Nervous System

Question 1

The nervous system

Answer 1

Coordinates all activities inside and outside the body

Entire body covered with fibres called nerves

Over 100 billion nerve cells in the body called neurons

Question 2

What are the 3 divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 2

1. Central nervous system
2. Peripheral nervous system (outer)
3. Autonomic nervous system

Question 3

Central nervous system

Answer 3

Brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and cranial nerves

Controls consciousness, mental activities, involuntary functions of five senses (seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting) and voluntary muscle actions including all body movements and facial expressions

Question 4

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 4

Connect outer part of the body to CNS (Central nervous system)

It has both sensory and motor nerves

It carries impulses, or messages to and from the central nervous system

Question 5

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

Controls involuntary muscles

Regulate smooth muscles, glands, blood vessels, the heart and breathing

Question 6

The organs affected by the autonomic system receive nerve cells or fibres from its two divisions which are

Answer 6

Sympathetic division

Parasympathetic division

Question 7

Sympathetic division

Answer 7

Stimulate or speed up activity and prepares the body for stressful situation

Question 8

Parasympathetic division

Answer 8

Operates under normal, no stressful conditions and help restore and slow down activity, thus keeping the body in balance

Question 9

The brain and spinal cord

Answer 9

The brain is the largest and most complex nerve tissue in the body

Contained in the cranium

Control sensation, muscles, glands, thinking and feeling

Send telegraphic images through 12 pairs of cranial nerves

Spinal cord part of the CNS originates in the brain and travels down the trunk - protected by the spinal column

31 pairs of nerves exit the cord and supply the body

Question 10

Nerve cell structure and function

Answer 10

A neuron or nerve cell is the primary structural unit of the nervous system

It is composed of: cell body, nucleus, dendrites and an axon

Question 11

Dendrites

Answer 11

Receive information from other neurons

Question 12

Axons

Answer 12

Send messages away from the cell body to other neuron, glands, muscles and organs

Question 13

Nerves

Answer 13

Are whitish quartz, made up of bundles of nerve fibres held together by connective tissue, through which impulses are transmitted

Nerves have their origin in the brain and spinal cord and send their branches to all parts of the body

Question 14

What are the two types of nerves?

Answer 14

1. Sensory nerves / afferent nerves 

2. Motor nerves/ efferent nerves

Question 15

Sensory nerves

Answer 15

Carries impulses or messages from the organs to the brain where sensation such as touch, cold, heat, sight, hearing, taste, smell, pain and pressure are experienced

Sensory nerve endings called receptors are located close to the surface of the skin, as impulses pass from the sensory nerves to the brain and back through the motor nerves to the muscles; A complete circuit is established, resulting in movements of the muscles

Question 16

Motor nerves

Answer 16

Carries impulses from the brain to the muscles or glands

These transmitted impulses produce movements

Question 17

Pathologies of the nervous system

Pathologies affecting the nervous system can be broadly categorized into three groups which are:

Answer 17

1 Pathologies affecting the brain
2 Pathologies affecting the central nervous system
3 Pathologies affecting the peripheral nerves

Question 18

Pathologies affecting the brain

1. Alzheimer’s diseased pm

Answer 18

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by atrophy of areas of the brain

This condition is characterized by gradual and insidious progression of symptoms such as confusion, memory failure, restlessness, and speech disturbances

It usually occurs in the elderly but can occasionally start in a person of middle-age

A client with Alzheimer’s may require a family member to help them understand the service being provided, and to give consent of their behalf

Question 19

Pathologies of the brain

2. Seizure disorders

Answer 19

Seizures or convulsions (aka epilepsy) result from abnormal and irregular discharges of electrical activity in the brain

During these episodes the individual May experience sensory disturbances, seizures, abnormal behaviour and loss of consciousness

The causes of seizure disorders are unknown but they have been linked to brain injury either before or after birth and chemical imbalances

Seizures are sometimes brought on by flashing or flickering lights or other stimulus is that is irritating to the clients brain

Question 20

Absence seizures

Answer 20

Brief periods of unconsciousness and the client may not be aware that anything has happened

there is no convulsion

Question 21

Partial or focal seizures

Answer 21

Do not involve any loss of consciousness

The person may exhibit unusual behaviour such as walking around in a circle or saying things that do not make sense

Question 22

Tonic-clonic seizures

Answer 22

Are often preceded By a warning sign that the client is aware of

In the seizure itself, the client loses consciousness, drops to the floor, and there is jerking of the muscles caused by repeated contractions and relaxations of the major muscle groups


Question 23

How can you support someone who is having a seizure?

