Sweet BBQ
Explain the function of the corpus callosum
Connects the two hemispheres of the brain; enables the two sides of our brain to communicate
Describe the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
CNS: brain and spinal cord
PNS: all nerves outside of CNS
Explain all the functions of medulla oblongata
Breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, coughing, sneezing, swallowing, vomiting, and maintaining balance
Explain the action of the sympathetic nervous system in regard to a stress response
Triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline which increase heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. They also cause the pupils to dilate and increase blood flow to muscles.
Explain the risk of stroke
Several factors can influence the risk of stroke, including high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and physical inactivity.
Explain the functions of the nervous system
Explain all parts of a neuron and their function
Dendrites: receive signals from other neurons and transmit them to the cell body
Soma: contains the nucleus and organelles for the neuron
Axon: carries signals away from the cell body to other neurons or effector cells
Explain the function and production of cerebrospinal fluid
Function: cushion the brain an spinal cord when they're struck with mechanical force, provide basic immunological protection to the CNS, remove metabolic waste, and transport neurotransmitters and neuromodulators
Production: Ependymal cells in the choroid plexus of the ventricles of the brain
Explain all the brain waves and the Hz values for each. What are the waves in sleep?
Beta: 14-30 Hz: awake
Alpha: 8-13 Hz: awake with your eyes closed
Theta: 4-7 Hz: light sleep
Delta: 0.5-3.5 Hz: deep sleep
Explain the effects of anesthetics in the excitability of the membrane
Anesthetics primarily interact with sodium channels embedded in cell membranes to reduce the excitability of nerve cells; local anesthetics block nerve impulse transmission in the peripheral and central nervous system with autonomic impulses blocked first, then sensory impulses, and finally, motor impulses.
Explain what GABA and Glutamate are
GABA- major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamate- major excitatory neurotransmitter
Explain the process and differences between an electrical vs. a chemical synapsis
Electrical: signal is transmitted directly from one neuron to another via a gap junction
Chemical: signal is transmitted across a synaptic cleft using neurotransmitters
Difference: electrical synapses allow for very fast transmission while chemical synapses are slower and have less precise control over signal transmission
Explain the cause of multiple sclerosis
autoimmune; immune system malfunctions and destroys the myelin that protects the nerve fibers in the brian and spinal cord
Explain what the meninges is and what are the different layers
Meninges: three layers of membrane that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord
Dura mater: outermost layer closest to the skull
Arachnoid: middle layer
Pia mater: innermost layer closest to the brain tissue
Explain the cause of epilepsy and the types of epilepsy
Cause: Disturbance in brain activity; electrical disruption
Types:
Generalized- multiple parts of the brain
Focal- one part of the brain
Explain the function and location of all the lobes in the brain
frontal lobe: anterior to occipital: involved in personality characteristics, decision making, and movement
parietal lobe: posterior to frontal lobe: processing sensory information and spatial awareness
temporal lobe: lateral to the parietal: auditory information, memory, and smell
occipital lobe: posterior to frontal lobe: processing visual information
Explain all types of glial cells and their function
PNS:
Satellite cells- structural support in neuron cell bodies
Schwann cells- myelinate axons
CNS:
Oligodendrocytes- myelinate axons
Astrocytes- maintain blood-brain barrier
Ependymal cells- produce and circulate CSF
Microglia- remove waste and pathogens
Explain saltatory conduction (use Nodes of Ranvier and axon hillock in your explanation)
Electrical signal is generated in the axon hillock, from there the signal travels down the axon until it reaches a node of Ranvier. At this point, the signal jumps across the node and continues down the axon until it reaches the next node. This speeds up the transmission of the signal.
Explain the role of sodium and potassium in action potential (use depolarization, repolarization, and hyperpolarization)
Rest: Sodium ions are higher outside the cell, potassium ions are higher inside the cell
Depolarization: Sodium channels open leading to an influx of sodium ions; Potassium channels are closed
Repolarization: Potassium channels open leading to an influx of potassium channels; Sodium channels are closed
Hyperpolarization: Potassium channels remain open for too long; Sodium channels are closed
Explain the difference between action potential and a graded potential
Graded potentials are variable-strength signals that can be transmitted over short distances such as ligand-gated channels, while action potentials are large depolarizations that can be transmitted over long distances and obey the all-or-none law such as the transmission of impulses to muscle cells.
Explain what the resting membrane potential of a neuron
-70 mv
Explain where and what the function of Wernicke's and Broca's area
Wernicke's: posterior part of the temporal lobe: language comprehension
Broca's: posterior part of the frontal lobe: speech production and coordinating movements needed to speak
Explain the differences between the types of memory
Short term memory: active memory that allows you to recall specific information about anything for a brief period
Long term memory: responsible for storing information over an extended period
Explain what a synapse is and the processes involved
Synapse: allows neurons to communicate with each other
When an action potential reaches the end of an axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters then bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, which generates an electrical signal that can be transmitted along the axon.
Explain the differences between the epidural space, the subdural space, and the subarachnoid space
The epidural space is between the dura mater and vertebral canal, subdural space is a potential space that can be opened by the separation of the arachnoid from the dura mater, and subarachnoid space is between arachnoid and pia mater.