Nervous System

Describe:

Cells:

Astrocytes- star-shaped cells, form a barrier between capillaries and neurons

Ependymal Cells- line cavities of brain/spinal cord, circulate CSF

Microglia- spider-like phagocytes, dispose of debris

Oligodendrocytes- produce myelin sheath in the CNS

Satellite Cells- protect and cushion cell bodies

Schwann Cells- form the myelin sheath in PNS

Neuron Parts:

Axon- extension that conducts impulses away from cell body

Dendrites- multiple extensions that conduct impulses toward cell body

Neurofibrils- intermediate cytoskeleton, maintains cell shape

Nissl Substance- specialized rough endoplasmic reticulum

Nucleolus- makes ribosomes

Nervous System Parts:

Central Nervous System- brain and spinal cord, responsible for integration

Peripheral nervous system- nerves outside brain/spinal cord, responsible for sensory and motor

Somatic Nervous System- division of PNS that controls voluntary functions

Autonomic Nervous System- division of the PNS that controls involuntary functions

Sympathetic Nervous System- fight or flight system, controls things like heart rate and breathing

Parasympathetic Nervous System- inhibitor, returns body to homeostasis after flight/flight

Medical Conditions:

Dementia- loss of function in 2 or more areas of cognition, could include memory, judgement, behavior, etc

Alzheimer’s- type of dementia results in progressive loss of brain function, mainly affects behavior/memory

Ataxia- clumsy/disorganized movement, loss of coordination due to trauma, stroke, or tumor in Cerebellum

Cerebral Edema- swelling of brain from an inflammatory response, may compress and kill tissue

Cerebral Palsy- damage to brain before/during birth or infancy, often results in motor/cognitive impair

Concussion- slight, nonpermanent brain injury, can result in dizziness, sensitivity, etc

Contusion- nervous tissue is destructed and does not regenerate, often conciousness lost

Epilepsy- repeated seizures, a result of abnormal electrical activity in brain

Huntington’s- overactive dopamine cells resulting in involuntary movement and jerky motions

Meningitis- highly contagious bacterial/viral inflammation of the meninges resulting in flu-like symptoms

Multiple Sclerosis- autoimmune disease, body destroys the myelin sheath resulting in malfunction of electrical currents

Parkinson’s- deteriorating dopamine-releasing neurons in basal nuclei causes trouble with movements

Stroke- (Cerebrovascular Accident)- result of a ruptured blood vessel supplying a region of the brain, causing death of brain tissue from lack of oxygen