8.3 Central Nervous System (CQ - exam)

Question 1

What are the structures and general functions of the central nervous system?

Answer 1

Spinal cord: made up of sensory and motor neuron axons

Brain: processing, thinking, learning, emotions, coordinations

Question 2

Describe how grey matter and white matter are different from each other and where each are found in the brain and spinal cord

Answer 2

Grey matter:
- Unmyelinated neurons
- Contains mostly cell bodies, dendrites, and short unmyelinated axons
- Located around outside areas of brain and forms the H-shaped core of spinal cord

White matter:
- Myelinated neurons
- Contains myelinated axons that run together in tracts
- Forms inner region of some areas in brain
- Forms outer area of spinal cord

Question 3

functions of the blood-brain barrier.

Answer 3

• Supplies the brain w nutrients and oxygen
• Protects brain by blocking entrance of potentially harmful substances
• Selectively allow some substances to pass from blood into brain tissues

Question 4

why damage to the spinal cord could result in the loss of muscle function.

Answer 4

• if you are injured in the spinal cord, nothing will work below it
• Nerves travel from motor cortex, to spinal cord, to the muscle