Directional Terms: Introduction to the Nervous System

Question 1

Rostral refers to which direction?

Answer 1

Toward the head

Question 2

Caudal refers to which direction?

Answer 2

Toward the tail

Question 3

Afferent nerves are which type and travel which way?

Answer 3

Sensory, going from the periphery toward the central nervous system. Ascending!

Question 4

Efferent nerves are which type and travel which way

Answer 4

Motor going away from the CNS toward the body. Descending.

Question 5

A Central Nervous System neuron is; Afferent, Efferent, or Both?

Answer 5

A CNS neuron can be either Afferent OR Efferent

Question 6

Afferent designates what type of connections?

Answer 6

Incoming

—axons/nerve impulses directed toward the next neuron

Question 7

Efferent designates what type of connections?

Answer 7

Outgoing

—axons/nerve impulses directed away from a neuron

Question 8

The terms “Ipsilateral & Contralateral” indicate what?

Answer 8

That at some point there has to have been a crossing of pathways to get neuronal info from one side to the other

Question 9

The term “Bilateral” is a unique situation why?

Answer 9

Because it indicates information is traveling and being integrated on both sides of the CNS