Chapter 49: The Nervous System

Question 1

Brain matter

Answer 1

Gray matter consists of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons

White matter consists of bundles of myelinated axons

• Located on the exterior of the spinal cord
• Located on the interior of the brain

Question 2

Enteric nervous system

Answer 2

Seperate division of the autonomic nervous system

A distinct network of neurons that exerts direct and partially independent control over the digestive tract, pancreas, and gallbladder

Question 3

ANS ganglions

Answer 3

Preganglionic neurons connect the central nervous system to the ganglia

• Have cell bodies in the CNS
• Release acetylcholine

Postganglionic neurons connect the ganglion to the effector organ

• Those of the parasympathetic nervous system release acetylcholine
• Those of the sympathetic nervous system release norepinephrine

Question 4

Glia

Answer 4

Nourish, support, and regulate the functioning of neurons

Question 5

Major brain regions

Answer 5

Forebrain- processing of olfactory input, regulation of sleep, learning, and any complex processing

Midbrain- coordinates routing of sensory input

Hindbrain- controls involuntary activities and coordinates motor activities

Question 6

Brain development

Answer 6

Forebrain

Telencephalon

• Cerebral cortex
• Basal nuclei

Diencephalon

• Thalmus
• Hypothalmus, Epithalmus

Midbrain

Mesencephalon

• Midbrain

Hindbrain

Metencephalon

• Pons
• Cerebellum

Myelencephalon

• Medulla oblongata

Question 7

The cerebrum

Answer 7

Question 8

The cerebellum

Answer 8

Question 9

The diencephalon

Answer 9

Question 10

The brainstem

Answer 10

Question 11

Arousal and sleep

Answer 11

Controlled by the brainstem and cerebrum

Controlled in part by the reticular formation at the core of the brainstem formed by neurons in the midbrain and pons

• These neurons control the timing of sleep periods characterized by rapid eye movements (REMs) and by vivid dreams

Sleep is also regulated by the biological clock and regions of the forebrain that regulate intensity and duration

Question 12

Biological clock regulation

Answer 12

Circadian rhythms are coordinated by a group of neurons in the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

The SCN acts as a pacemaker, synchronizing the biological clock

Question 13

Emotions

Answer 13

Generation and experience of emotions involve the limbic system comprised of the:

• Amygdala
• Hippocampus
• Parts of the thalamus

Generating and experiencing emotion often require interactions between different parts of the brain

The structure most important to the storage of emotion in the memory is the amygdala, a mass of nuclei near the base of the cerebrum

Question 14

Frontal lobe functions

Answer 14

Motor cortex- control of skeletal muscles

Prefrontal cortex- decision-making and planning

Broca’s area- forming speech

Question 15

Parietal lobe functions

Answer 15

Somatosensory cortex- sense of touch

Sensory association cortex- integration of sensory information

Question 16

Temporal lobe

Answer 16

Auditory cortex- hearing

Wernicke’s area- comprehending language

Question 17

Occipital lobe

Answer 17

Visual association cortex- combining images and object recognition

Visual cortex- processing visual stimuli and pattern recognition

Question 18

Information processing

Answer 18

Cerebral cortex receives input from sensory organs and somatosensory receptors

The thalamus directs different types of input to distinct locations

Integrated sensory information passes to the prefrontal cortex which helps plan actions and movements

In the somatosensory and motor cortex
neurons are arranged according to the part of the body that generates input or receives commands

Question 19

Brain lateralization

Answer 19

The left hemisphere is more adept at language, math, logic, and processing of serial sequences

The right hemisphere is stronger at facial and pattern recognition, spatial relations, and nonverbal thinking

Question 20

Memory and learning

Answer 20

Short-term memory is accessed via temporary links formed in the hippocampus

Long-term memory occurs when links in the hippocampus are replaced by connections in the cerebral cortex itself

Question 21

Schizophrenia

Answer 21

Affects neuronal pathways that use dopamine as a neurotransmitter

Question 22

Parkinson’s disease

Answer 22

Caused by death of dopamine-secreting neurons in the midbrain

Question 23

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 23

Caused by the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques