Basics
Describe the role of voltage-gated ion channels in the propagation of an action potential.
Allow ion flow, depolarize membrane.
Define the blood-brain barrier and discuss its selective permeability with respect to pharmacological agents and ions.
Limits ion and drug passage.
What is the Bohr effect, and how does it influence oxygen release to tissues during exercise?
Increased CO2, enhances oxygen release.
What is the role of the cerebellum in movement coordination?
Coordinates voluntary movements, balance.
Compare and contrast the roles of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells in myelination.
Oligodendrocytes: CNS, Schwann: PNS.
Explain the physiological mechanisms underlying the autonomic nervous system’s regulation of blood pressure.
Sympathetic: increase, parasympathetic: decrease.
Analyze the role of chemoreceptors in the regulation of breathing.
Detect CO2, O2 levels, regulate breathing.
What happens when a neuron is damaged, and how does the body attempt to repair it?
Limited repair in CNS, regeneration in PNS.
Explain the mechanism of synaptic transmission, including the roles of neurotransmitter release, receptor binding, and reuptake.
Neurotransmitter release, receptor binding, reuptake.
Detail the process of oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation in the lungs and tissues, and its physiological significance.
Oxygen binds in lungs, releases in tissues.
How does the body acclimatize to high-altitude environments regarding respiratory function?
Increased red blood cells, breathing rate.
How does muscle contraction affect the nervous system in terms of proprioception?
Sensory feedback for movement coordination.
How does the concept of graded potentials relate to the generation of action potentials in neurons?
Graded potentials trigger action potentials.
Describe the role of the bicarbonate buffer system in maintaining blood pH during respiratory acidosis and alkalosis.
Regulates CO2 and pH balance.
Describe how exercise impacts oxygen delivery and consumption in the body.
Increases cardiac output, oxygen uptake.
What is the role of the myelin sheath in nerve conduction speed?
Increases conduction via saltatory conduction.
Discuss the functional implications of long-term potentiation (LTP) in learning and memory.
Strengthens synaptic connections, memory.
Explain the changes in lung volumes and capacities during exercise and their physiological relevance to performance.
Increased tidal volume, decreased reserves.
How does the nervous system control the rate and depth of breathing?
Brainstem responds to chemoreceptors.
Explain the difference between temporal and spatial summation in synaptic transmission.
Temporal: time-based, spatial: location-based.