Chapter 13

Question 1

List the functional divisions of the nervous system

Answer 1

sensory nervous system - the part of the nervous system responsible for collecting information; receives sensory information that travels from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system (afferent)

motor nervous system - carries motor information away from the central nervous system and towards the peripheral nervous system; carries motor impulses from brain or spinal cord to muscle tissue somewhere in the body

Question 2

Define nucleus

Answer 2

a group of neuron cell bodies grouped together in close proximity in the central nervous system

Question 3

List the structural divisions of the nervous system

Answer 3

central nervous system (CNS) - integrates and processes nervous information; composed of brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS) - carries information from the body to the CNS; receives information from the CNS to cause a response in the body; composed of cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and ganglia

Question 4

Define ganglion (plural = ganglia)

Answer 4

a group of neuron cell bodies grouped together in close proximity in the peripheral nervous system

Question 5

Define nerve

Answer 5

a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system

Question 6

Define afferent

Answer 6

information from the body traveling to the CNS

Question 7

Define efferent

Answer 7

information traveling from the CNS to muscle tissue in the body

Question 8

Define somatic

Answer 8

voluntary/conscious control over the structure; sensations originating in these structures can be localized

Question 9

Define visceral

Answer 9

involuntary/unconscious control over the structure; sensations originating in these structures can not be localized

Question 10

List the four basic types of nervous system information

Answer 10

somatic sensory - information that originates from structures you are consciously aware of and can voluntarily move
Examples: touch, pain, pressure, vibration, temperature, proprioception, vision, hearing, balance, taste, smell

visceral sensory - information comes from structures that are involuntary; unaware unless they are not functioning properly
Examples: pain from stomach and heart, smooth muscle tissue, cardiac muscle tissue, and glands

somatic motor - carry nerve impulses to skeletal muscle, causing it to contract; also called voluntary motor
Examples: walking, running, typing, moving eyes

visceral motor - carry nerve impulses to smooth muscle tissue, cardiac muscle tissue, and glands; involuntary; also called autonomic motor
Examples: breaking down of food, heart regulation, blood vessels, etc

Question 11

Compare and contrast somatic afferent (somatic sensory) and visceral afferent (visceral sensory)

Answer 11

somatic afferent - sensory information you are consciously aware of

visceral afferent - sensory information you are unaware of

Question 12

Compare and contrast somatic efferent (somatic motor) and visceral efferent (visceral motor)

Answer 12

somatic efferent - voluntary movements

visceral efferent - involuntary (unconscious) movements

Question 13

Define neurons

Answer 13

nervous tissue cells that receive input from other cells, determine which parts of that information to pass on, and then send that information to other cells via action potentials; make up less than 10% of cells in the CNS, but greater than 50% of the volume

Question 14

Define glial cells

Answer 14

nervous tissue cells that play a supporting role in the nervous system; support the proper function and health of neurons, as well as helping to modulate their activity; make up 90% of cells in the CNS

Question 15

Define synapse

Answer 15

a space between neurons where a nerve impulse is transmitted through the junction between the end of an axon to another cell

Question 16

Describe the role of the cell body (soma) in a neuron and identify them

Answer 16

act as the control center of the neuron; receives, integrates, and sends nerve impulses

Question 17

Describe the role of dendrites in a neuron and identify them

Answer 17

act as receivers and conduct nerve impulses to the cell body; extend out to communicate with other neurons

Question 18

Describe the role of axons in a neuron and identify them

Answer 18

a single long projection that extends from the cell body to carry nerve impulses to other neurons, muscle tissue, and gland cells

Question 19

Describe the function of an interneuron

Answer 19

located in the CNS and act as the “go betweens” for other neurons; receive nerve impulses from sensory neurons and send impulses to motor neurons; play a vital role in deciding how the body should respond to stimuli; most numerous type of neuron within the nervous system

Question 20

Describe the major function and the location (CNS or PNS) of astrocytes

Answer 20

contribute to blood brain barrier; provide structural and metabolic support to the CNS; repair damage to neurons in the CNS; located in the CNS

Question 21

Describe the major function and the location (CNS or PNS) of ependymal cells

Answer 21

produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid; located in the CNS (line central canal and ventricles)

Question 22

Describe the major function and the location (CNS or PNS) of microglial cells

Answer 22

macrophages of the CNS; participate in immune response in the CNS; located in CNS

Question 23

Describe the major function and the location (CNS or PNS) of oligodendrocytes

Answer 23

myelinate axons in the CNS; located in CNS

Question 24

Describe the major function and the location (CNS or PNS) of Schwann cells

Answer 24

myelinate axons in the PNS; located in the PNS

Question 25

Describe the function of myelin and list the portion of the neuron that is myelinated

Answer 25

an insulating covering that wraps around some axons in the CNS and PNS