The Anatomy of the Nervous System
Address the following Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week.
1. In 4 or 5 sentences, describe the anatomy of the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron. Include each part of the neuron and a general overview of electrical impulse conduction, the pathway it travels, and the net result at the termination of the impulse. Be specific and provide examples.
2. Answer the following (listing is acceptable for these questions):
What are the major components that make up the subcortical structures?
Which component plays a role in learning, memory, and addiction?
What are the two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control?
3. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain how glia cells function in the central nervous system. Be specific and provide examples.
4. The synapse is an area between two neurons that allows for chemical communication. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain what part of the neurons are communicating with each other and in which direction does this communication occur? Be specific.
5. In 3–5 sentences, explain the concept of “neuroplasticity.” Be specific and provide examples.
Reading Resourses:
Camprodon, J. A., & Roffman, J. L. (2016). Psychiatric neuroscience: Incorporating pathophysiology into clinical case formulation. In T. A. Stern, M. Favo, T. E. Wilens, & J. F. Rosenbaum. (Eds.), Massachusetts General Hospital psychopharmacology and neurotherapeutics (pp. 1–19). Elsevier.
The Anatomy of the Nervous System
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The Anatomy of the Nervous System
The nervous system conducts the neurons' impulses to allow effective response to various stimuli received from the physiological or environmental processes and body changes. The neuron is involved in receiving and sending impulses in the brain. It comprises three parts made up of the dendrite, of which there are several in the neuron that does acquire chemical signals from the axon termini of other neurons (Teufel, 2020). The Axon generally does conduct the electrical impulses. The cell body, which is the main, maintains the structure of the neurons, it also contains the genetic information, and it gives energy to the neuron.
The conduction of Electric impulse begins at the dendrite, where it is received before conveyance through the cell body. Then it goes to the Axon towards the inter-neuron communication point known as the synapse. Electrical impulse acquired through the dendrite is transferred as neurotransmitters from the presynaptic cell at the synapse; at this point, it goes through the synapse to the receptor-targeted then to the post-postsynaptic cell. The outcome of the impulse termination is the human reaction; this depends on the category of the signal acquired, if excitatory or inhibitory (Camprodon, 2016). A case scenario is, if a pain signal were obtained from being pinched or pressed by the door, the general outcome of the impulse termination would be the removal of the body part from the object or source of pain.
The major components that make up the subcortical structures
* The limbic system, including the hippocampus
* Basal ganglia
* Diencephalon comprising of the hypothalamus, thalamus, subthalamus, and epithalamus,
* Pituitary gland
Which component plays a role in learning, memory, and addiction?
The limbic system is the brain part involved in emotional and behavioral responses, particularly when it's about behaviors needed for survival: reproduction and feeding. It is the same component that is involved in learning and addiction.
What are the two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control?
They include the: Acetylcholine and Dopamine
How do Glia cells function in the central nervous system?
Glia, also known as or glial cells, is cells that are non-neuronal found in the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) and the peripheral nervous system that do not generate electrical impulses. Neuroglia supports the purpose of nerve cells and main functions like modulating and facilitating communication amongst nerve cells and promoting reaction to the nerve activity (Sandvig et al., 2018). For instance, the CNS neurons are connected to the capillaries by the astrocytes; at this point, they facilitate nutrient conveyance to the n...