes sensory neurons and motoneurons

• glia include Schwann cells

• includes autonomic nervous system

  • Sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight)

  • Parasympathetic nervous system (rest/digest)

  • Enteric nervous system (in gut)

    • Release secretions that allow food to be digested

• Purpose:

  • Collect sensory information

  • Deliver messages to body parts or to peripheral neurons in the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., enteric nervous system)

what are bundles of axons called in the CNS?

tracts

what are groups of neurons called in the CNS?

• nuclei

• cortical layers

what are groups of neuronal somata called in the PNS?

• ganglia

what are bundles of axons called in the PNS?

• nerves

gray matter

contains neuronal cell bodies and dendrites

white matter

contains axons and is white because of myelin

sensory neurons

deliver information to the CNS. Cell bodies live in the PNS, but processes extend through both the PNS and the CNS

motor neurons

cell bodies in the CNS and axons that travel through the PNS to reach skeletal muscle

what three main parts is the brain made up of?

cerebrum (forebrain), cerebellum, and brainstem

cerebrum

made up of two cerebral hemispheres and diencephalon

cerebral hemispheres/telencephalon

outer layer that lays on top of the cerebrum. responsible for perception, cognition, memory, voluntary movement

lenticular nucleus

part of the basal ganglia: initiation of movement and thought

caudate nucleus

part of the basal ganglia: initiation of thought

amygdala

part of the limbic system: drives and emotions

diencephalon

another name for the thalamus and hypothalamus together

thalamus

relay station for info to the cerebral cortex

hypothalamus

controls autonomic nervous system

brainstem

contains midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata

dorsal

towards the back

ventral

towards the belly

anterior

front

superior

up

inferior

down

posterior

back

rostral

towards the beak

caudal

towards the tail

three planes of sectioning

coronal, horizontal/axial, parasagittal

coronal plane

Perpendicular to the horizontal and parasagittal planes and to the ground. Also known as the frontal plane.

horizontal/axial plane

A plane that divides the body into upper and lower halves. It is perpendicular to the vertical plane and parallel to the ground.

parasagittal plane

This plane divides the body into left and right halves, but not necessarily equal halves. It is parallel to the midline of the body.

medulla oblongata

Part of the brainstem responsible for vital functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure regulation. contains the inferior pontine sulcus, medulla, and spinal cord

pons

Part of the brainstem that connects the medulla oblongata and the midbrain. It plays a crucial role in relaying signals between the cerebrum and the cerebellum, as well as controlling various autonomic functions like breathing, sleeping, and facial movements.

cerebellum

Part of the brain responsible for coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. Located at the back of the brain, it helps with smooth movements and maintaining posture.

midbrain

small region of the brain located between the forebrain and hindbrain. It plays a crucial role in relaying sensory and motor information, regulating sleep and wakefulness, and coordinating visual and auditory reflexes.

diencephalon

Part of the brain that acts as a relay center, connecting different regions. It includes the thalamus and hypothalamus, regulating functions like sleep, hunger, and body temperature.

telencephalon

The part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions, such as language, memory, and decision-making. It is the largest region of the brain and is composed of two hemispheres, the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

lateral sulcus

prominent groove that separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe. It plays a crucial role in language processing and houses important structures such as the primary auditory cortex and Wernicke's area.

medial longitudinal fissure

Separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres of the brain

gyri

Ridges on the brain's surface, increasing surface area for cognitive functions.

sulcus

A groove or furrow on the surface of the brain, often separating different regions.

gyri and sulci can define what?

functionally important and distinct brain regions