nervous

• Functions of the Nervous System

  • Sensory input - gathering information
  • Integration - to process and interpret sensory input and decide if action is needed
  • Motor output - a response to integrated stimuli
• Functions of the Nervous System

  • Receiving sensory input
  • Integrating information
  • Controlling muscles and glands
  • Maintaining homeostasis
  • Establishing and maintaining mental activity
• Parts of the Nervous System

  • Cranial Nervous System (CNS)
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• Brain


  Receives and processes sensory information; initiates responses; stores memories; generates thoughts and emotions
• Spinal Cord


  Conducts signals to and from the brain; controls reflex activities
• Motor Neurons


  • Somatic Nervous System - controls voluntary movements by activating skeletal muscles
  • Autonomic Nervous System - controls involuntary response by influencing organs, glands, and smooth muscle
• Divisions of Autonomic Nervous System

  • Sympathetic Division - prepares the body for stressful or energetic activity, "fight or flight"
  • Parasympathetic Division - dominates during times of "rest and rumination", directs maintenance activities
• Organization of the Nervous System

  • From Sensory (afferent) sense organs
  • To Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord)
  • To Peripheral Nervous System (cranial and spinal nerves)
  • To Motor (efferent) Somatic (voluntary) to skeletal muscles
  • Autonomic (involuntary) to cardiac and smooth muscle, glands
• Neuron


  Functional unit of the nervous system, cells specialized to transmit messages
• Parts of a Neuron

  • Cell body
  • Dendrites
  • Axons
  • Myelin sheath
  • Node of Ranvier
  • Axon terminal
• Synapse


  Where the communication between two cells happen, where neurotransmitters are found
• Types of Neurons


  • Bipolar
  • Unipolar
  • Multipolar
• Neuroglia or Glia (Support Cells)

  • Astrocytes
  • Microglia
  • Ependymal cells
  • Oligodendrocytes
  • Satellite cells
  • Schwann cells
• Myelin Sheath


  Fatty substance that covers the axon, speeds up neural impulses
• Saltatory Conduction


  The transmission of impulses happen from one node to the other
• Multiple Sclerosis

  Degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system, white blood cells attack neurons and affect fatty tissues (myelin) around the nerve fibers in brain and spinal cord
• Blood-Brain Barrier

  Protects our brain cells from harmful substances, can also prevent the entry of therapeutic drugs
• Features of Brain and Spinal Cord

  • Bone
  • Cerebrospinal fluid
  • Astrocytes
  • Tissues
• Gray Matter

  Contains the cell bodies, dendrites and axon terminals of neurons
• White Matter

  Made of axons connecting the different parts of gray matter to each other
• Resting Membrane Potential


  A voltage across the membrane of a resting (non-signaling) neuron, determined by concentration gradients of ions across the membrane and by membrane permeability to each type of ion
• Mechanisms for the Conduction of Nerve Impulse

  • Continuous conduction
  • Saltatory conduction
• Neurotransmitters

  • Adrenaline or Epinephrine
  • Noradrenaline or Norepinephrine
  • Dopamine
  • Serotonin
  • GABA
  • Acetylcholine
  • Glutamate
  • Endorphins
• Alzheimer's Disease

  Most common form of dementia, associated with a decrease in Acetylcholine-secreting neurons
• Botulism

  Caused by toxin of Clostridium botulinum, blocks the release of acetylcholine from the presynaptic terminal
• Types of Depression

  • Major depression
  • Dysthymic disorder
  • Adjustment disorders
  • Postpartum depression
  • Manic depression or bipolar disorder
  • Psychotic depression
  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Major Depressive Disorder

  Depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for more than two weeks, impaired function
• Cocaine

  Acts by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine
• Morphine

  Mimics endorphins, the "happy hormone", used to treat severe pain
• Exercise equals Endorphins, Endorphins makes you happy
• Reflex Arc


  • Receptor
  • Afferent or sensory neuron
  • Integration center (interneuron)
  • Efferent or motor neuron
  • Effector
• Spinal Cord extends from the foramen magnum to the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra
• Dermatome

  Area in our skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve
• Spinal Nerves


  • 8 Cervical Nerves
• Concentration


  Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or more indecisiveness
• Suicidality


  Thoughts of death or suicide, or has suicide plan
• Morphine


  Mimics endorphins, the "happy hormone"
• Morphine is used to treat severe pain
• Exercise


  Equals endorphins
• Endorphins makes you happy