1/29/25
Rachel Jeric Clark Anatomy & Physiology
Lecture 3: Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology
Knowledge Check:
There are three main muscle types: _________ muscle is used to move skeletal structures and are
voluntary. ___________ is involuntary muscle found in the heart. __________ muscle is involuntary and
found in the soft organs of the body.
Straited, Cardiac, and Smooth.
The ____________ marks the margin of the sarcomere.
Z line.
The thick myofilaments are called _________ while the thin filaments are called __________.
Myosin, Actin.
The deep fascia of connective tissue surrounding the whole muscle is called the ____________.
Epimysium.
During the contraction of a muscle fiber, the myosin filaments pull actin filaments closer together
resulting in shortening of sarcomeres within a muscle fiber. This model is called the
___________________.
Sliding Filament Theory.
Neuroanatomy:
Central Nervous System (CNS)- Brain and spinal cord (only!).
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- Nervous system serving the peripheral body.
Although there are many nerves within the spinal cord, these are part of the peripheral nervous
system.
Basic Units of Nervous System:
Neuron (nerve cell):
Cell body (soma).
Dendrites- Transmit information toward the soma.
Axon (one way only!)- Transmit information away from the soma.
Knowlege Check:
Glial Cells- (C) Supportive cells; make up half of the brain tissue.
Oligodendrocytes- (E) In CNS; glial cells that form myelin.
Astrocytes- (B) In CNS; glial cells that support the transport of nutrients to the neuron and shields from
toxins with blood-brain system.
Microglia- (D) In CNS; glial cells that are housekeeping or “cleaning up” cells.
Schwann cells- (A) Form myelin in PNS.
, 1/29/25
Rachel Jeric Clark
Saltatory conduction- When the signal propagates/hops from one node of Ranvier to the next.
Myelin has no ion channels.
Nodes of Ranvier have ion channels
allowing signal to jump from node to node.
Parts of the Neuron: Nodes of Ranvier- Gaps in the myelin sheath
Cell Body (Soma)- The main part of the where the axon is exposed. These gaps allow
neuron that contains the nucleus. It the signal to "jump" along the axon, speeding
processes incoming signals and maintains up conduction.
the cell's overall health. Telodendria- Small, fine branches at the end
Nucleus- Found inside the soma, it contains of the axon that further divide to make
the cell’s genetic material (DNA) and controls contact with target cells. They increase the
its activities. area for signal transmission.
Dendrites- Branch-like structures that Axon Terminals (Terminal Buttons)- The
receive signals from other neurons and ends of the telodendria, where the neuron
transmit them toward the cell body. communicates with other cells by releasing
Axon Hillock- The cone-shaped region where neurotransmitters into the synapse.
the axon joins the cell body. This is where Synapse-The tiny gap between neurons
action potentials (electrical signals) are where chemical signals (neurotransmitters)
initiated if the incoming signals are strong are passed from one neuron to another.
enough.
Axon- A long, thin structure that carries
electrical signals (action potentials) away
from the cell body to other neurons or
muscles.
Myelin Sheath- A fatty layer that wraps
around the axon, speeding up the
transmission of electrical signals and
protecting the axon.
Function of Neurons:
Afferent (sensory)- Conduction towards cell body or CNS.
Efferent (motor)- Conduction away from neuron cell body or CNS.
Interneurons- Connecting neurons.
Synapse- Functional junction between neurons.
Terminal end plate or neuromuscular junction- Physical connection between nerve fiber and muscle
fiber.
Presynaptic cell: Nerve cell.
Postsynaptic cell: Muscle cell.
Myasthenia Gravis- Weakness in skeletal muscles (swallowing and speech).
Rachel Jeric Clark Anatomy & Physiology
Lecture 3: Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology
Knowledge Check:
There are three main muscle types: _________ muscle is used to move skeletal structures and are
voluntary. ___________ is involuntary muscle found in the heart. __________ muscle is involuntary and
found in the soft organs of the body.
Straited, Cardiac, and Smooth.
The ____________ marks the margin of the sarcomere.
Z line.
The thick myofilaments are called _________ while the thin filaments are called __________.
Myosin, Actin.
The deep fascia of connective tissue surrounding the whole muscle is called the ____________.
Epimysium.
During the contraction of a muscle fiber, the myosin filaments pull actin filaments closer together
resulting in shortening of sarcomeres within a muscle fiber. This model is called the
___________________.
Sliding Filament Theory.
Neuroanatomy:
Central Nervous System (CNS)- Brain and spinal cord (only!).
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- Nervous system serving the peripheral body.
Although there are many nerves within the spinal cord, these are part of the peripheral nervous
system.
Basic Units of Nervous System:
Neuron (nerve cell):
Cell body (soma).
Dendrites- Transmit information toward the soma.
Axon (one way only!)- Transmit information away from the soma.
Knowlege Check:
Glial Cells- (C) Supportive cells; make up half of the brain tissue.
Oligodendrocytes- (E) In CNS; glial cells that form myelin.
Astrocytes- (B) In CNS; glial cells that support the transport of nutrients to the neuron and shields from
toxins with blood-brain system.
Microglia- (D) In CNS; glial cells that are housekeeping or “cleaning up” cells.
Schwann cells- (A) Form myelin in PNS.
, 1/29/25
Rachel Jeric Clark
Saltatory conduction- When the signal propagates/hops from one node of Ranvier to the next.
Myelin has no ion channels.
Nodes of Ranvier have ion channels
allowing signal to jump from node to node.
Parts of the Neuron: Nodes of Ranvier- Gaps in the myelin sheath
Cell Body (Soma)- The main part of the where the axon is exposed. These gaps allow
neuron that contains the nucleus. It the signal to "jump" along the axon, speeding
processes incoming signals and maintains up conduction.
the cell's overall health. Telodendria- Small, fine branches at the end
Nucleus- Found inside the soma, it contains of the axon that further divide to make
the cell’s genetic material (DNA) and controls contact with target cells. They increase the
its activities. area for signal transmission.
Dendrites- Branch-like structures that Axon Terminals (Terminal Buttons)- The
receive signals from other neurons and ends of the telodendria, where the neuron
transmit them toward the cell body. communicates with other cells by releasing
Axon Hillock- The cone-shaped region where neurotransmitters into the synapse.
the axon joins the cell body. This is where Synapse-The tiny gap between neurons
action potentials (electrical signals) are where chemical signals (neurotransmitters)
initiated if the incoming signals are strong are passed from one neuron to another.
enough.
Axon- A long, thin structure that carries
electrical signals (action potentials) away
from the cell body to other neurons or
muscles.
Myelin Sheath- A fatty layer that wraps
around the axon, speeding up the
transmission of electrical signals and
protecting the axon.
Function of Neurons:
Afferent (sensory)- Conduction towards cell body or CNS.
Efferent (motor)- Conduction away from neuron cell body or CNS.
Interneurons- Connecting neurons.
Synapse- Functional junction between neurons.
Terminal end plate or neuromuscular junction- Physical connection between nerve fiber and muscle
fiber.
Presynaptic cell: Nerve cell.
Postsynaptic cell: Muscle cell.
Myasthenia Gravis- Weakness in skeletal muscles (swallowing and speech).
