NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment: Short Answer Assessment
NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, before you can recommend potential pharmacotherapeutics to address a patient’s condition or disorder, you must understand the basic function and structure of the neuron and central nervous system. For this Assignment, you will review and apply your understanding of neuroanatomy by addressing a set of short answer prompts.
To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources for this week in preparation to complete this NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment.
Reflect on the basic function and structure of the neuron in relation to the central nervous system.
Reflect on the inter-connectedness between neurons and the central nervous system, including the pathway and distribution of electrical impulses.
Reflect on how neurons communicate with each other and review the concept of neuroplasticity.
To complete:
Address the following Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week.
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.
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?
In 3 or 4 sentences, explain how glia cells function in the central nervous system. Be specific and provide examples.
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.
In 3–5 sentences, explain the concept of “neuroplasticity.” Be specific and provide examples.
NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment Answer
Neurons and the Central Nervous System: Structure and Function
The neuron is the fundamental building block of the central nervous system, consisting of several crucial components. These include dendrites, axons, and the cell body or soma. Dendrites serve as the input receivers of a neuron, where they receive signals from other cells. Resembling branches of a tree, dendrites extend outward, capturing incoming information.NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment
On the other hand, axons function as the structural output of the neuron, responsible for transmitting electrical messages, known as action potentials, to signal other neurons. These messages are passed from one neuron to another through the axons.
The soma, or cell body, houses the nucleus and plays a vital role in manufacturing the proteins required for the proper functioning of axons and dendrites. NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment
Conduction of Electrical Impulses
Neurons communicate with one another through electrical impulses, which are conveyed by chemical neurotransmitters or action potentials. At the junction where two neurons meet, known as synapses, an action potential is initiated, leading to the release of chemical neurotransmitters by neuron A. These neurotransmitters can either stimulate or inhibit neuron B, influencing the generation of its action potential. NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment
In the brain’s dynamic state, a delicate balance of hundreds of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to a neuron determines whether an action potential will be generated. For instance, during the initiation of an action potential, a passive propagation of depolarization to the adjacent distal membrane region causes a slight depolarization, resulting in the opening of voltage-gated Na+ channels and an increased influx of Na+ ions. Two forces, the Na+ ion concentration gradient and the combination of resting membrane potential (inside negative), collectively draw the Na+ ions into the cell. This inward movement of Na+ ions leads to a positive shift in the interior of the cell membrane and further depolarization. The depolarization process triggers the opening of high-voltage Na+ channels, leading to an explosive release of Na+ ions, all occurring within a fraction of a millisecond (Chen & Lui, 2019).NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment
In summary, the neuron’s structure and function, as well as the conduction of electrical impulses, are central to the intricate workings of the central nervous system.
Reference:
Chen, X., & Lui, T. N. (2019). Ionic Mechanisms Underlying Different Bursting Patterns in the Central Circadian Pacemaker. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 34(1), 74-89.
