neurophys

• What is the abbreviation for action potential?

  AP
• What does BBB stand for in neurophysiology?

  Blood-brain barrier
• What does CNS stand for?

  Central nervous system
• What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

  Form myelin and regulate AP velocity
• What is the primary role of astrocytes in the CNS?

  Support metabolic activity of neurons
• What is the difference between a ganglion and a nucleus?

  Ganglion is in PNS; nucleus is in CNS
• How many spinal cord segments are there?

  31 spinal cord segments
• What is the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

  Prevents unwanted molecules from entering neurons
• How does the DCML tract convey touch signals?

  Through three neurons: primary, secondary, tertiary
• What type of information does the spinothalamic tract convey?

  Pain and temperature information

  
• Where is the cell body of the first neuron in the SST located?

  Dorsal root ganglion
• What is the role of the trigeminal system?

  Conveys touch, pain, and temperature from the face
• What happens if any part of the DCML pathway is interrupted?

  Diminished sense of touch from the body
• What is the primary function of the corticospinal tract?

  Controls voluntary movements
• What type of nerve is the olfactory nerve?

  Sensory only
• What does the oculomotor nerve innervate?

  Four eye muscles and upper eyelid
• What is the function of the vestibulocochlear nerve?

  Hearing and balance
• What is the role of the vagus nerve in the PSNS?

  Innervates smooth muscles and glands
• How do specific sensory pathways differ from non-specific pathways?

  Specific pathways transmit exact stimulus location
• What are the four morphological classes of neurons?

  • Multipolar
  • Pseudounipolar
  • Bipolar
  • Unipolar
• What are the four functional classes of neurons?

  • Efferent (motor) neurons
  • Afferent (sensory) neurons
  • Interneurons
  • Projection neurons
• What are the functions of the four types of glia?

  • Oligodendrocytes: Form myelin
  • Astrocytes: Support metabolic activity
  • Microglia: Immune functions
  • Ependymal cells: Regulate CSF
• What are the major structures of the spinal cord?

  • Gray matter: Contains cell bodies
  • White matter: Contains axons
  • Dorsal root: Sensory input
  • Ventral root: Motor output
• What are the three membranes of the brain?

  • Dura mater: Outer layer
  • Arachnoid: Middle layer
  • Pia mater: Inner layer
• What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

  • Control extracellular environment
  • Protective function during brain injuries
• What are the main sensory and motor pathways in the CNS?

  • Dorsal column/medial lemniscal (DCML) tract
  • Spinothalamic tract (SST)
  • Trigeminal system
  • Corticospinal tract
• What are the six sensory modalities?

  • Somatic sensation
  • Hearing
  • Vision
  • Taste
  • Smell
  • Balance
• What is the process of sensory transduction?

  • Energy → stimulus → activation of receptor → receptor potential → action potential (AP) → signal to CNS
• What is a sensory unit?

  • A single primary afferent neuron with all branches
• What is the difference between specific and nonspecific sensory pathways?

  • Specific pathways: Transmit specific sensory info
  • Non-specific pathways: Alert and emotional responses
• What are the types of sensory receptors?

  • Neuronal terminals: Touch, pain, smell
  • Specialized epithelial cells: Vision, hearing, balance, taste

  
• What is the role of the trigeminal nerve?

  • Controls chewing muscles and sensory from the face
• What is the role of the glossopharyngeal nerve?

  • Elevates pharynx during swallowing and taste sensation
• What is the role of the hypoglossal nerve?

  • Controls most tongue muscles
• What is the role of the spinal accessory nerve?

  • Controls two muscles in the neck
• What is the role of the abducens nerve?

  • Innervates lateral rectus muscle for eye abduction
• What is the role of the facial nerve?

  • Controls facial expression muscles and salivary glands
• What is the role of the vagus nerve?

  • Controls muscles in pharynx, larynx, and many visceral organs
• What is the role of the optic nerve?

  • Responsible for the sense of sight
• What is the role of the olfactory nerve?

  • Responsible for the sense of smell