Nervous System Basics, Autonomic Nervous System

Front 1

What are the 5 major types of neurotransmitters?

Back 1

1. acetylcholine
2. biogenic amines
3. amino acids
4. gases like NO and CO
5. ATP and adenosine

Front 2

What are the two types of Acetylcholine receptors?

Back 2

nicotinic and muscarinic

Front 3

What are the three types of catecholamines?

Back 3

dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine

Front 4

What do tyrosine kinase receptors do?

Back 4

initiate a cascade of events in the cell that affect cell proliferation and/or differentiation

Front 5

What is the anatomical difference between the central and peripheral nervous system?

Back 5

The central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system is everything else

Front 6

List the spinal nerves in order starting at the top and the number of nerves in each category

Back 6

Cervical 8; Thoracic 12; Lumbar 5; Sacral 5; Coccygeal 1

Front 7

What are the 3 defining characteristics of the somatic nervous system that separate it from the autonomic?

Back 7

Voluntary excitation
1. consists of a single neuron between cns and skeletal muscle cells
2. innervates skeletal muscle
3. can lead only to muscle excitation

Front 8

What are the 3 defining characteristics of the autonomic nervous system that separate it from the somatic?

Back 8

Involuntary excitation or inhibition
1. has two neurons connected by a synapse (Ganglion)
between CNS and effector organ
2. innervates smooth and cardiac muscle, glands, and GI neurons
3. can be either excitatory or inhibitory

Front 9

What is a ganglion?

Back 9

cluster of neuron cell bodies outside CNS

Front 10

What is a nucleus?

Back 10

large membrane-bound organelle that contains cell's DNA; (neural) cluster of neuron cell bodies in CNS

Front 11

What is an axon?

Back 11

extension from neuron cell body, propagates action potentials away from cell body; aka nerve fiber

Front 12

Define "Nerve"

Back 12

A bundle of axons

Front 13

What types of cells are in the central nervous system?

Back 13

glial cells and neurons

Front 14

Define the Peripheral Nervous System

Back 14

The part of the nervous system consisting of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. The main function of the PNS is to connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the limbs and organs.

Front 15

What types of cells are in the peripheral nervous system?

Back 15

sensory nervous cells and motor nervous cells

Front 16

How many nerve pairs are in the PNS?

Back 16

1. 12 pairs of cranial nerves
2. 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Front 17

What does afferent mean?

Back 17

conveys information from sensory receptors to the CNS

Front 18

What does efferent mean?

Back 18

conveys commands from the CNS to target tissues

Front 19

Characteristics of Preganglionic neuron

Back 19

1. Cell body resides in the CNS
2. Axons synapse on cell bodies of postganglionic neurons in ganglia.
3. Secret ACh
4. Are cholinoreceptors (have nicotinic receptors)

Front 20

Characteristics of Postganglionic neuron

Back 20

1. Located outside the CNS
2. Axons travel to periphery where they synapse on visceral effector organs (heart, vasculature, bladder, etc)
3. Release ACh or norepinephrine.

Front 21

Autonomic Nervous System: What are the two major anatomic divisions of the PNS?

Back 21

1. Sympathetic
2. Parasympathetic

Front 22

Characteristics of Sympathetic (part of the Autonomic Nervous System)

Back 22

1. Ganglia lie close to the spinal cord in a chain (sympathetic chain).
2. Most postganglionic neurons are adregenic
3. Preganglionic neurons originate in the thoracolumbar spinal cord (lower).

Front 23

Characteristics of Parasympathic (part of the Autonomic Nervous System).

Back 23

1. Ganglia lie close to the effector tissue.
2. Most postganglionic nuerons are cholinergic (muscarinic receptors).
4. Pregangionic neurons originate in brain stem and sacral spinal cord.

Front 24

Define Adrenergic Neurons

Back 24

Release norepinephrine (-> this binds to adrenoreceptors).

Front 25

Which type of neuron in the autonomic nervous system secrete ONLY ACh?

Back 25

Preganglionic neurons

Front 26

Which type of neuron in the autonomic nervous system secrete ACh or Norepinephrine?

Back 26

Postganglionic neurons.

Front 27

Define Cholinergic Neurons

Back 27

Release ACh (-> bind to cholinoreceptors such as nicotinic or musculinic receptors).

Front 28

Defining Characteristics of Adrenal Medulla

Back 28

1. Similar action as direct sympathetic nervous system (long acting effects).
2. Release large amounts of norepinephrine and epinephrine (similar to postganglionic nuerons that release ACh or norepinephrine).
3. Pregangionic cells of Sypmathetic nervous system connect to adrenal medulla.