Muscle
This ion binds troponin to initiate skeletal muscle contraction.
Calcium (Ca2+)
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Sensory neurons enter through this root.
Dorsal Root.
What region is responsible for coordination and motor learning?
Cerebellum
Cranial nerve responsible for smell
Olfactory nerve (CN I)
This region of the sarcomere becomes smaller during muscle contraction
T - band
Opening these channels causes depolarization in most neurons
Sodium Channels
This tract carries voluntary motor commands from the cortex.
Costricospinal Tract
The major relay center of the diencephalon.
Thalmus
Cranial nerve supplying muscles of facial expression
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Loss of this protein is responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Dystrophin
Name the period during which no action potential can be generated regardless of stimulus strength
Absolute refractory period
Describe the deficit caused by cutting the ventral root.
Motor function loss/paralysis.
Area responsible for speech production. Give an example of a malfunction
Broca's area
This cranial nerve carries parasympathetic fibers to most thoracic and abdominal organs.
Vagus nerve (CN C)
What is a threshold stimulus? What is the threshold stimulus for contraction?
The voltage required to open voltage-gated ion channels to trigger an action potential.
-55mV
What are the major glial cells in the PNS? What are their functions?
Satellite cells
- Provide electrical insulation and regulate the chemical environment of neurons in PNS
Schwann cells
- Surround nerve fibers and form myelin sheaths in thicker nerve fibers
What information does the muscle spindle provide? The Golgi tendon organ?
Muscle Spindles provide information on muscle length and speed.
Golgy tendon organs provide informaiton regaurding muscle tension.
What are the basal ganglia (nuclei)?
- Caudate
- Putamen
- Globus Pallidus
- Substantia Nigra
What is Broca's aphasia? Wernicke's aphasia?
Broca- damage to Broca's area resulting in slow speech, difficulty choosing words
Wernicke's- damage to wernicke's area resulting in speech thats normal and excessive, but uses senseless jargon.
What are the major fiber types? How are they different from each other?
Slow-twitch, slow oxidative, red or type I fibers
- Slow ATPase, abundant mitochondria, capillaries, capallariesm and myoglobin (deep red color)
- Fatigue Resistant by oxidative ATP production (aerobic)
Fast-twitch, fast glycolytic, white of type II fibers
- Quick responses, fast ATPase, lacks myoglobin, anaerobic fermentation for energy (glycolysis)
Which two diseases (mentioned in this class) are responsible for the disorder of the Myelin Sheath, and WHY?
Multiple Sclerosis and Tay Sachs
MS- Immune cells actively attack the myelin sheath, causing demyelination, stripping away the myelin coating, therefore, slowing down nerve signals.
Tay Sachs- Failure in lysosomal degradation leading to neuron death. This degrades the myelin sheath since it requires a living axon to bind to.
What does it mean for a reflex to be contralateral? Ipsilateral? Intersegmental? Monosynaptic? Polysynaptic?
All must be answered correctly for points
Ipsilateral reflex - stimulates and response on same side
Contralateral reflex- input and output are on opposite sides
Intersegmental- input and output occure on different levels (segments) of spinal cord
Monosynaptic- involves only one synapse in the CNS in its simplest pathway
Polysynaptic- involves more than one synapse in the CNS
What is the limbic system? What major structures are part of the limbic system? What are their functions?
The limbic system deals with emotion and learning.
Parts
- Cingulate gyrus: gestures, pain
- Hippocampus: memory
- Amygdala: anger and fear
- Hypothalmus: hub of limbic system