Exam 2: Chapters 5,6,7 Flashcards
What is the main function of the nervous system?
To transmit signals between different parts of the body.
True or False: The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
True
Fill in the blank: The central nervous system consists of the ________ and the _________.
brain, spinal cord
What is the basic unit of the nervous system?
Neuron
Which part of the neuron receives signals from other neurons?
Dendrites
What is the term for the gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released?
Synapse
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
To insulate and speed up the transmission of nerve impulses.
What is the largest part of the human brain?
Cerebrum
Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating basic functions such as breathing and heart rate?
Brainstem
What is the role of the cerebellum?
To coordinate voluntary movements and balance.
What is the function of the spinal cord?
To transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Which division of the peripheral nervous system controls involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion?
Autonomic nervous system
What is the fight-or-flight response controlled by?
Sympathetic nervous system
Which neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and reward?
Dopamine
What is the term for the outermost layer of the meninges that protects the brain?
Dura mater
What is the role of the thalamus in the brain?
To relay sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
To connect the two hemispheres of the brain and facilitate communication between them.
True or False: The brain consumes more energy per unit of weight than any other organ.
True
What is the term for the body’s ability to adapt to new situations and environments?
Plasticity
Which part of the brain is responsible for processing emotions?
Amygdala
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
To regulate body temperature, hunger, and sleep.
What is the main function of the somatic nervous system?
To control voluntary movements.
What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?
To rest and digest, and conserve energy.
Which part of the brain is responsible for processing visual information?
Occipital lobe
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
To control reasoning, planning, and problem-solving.
True or False: The cerebellum is primarily responsible for processing auditory information.
False
What is the term for the process by which neurons are coated with myelin?
Myelination
What is the role of the hippocampus in the brain?
To process and store memories.
Which part of the brain is responsible for processing auditory information?
Temporal lobe
What is the function of the pons in the brain?
To regulate breathing and sleep.
What is the term for the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord?
Meninges
Which part of the brain is responsible for processing sensory information?
Parietal lobe
What is the main function of the sympathetic nervous system?
To prepare the body for fight or flight responses.
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
To regulate vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing.
Which part of the brain is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making?
Prefrontal cortex
What is the term for the body’s automatic response to a stimulus?
Reflex
What is the role of the reticular formation in the brain?
To regulate wakefulness and alertness.
True or False: Neurons in the brain can regenerate if damaged.
False
What is the term for the process of transmitting a nerve impulse along a neuron?
Action potential
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
To control voluntary movements and procedural learning.
Which neurotransmitter is associated with mood regulation and sleep?
Serotonin
What is the term for the part of the brain that coordinates voluntary movements?
Motor cortex
What is the function of the limbic system in the brain?
To regulate emotions, memory, and motivation.
Which part of the brain is responsible for processing language?
Broca’s area
What is the role of the midbrain in the brain?
To relay information between the forebrain and hindbrain.
What is the term for the network of nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body?
Peripheral nervous system
Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating sleep and wake cycles?
Pineal gland
What are the function of the iris in eye?
The iris regulates the amount of light entering the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil.
Describe the role of Schwann cells in the nervous system.
Schwann cells form the myelin sheath around axons, speeding up the conduction of electrical impulses.
What neurotransmitter is released from gustatory receptor cells to activate sensory neurons?
Neurotransmitters are released when taste stimuli interact with gustatory receptor cells, which activate the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus cranial nerves.
What is the function of the cornea in vision?
The cornea transmits and focuses light onto the retina, contributing most of the eye’s total focusing power.
What are the three broad types of neurons based on their function?
Sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons.
Explain synaptic transmission.
It involves the release of a neurotransmitter from the pre-synaptic neuron, which binds to specific post-synaptic receptors to transmit signals between neurons or from neurons to target cells.
What is the role of the olfactory bulb in the sense of smell?
The olfactory bulb processes input from sensory neurons in the nose and transmits this information to other brain areas, including the olfactory cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system, controls autonomic functions, and regulates the body’s response to emotions and stress.
Define saltatory conduction.
Saltatory conduction is the process where action potentials jump from one node of Ranvier to the next along myelinated axons, increasing the speed of nerve impulse transmission.
What are the two divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
The sensory (afferent) division and the motor (efferent) division.
What is the main difference between the nervous system and the endocrine system in terms of regulation?
The nervous system works quickly for short-term processes, while the endocrine system works slowly and regulates longer-term processes.
What are the two main types of hormones based on their structure?
Non-steroid hormones (e.g., protein, amine, peptide, and glycoprotein hormones) and steroid hormones (e.g., aldosterone, testosterone, progesterone).
How do steroid hormones affect target cells?
Steroid hormones pass through the plasma membrane and directly affect gene expression within the nucleus.
What is the role of insulin in blood glucose regulation?
Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by promoting glucose uptake by cells and stimulating the storage of glucose as glycogen.
How does glucagon increase blood glucose levels?
Which hormones regulate blood calcium levels?
Calcitonin (lowers blood calcium) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (raises blood calcium).
What are the two main parts of the adrenal gland?
The adrenal cortex, which produces hormones like aldosterone and cortisol, and the adrenal medulla, which produces stress hormones like adrenaline.
What triggers the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)?
Low blood volume, low sodium levels, or high potassium levels trigger the release of renin, which starts the RAAS process to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance.
What is the effect of angiotensin II in the body?
Angiotensin II constricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure, stimulates aldosterone release, and promotes water and sodium reabsorption in the kidneys.
What are common endocrine disorders caused by hormone imbalances?
Hypersecretion (e.g., Grave’s disease due to excess thyroxine) and hyposecretion (e.g., goiter due to low thyroxine, diabetes due to low insulin).
What are the four types of non-steroid hormones?
Protein hormones, amine hormones, peptide hormones, and glycoproteins.
Protein hormones, amine hormones, peptide hormones, and glycoproteins.
Peptide hormones bind to receptors on the cell membrane, initiating a secondary messenger system inside the cell, which alters cellular activity.
What is the main function of the hypothalamus in endocrine regulation?
The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland and serves as a link between the nervous system and the endocrine system, regulating functions like body temperature, hunger, and thirst.
What is the function of cortisol, and which gland secretes it?
Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, and control the body’s stress response. It is secreted by the adrenal cortex.
Which hormone is responsible for stimulating water reabsorption in the kidneys?
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, stimulates water reabsorption in the kidneys.
What is the role of aldosterone in blood pressure regulation?
Aldosterone increases sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys, which raises blood volume and blood pressure.
What is downregulation in hormone signaling?
Downregulation occurs when a target cell reduces the number of receptors for a hormone, often in response to prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone (e.g., hyperinsulinemia).
What hormone is secreted in response to high calcium levels, and what does it do?
Calcitonin is secreted by the thyroid gland and lowers blood calcium levels by stimulating calcium uptake into bones.
Which gland is primarily responsible for the secretion of melatonin, and what is its function?
The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms.
What is saltatory conduction?
The jumping of action potentials between nodes of Ranvier on myelinated axons, increasing the speed of signal transmission.
