Introduction to the Physiology of the Nervous System

Flashcards covering the basics of the nervous system and neurons.

Nervous System Function

Impulses transmitted enable speech; neurotransmissions facilitate reading comprehension; and impairments disrupt these functions.

Electrochemical Impulses

The transmission of electrical and chemical signals that drive activities within the nervous system.

Neuroglia (Supporting Cells)

Cells in the nervous tissue that support and protect neurons. Examples include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, ependymal cells, and satellite cells.

Three Basic Functions of the Nervous System

Sensory input, interpretation (integration at the central nervous system), and motor output (response via muscles or glands).

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord, which serve as the main integrative areas.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes all nervous tissue outside the brain and spinal cord.

Neuron

The fundamental functional unit of the nervous system, responsible for the transmission of impulses and production of action potentials.

Neuroglia

Also known as supporting cells of the nervous tissue. Examples include: neuralgia cells

Cell Body

The main body of the neuron, containing the nucleus, cytoplasm, and organelles like Nissl bodies and mitochondria.

Nissl Bodies

The rough endoplasmic reticulum in neurons. They are highly compacted with ribosomes and are involved in protein synthesis.

Dendrites

Projections on the cell body membrane responsible for receiving sensory input.

Dendritic Spines

Spines found on dendrites that contain receptors for receiving sensory information.

Axon Hillock

Voltage gated channels in the axon hillock are stimulated by a particular type of voltage to cause action potentials to occur along the axon.

Axon Terminals

The end region of the axon where neurotransmitters are stored and released.

Terminal Buttons (Synaptic Terminals/Knobs)

Enlargements at the axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters.

Anterograde Axonal Transport

The transport of organelles and synthesized proteins from the cell body to the terminal buttons. It is facilitated by kinesin.

Retrograde Axonal Transport

The reverse transport of organelles from the terminal buttons back to the cell body. It is facilitated by dynein.

Kinesin

A microtubule-associated motor protein that is responsible for anterograde axonal transport.

Nucleus

This genetic material is within the nucleus and contains the genetic material responsible for transcribing messenger RNA.

Golgi Appartus

Packaging of proteins into vesicles done by this organelle in the cytoplasm. It preserves the proteins.

Microtubule Associated Proteins

There are two types, kinasesin which transports to the terminal buttons, and dynein, which transports from the terminal buttons back to the cell body.

Dynein

A microtubule-associated motor protein responsible for retrograde axonal transport.

Viral Proteins

Viral proteins from pathogens such as rabies attack the proteins and organelles, and use them to enter the neurolic nucleus to reproduce viral cells.

Vesicles

The synaptic vesicles contain synthesized neurotransmitters needed to communicate with other neurons. Without it, neurotransmitters cannot be released.

SNARE Proteins

The vesicles contain neurotransmitters and are held together in the prescence of proteins. Once the proteins combine in the cells, it bursts and a neurotransmitter is released.

SNARE & SNP

t SNAREs of the terminal button and the v SNAP proteins and are found on the membrane of the vesicle.

Structural Classification

Classification based on physical characteristics such as dendrites and the axon.

Multipolar Neuron

Structure with many dendrites and one axon, commonly found in the central nervous system.

Bipolar Neuron

Structure with one dendrite and one axon, found in the retina of the eye and inner ear.

Unipolar Neuron

Also known as pseudo unipolar, looks like bipolar but has one process, these sensory neurons are usually at the cell body.

Ganglia

Multiple cell bodies that makes up the singular ganglia.

Dorsal & Ventral Routes

These are the routes that pass through the posterior aspect of the spinal cord, and are used for motor output. Dorsal roots are responsible for sensory input.

Association/Inter Neurons

Relay cells that pass the information from a sensory neuron to the next motor area.

Functional Classification

Classification based sensory inputs to the spinal cords/brain, relayed in the integrative areas, and then sent to motor outputs

Motor Neurons

Integrative area such as muscles where neurons will take incoming information interpreted and passed from sensory neurons, and integrate with Interneurons to pass along.