Exam 3 Neuroendocrine Physiology

3 types of sensory receptor cells

simple, complex, special sense

3 neuron roles in somatosensation

primary sensory neuron, secondary neuron (neurotransmitters), and tertiary (cortex/cerebellum)

role of thalamus in sensation

most sensory pathways project to thalamus & then it modifies and relays the info

NSAIDs vs Opioids

NSAIDs reduce pain at the site. Opioids act on the CNS to inhibit pain signaling and release endorphins.

4 divisions of the brain

brainstem, diencephalon, cerebrum, cerebellum

brain stem function

medulla, pons, and midbrain. controls vital autonomic functions (HR, BP, digestion, etc)

diencephalon function

thalamus & hypothalamus. sensory/motor relay & endocrine function.

cerebellum function

maintains balance, coordinates movement

frontal lobe

motor control, executive function, coordination of speech muscles

occipital lobe

sight/vision

temporal lobe

sounds & smell’s (Wernicke’s area for speech comprehension & Olfactory area)

parietal lobe

somatosensory information

recieving area

area in lobe of brain that objectively detects a sense

association area

area of lobe of brain that subjectively interprets a sense

limbic system

amygdala (emotion and memory) and hippocampus (memory formation)

3 system brain function model

brain acts as a sensory system, cognitive system, and behavioral state system. (detect, decide, do, modulate)

noradrenergic pathway

functions to regulate alertness, arousal, and vigilance. Signal-to-noise ratio. Activated during times of stress or threat.

serotonergic pathway

regulates mood, emotional stability, well-being, and pain modulation.

dopaminergic pathway

functions to regulate motivation, reward-seeking, reinforcement learning, & motor control. Too little = parkinsons, too much = schizophrenia.

Cholinergic pathway

regulates attention, learning, and memory. ACh is high during sleep and low during multitasking.

how does progressive relaxation decrease the stress response

lowers CNS response and “signals safety” lowering HR, cortisol , & state anxiety. Provides distraction

HPA

H = corticotropin releasing hormone

P= adrenocorticotropic hormone

Adrenal cortex = cortisol

HPT

H = thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

P=thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Thyroid gland = T3 & T4

HPG

H = gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)

P= gonadotropins (LH & FSH)

Gonads= sex steroids (testosterone/estrogen/progesterone)

Short-loop inhibition

the third hormone binds to pituitary gland to block activity

Long-loop inhibition

the third hormone binds to the hypothalamus to block activity

how do local anesthetics inhibit signaling

they inhibit an influx of sodium ions, preventing voltage change at the voltage-gated channel

how do SSRIs alter neural activity

SSRIs keep serotonin in the synaptic cleft, making it so that there is an abundance to bind with the postsynaptic neuron

how does alcohol effect neuronal excitability

alcohol increases the amount of GABA which causes an influx of Cl which lowers membrane potential and increases IPSPs