12.3 Functional Organization of the Nervous System

Question 1

What is sensory function?

Answer 1

receiving information; carried out by the peripheral nervous system

Question 2

What is the integrative function?

Answer 2

processing information; carried out by the CNS

Question 3

What is motor function?

Answer 3

acting on the information; carried out by CNS

Question 4

What are motor neurons?

Answer 4

carry information from the nervous system toward organs which can act upon information; innervate effectors

Question 5

What are sensory neurons?

Answer 5

carry information toward the CNS

Question 6

What are motor neurons also known as?

Answer 6

efferent neurons

Question 7

What are sensory neurons also known as?

Answer 7

afferent neurons

Question 8

What is a reflex?

Answer 8

direct motor response to a sensory input which occurs without conscious thought

Question 9

What is a monosynaptic reflex arc?

Answer 9

reflex involving only two neurons and one synapse

Question 10

What is an inhibitory interneuron?

Answer 10

neuron that forms an inhibitory synapse with a motor neuron

Question 11

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 11

concurrent relaxation and contraction

Question 12

What are the two subdivisions of the PNS?

Answer 12

somatic and autonomic

Question 13

What is the somatic division of the PNS?

Answer 13

concerned with conscious sensation and deliberate, voluntary movement of skeletal muscle

Question 14

What is the autonomic division of the PNS?

Answer 14

concerned with digestion, metabolism, circulation, perspiration and other involuntary processes

Question 15

What are the two subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 15

sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 16

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 16

fight or flight

Question 17

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 17

rest and digest

Question 18

How many cranial nerves are there and what are their basic function?

Answer 18

12; convey sensory and motor information to and from the brainstem

Question 19

What are spinal nerves and how many are there?

Answer 19

31; convey sensory and motor information to and from the spinal cord

Question 20

What is an important cranial nerve for the MCAT?

Answer 20

vagus nerve