Coordination and Regulation, Nervous System Physiology

Question 1

Between what must organ systems be coordinated?

Answer 1

Within an animal and with the environment.

Question 2

What are the two major systems of coordination and regulation?

Answer 2

Nervous system [communication primarily through electricity] and endocrine system [hormones, chemical communication system]. Both systems act together.

Question 3

What animal does not have a nervous system?

Answer 3

The sponges because all the cells in the sponge can survive independently and do not rely on communication to survive.

Question 4

What are the three major roles of the nervous system?

Answer 4

1. Collecting information
2. Process and integrate information
3. Transmit information

Question 5

What does “collecting information” mean?

Answer 5

From the internal or external environment, a network of nerves are constantly accessing what is going on and transmitting the information to the brain. Modified neurons (sensory receptors) are also used.

Question 6

What does “process and integrate information” mean?

Answer 6

Evaluating information based on past experiences or genetics; occurs mostly in the CNS, in the brain.

Question 7

What does “transmit information” mean?

Answer 7

The brain comes up with a response signal that is then transmitted to a response/effector organ.

Question 8

What is a neuron?

Answer 8

A cell that generates bioelectric signals that are used to transmit information to other cells. When a neuron is fully grown/matured, it loses the capacity to divide. Glial cells support the development and functioning of neurons.

Question 9

What are Sensory/Afferent Neurons?

Answer 9

Neurons that sense external or internal information and sends it to the brain.

Question 10

What are Motor/Efferent Neurons?

Answer 10

Neurons that send response signals from the CNS and send it to the response organ.

Question 11

What are Interneurons?

Answer 11

Neurons that form interconnections between other neurons in the CNS; primarily found in the brain, accepts information from afferent neurons.

Question 12

Where are Afferent and Efferent Neurons located?

Answer 12

In the Peripheral Nervous System.

Question 13

What are Glial Cells?

Answer 13

They play a supportive role, they protect the cell and provide structural support. They guide neurons through growth and provide nutrients for growth.

Question 14

What are the types of vertebrate glial cells?

Answer 14

Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes.

Question 15

What are Schwann cells?

Answer 15

An insulating layer [myelinate PNS neurons] for the afferent/efferent neurons.

Question 16

What are Oligodendrocytes?

Answer 16

They mylinate CNS neurons.

Question 17

What are Astrocytes?

Answer 17

The blood-brain barrier, a very fine protective layer that keeps harmful substances out of the brain. Star-shaped.

Question 18

What are dendrites?

Answer 18

They are the branching around the cell body that receive information from incoming stimulus.

Question 19

What is the soma?

Answer 19

The cell body, contains the nucleus and most organelles.

Question 20

What is the Axon Hillock?

Answer 20

Where the action potential is generated, between the soma and the axon.

Question 21

What is the Axon?

Answer 21

Where the information is transmitted away from the cell body. Long, glial-cell layered, tail coming off of the soma.

Question 22

What are the Terminal Branches?

Answer 22

Nerve terminals that transmit information to other neurons or effectors.

Question 23

What do the Glial Cells do to the Axon?

Answer 23

A single glial cell wraps itself around an axon to form a segment of the myelin sheath, allowing signals to jump from one gap to another to speed up the velocity of the signals.

Question 24

What is a Nerve?

Answer 24

A bundle of axons.

Question 25

Define Axon.

Answer 25

A nerve fiber.

Question 26

What is a Synapse?

Answer 26

Connections between axon terminal and effector cells.

Question 27

What are the basis of bioelectricity?

Answer 27

Membrane potentials, the difference between the charge inside and outside of the cell.

Question 28

What is the Electrical Potential?

Answer 28

The difference in electrical charge between regions, measured in volts.

Question 29

Define Current.

Answer 29

The flow of electrical charge between regions.

Question 30

What is Membrane Potential?

Answer 30

Unequal charge distribution across a cell membrane.

Question 31

All living cells are electrically polarized, which means:

Answer 31

1. They all have a Membrane Potential.
2. The inside of the membrane is negative relative to the exterior.
3. Size of membrane potential ranges from -10 to -70 mV.
4. Voltmeters can record the voltage difference.
5. Measure of MP is a function of time.

Question 32

What are the three types of Membrane Potential?

Answer 32

1. Resting Membrane Potential
2. Action Potential (depolarization, very large and rapid)
3. Electron Potential (small)

Question 33

Membrane Potentials and Currents depend on what?

Answer 33

Inorganic ions.