Overview of the nervous system
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What are the features of the axon and describe these features
Axons conduct nerve impulses. Axon hillock - Tapers away from soma to form initial segment Axon ‘proper’ - Branching to form axon collaterals (and recurrent collaterals) Axon terminal - Site at which axon comes into contact with other neurons at a synapse
How are axon terminals different to the axon proper
Cytoplasm - Microtubules do not extend into terminals from proper. Axon terminal contains synaptic vesicles available for neuron to neuron communication. Rich in proteins and mitochondria, higher energy needs
What is myelin
Membranous sheath that wraps around and insulates axon
What are nodes of Ranvier
Gaps within the myelin sheath - Enriched in voltage-gated Na+ ion channels
What are dendritic spines
Sacs of membrane protruding from dendrites to receive synaptic input They come in sizes and types (e.g. cups, mushrooms) sensitive to type and amount of synaptic activity
What are the two parts of the human nervous system
CNS - Brain and spinal cord PNS - Autonomic, somatic nervous systems
What is the somatic nervous system
Component of peripheral nervous system that innervates the skin, joints and skeletal muscle Helps movement
What is the autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions - Innervation to cardiovascular system, internal organs and smooth muscle Heart rate, bp, breathing, digestion
What physical features are present in the cerebrum of the brain
Bumps called gyri Grooves called sulci Deep grooves called fissures
What are the postcentral and precentral gyrus responsible for and what are they separated by
Postcentral - Somatic sensation e.g. touch Precentral - Voluntary movement Separated by central sulcus
What does the superior temporal gyrus do and what is it separated by
Audition Separated by lateral fissure
What is the frontal lobe responsible for
Voluntayr movement, behaviour Attention, planning, decision making, motivation, emotional regulation
What is the temporal lobe responsible for
Auditory processing and interpretation, memory
What is the parietal lobe responsible for
Sensory processing and interpretation Proprioception (I.e. equilibrium and balance of the body)
What is the occipital lobe responsible for
Visual processing and interpretation (Distance, depth perception, colour, object and face recognition)
Where is the hippocampus and what is its function
Embedded within the temporal lobe Learning, memory formation and retrieval REgulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
What happens if there is hippocampal dysfunction
Anterograde amnesia - Unable to create new memories Retrograde amnesia - Generally unable to recall past memories
What is the basal ganglia
Large and functionally diverse set of neural structures embedded deep within the cerebral hemispheres Caudate, putamen globus pallidus
Describe basal ganglia functions
Regulation of movement
What happens with basal ganglia dysfunction
GABAergic neurons - Huntington’s disease Dopaminergic neurons - Parkinson’s disease
What is the diencephalon
Between cerebrum and midbrain, consist of thalamus and hypothalamus
What is the diencephalon
Between cerebrum and midbrain, consist of thalamus and hypothalamus
Describe thalamic function
Thalamus contain lots of nuclei. Some nuclei relay between sensory and motor systems and the cerebral cortex. Some nuclei regulate arousal and pain, mood, motivation and cognition
What is synaesthesia
Blending of information streams - Some people can ‘hear colour’ or ‘feel sounds’