Ch.1 Nervous system functioning

Question 1

What is the structure and function of the CNS?

Answer 1

Contains the brain and spinal cord, the CNS controls the body by processing and responding to sensory input from the PNS.

Question 2

What is the structure and function of the PNS?

Answer 2

Contains the Somatic and Autonomic nervous systems. Communicates information from the body to the CNS and to the body’s organs, glands and muscles.

Question 3

What are motor neurons?

Answer 3

Neurons that communicate messages from the CNS to the muscles for movement.

Question 4

What are sensory neurons?

Answer 4

Neurons that carries information from the body and from the outside world into the CNS.

Question 5

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 5

Is a branch of the autonomic nervous system that activates the flight, fight and freeze response.

Question 6

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 6

Is a branch of the ANS, responsible for maintaining our day-to-day functioning of the body such as digestion, heart rate and breathing.

Question 7

What are dendrites?

Answer 7

Branch-like segments of a neuron which receive signals from other neurons or sensory receptors.

Question 8

What is the soma?

Answer 8

Is the cell body and the largest part of the neuron, that controls the metabolism and maintenance of the cell.

Question 9

What is an axon?

Answer 9

Is the part of the neuron where messages are sent.

Question 10

What is the myelin?

Answer 10

A white, fatty, waxy substance that coats some axons, protecting them from electrical interference from other neurons. It also speeds up the messages sent along the axons.

Question 11

What are axon terminals?

Answer 11

Are bulb-like structures at the end of an axon which release neurotransmitters.

Question 12

What is a spinal reflex?

Answer 12

Is an unconscious, involuntary and automatically occurring response without any involvement of the brain.

Question 13

What are excitatory messages?

Answer 13

Messages transmitted by neurotransmitters that stimulate the next neuron to fire.

Question 14

What are inhibitory messages?

Answer 14

Messages transmitted by neurotransmitters that make the next neuron less likely to fire.

Question 15

Glutamate

Answer 15

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter that is responsible for the fast transmission of neural messages.

Question 16

GABA

Answer 16

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Its overall effects are to calm or slow neural transmission.

Question 17

Lock and key like process of neurotransmitters

Answer 17

Just as a key has its own pattern and shape that fit into a specific hole in a lock. Each neurotransmitter has a distinct shape that fits into a specific receptor site.

Question 18

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 18

It is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by chronic and progressive changes in the brain due to the malfunction and deterioration to neurons.

Question 19

Action potential

Answer 19

Refers to the build up of electrical energy so that enough is available for the neuron to fire.

Question 20

Resting potential

Answer 20

Refers to when a neuron is not stimulated or involved in passage of an impulse.

Question 21

Symptoms of PD

Answer 21

. Unpredictable tremors and shaking
. Pain and discomfort in limbs
. Speech and swallowing problems
. Reduced control over facial muscles
. Anxiety
. Depression
. Slowness in thinking and memory problems

Question 22

What are some neurological diseases caused by neurotransmitter dysfunction?

Answer 22

Alzheimer’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Motor neuron disease

Question 23

Agonist

Answer 23

There is an increase of neurotransmitters, which increases the effect of neurotransmitters. More likely to fire an action potential.

Question 24

Antagonist

Answer 24

Inhibit the release of neurotransmitters or block the receptor sites. Less likely to fire an action potential.