NURS 4430 Week 1 Introduction to Neuroanatomy

The human brain is organized into the cerebral cortex, brainstem, subcortical structures, and the cerebellum. These anatomical structures are made of interconnected elements that create distributed and highly interconnected circuits. It is in these circuits where cognition, behavior, and affect are processed.

—Camprodon, J. A., & Roffman, J. L. (2016, p. 6)

By using a combination of psychotherapy and medication therapy, psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNP) are positioned to provide a very unique type of care to patients with psychiatric disorders. To be successful in this role, you must have a strong theoretical foundation in pathophysiology, psychopharmacology, and neuroscience. This foundation will help you assess, diagnose, and treat patients as you relate presenting symptoms to theoretical neuronal functioning.

This week, as you begin to study psychopharmacology, you will explore the basic functional unit of the nervous system, the neuron. You will review the structure of the neuron and you will examine the anatomy of the central nervous system and consider the functionality of the different structure and outward (phenotypic) expression of their activities. You will analyze these concepts as you complete your short answer assessment for this week.

Reference:

  • 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.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Describe the functions and structures of the central nervous system
  • Describe the different structures that make up the neuron
  • Explain the function of neurons in intracellular communication

Learning Resources

  • 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.

Assignment: Practicum Manual Acknowledgment

The Practicum Manual describes the structure and timing of the classroom-based and practicum experiences and the policies students must follow to be successful in the nurse practitioner (NP) specialties.

Assignment: Short Answer Assessment

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 Assignment.
  • Reflect on the basic function and structure of the neuron in relation to the central nervous system.
  • Reflect on the interconnectedness 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.

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.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment.

Introduction to Neuroanatomy Sample Paper

The neuron is composed of two main parts, the cell body and the nerve process (axon, Dendron and dendrites). The Dendron transmits impulses towards the cell body while the axon transmits impulses away from the cell body. Electrical impulse conduction involves the processes of transduction, transmission, modulation and perception with resultant physiological and emotional responses (Goaillard et al., 2019). A classic example is the pain impulse propagation from the nociceptive receptor site to the somatosensory areas 1 and 11 of the parietal cortex with resultant physiological response.

The subcortical areas include diencephalon, pituitary gland, limbic structures and the basal ganglia. The main parts of the brain involved with memory include the cerebrum, the amygdala and the hippocampus while learning is a function of the cerebral cortex. The parts of the brain involved with addiction are prefrontal regions including orbitofrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus (Thau et al., 2021). The two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra-striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control are dopamine and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA).

The glial cells include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia and ependymal cells. The astrocytes provide physiological and biochemical support to the neurons and interact with capillary endothelial cells to establish blood brain barrier (Verkhratsky et al., 2019). Oligodendrocytes form and maintain the myelin sheath whereas ependymal cells form the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by processes of active secretion, diffusion, absorption and exchange. On the other hand, the microglial cells form the macrophage-monocyte system responsible for countering foreign pathogens.

Synapses include axodendritic (which is the most common type of synapse in humans) involves the impulse from the axon of presynaptic neuron to dendrite of postsynaptic neuron (Goaillard et al., 2019). Additionally, axosomatic synapse involves transmission of impulse from the axon of presynaptic neuron to the cell body of post synaptic neuron. 

Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to form, change and re-organize neural networks and synaptic connections as a result of injury, learning or an experience (Puderbaugh & Emmady, 2021). A classic example is a child born with sensory-neural hearing loss whose speech center fails to develop because he or she cannot perceive sounds. In this patient both the auditory cortex (superior temporal gyrus) and the speech center (Broca’s area) fails to develop with resultant creation of new pathways. 

References