Chapter 13 - Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, & Spinal Reflexes

Question 1

Nervous System Diagram

Question 2

Which roots are sensory and which are motor? Anterior / Posterior.

Answer 2

Posterior = sensory = arrival = afferent
Anterior = motor = exit = efferent

Question 3

explain neural divergence vs. convergence.

Answer 3

Question 4

explain serial processing vs. parallel processing.

Answer 4

Question 5

explain reverberation in neural circuits.

Answer 5

positive feedback loop - for breathing, etc.

Question 6

Explain the following types of reflexes:
1. Innate
2. Acquired
3. Somatic
4. Visceral

Answer 6

1. Innate - formed before birth, eg. eye tracking
2. Acquired - learned motor patterns - eg. braking in a car
3. Somatic - skeletal muscle contractions
4. Visceral - controls other effectors, like glands & smooth muscles

Question 7

explain what postural reflexes are.

Answer 7

Where many muscles redirect to keep balance. Involves multiple muscle groups - like engaging the muscles of the left leg when lifting the right leg. Proprioceptors detect where you are in space.

Question 8

monosynaptic reflex vs polysynaptic reflex

Answer 8

monosynaptic - simple, single reflex arc, sensory directly interacts with motor neuron.
polysynaptic - more complex, at least 1 interneuron between sensory and motor, most common. Eg. tendon reflexes, withdrawal, crossed-extensor reflexes (opposite sides for similar goal)

Question 9

what is the plantar reflex and Babinski reflex?

Answer 9

the plantar reflex curls the toes.
the Babinski reflex flexes the toes.
Babinski becomes the plantar flex.