Answer 23

Protect the person from injury during a seizure

Do not attempt to restrain the person in anyway

Make sure they cannot fall

Cushion any hard or sharp surfaces

After the seizure, do not continue any treatment but place the client in a quiet, warm place until they are able to leave

arrange for safe transportation



Question 24

Mood disorders

1. Depression

Answer 24

A common disorder which affects approximately 20% of the population

More common in women

It may be unipolar (depression only) or bipolar (Alternating depression and mania)

It’s normal for people to feel depressed if an incident takes place in their lives (situational depression)

Clinical depression is linked to decreased levels of neurotransmitters such a serotonin and norepinephrine

Can be controlled with medication‘s to regulate brain chemicals

Seasonal affective disorder (sad) is a specific type of depression which is linked to a lack of daylight in the winter months

Question 25

Mood disorders

2. Schizophrenia

Answer 25

A psychotic disorder of thought and language

include disorganized speech, delusions, visual and auditory hallucinations

Onset is usually early adulthood

The cause is abnormality in brain structure and neurotransmitters

Symptoms can be controlled by medications that regulate the neurotransmitters



Question 26

Mood disorders

3. Anxiety

Answer 26

These include panic disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders

Panic disorder is characterized by a feeling of intense fear with racing heart, increased breathing rate, and sweating

Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by repetitive thoughts and repeated acts that are time consuming or distressing to the person
(they may have to wash their hands repeatedly, check the stove or door lock repeatedly before they can leave the house or perform tasks in a particular number of times or in a particular order)

OCD disorder is also seen people with other neurological disorders such as autism

These disorders are frequently seen in several members of the family

Question 27

Mood disorders

4. Eating disorders
   i) anorexia nervosa

Answer 27

Eating disorders include:
Anorexia nervosa
Binge eating
Bulimia

They involve:
Serious disturbances in eating
Excessive concern over body weight and shape

Anorexia nervosa involves an intense fear of gaining weight

• most common in young women
• begins when a young woman is overweight or believes she is over weight
• obsession over weight reduction
• severely restricted food intake
• excessive frequent physical exercise

Psychological issues are involved in which a person tries to exert control in their life by controlling food intake and weight

Many systems are affected by the malnutrition that results: menstruation stops, breast disappear, bones become weak, the person is constipated, heart-size decreases, and a fine hair (lanugo) may develop on the skin

Death may occur due to starvation or damage to the heart or other organs

Question 28

Mood disorders
4. Eating disorders

ii) binge eating

Answer 28

Characterized by eating rapidly, until uncomfortably full, eating large amounts when not hungry, eating alone because of embarrassment

Question 29

Mood disorders

4. Eating disorders
   iii) Bulimia nervosa

Answer 29

• more common in women
• usually begins in teenage years
• consists of binge eating followed by self induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives

Problems that result are dental disorders and damage to the throat & stomach

Electrolyte imbalance may result with loss of necessary minerals

The individuals weight may fluctuate

Some people with anorexia nervosa also have bulimia

Question 30

Multiple sclerosis

Pathology of the central nervous system

Answer 30

Starts in early adulthood

More common in northern climates

2x more common in women

The myelin covering of the nerves in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve is affected *

Symptoms vary depending on the location of the demyelination

Symptoms:  Visual changes, numbness and spasticity of muscles, changes in gait or inability to walk, fatigue and speech disturbances

Symptoms may occur and then relapse

Some people have lengthy periods of remission and symptoms progress very slowly *

Other cases may progress rapidly

Google source :
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. In this disorder, your immune system attacks the myelin sheath or the cells that produce and maintain it. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerve fibers that it surrounds.

Question 31

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Aka: Lou Gehrig’s disease

(Pathology of the central nervous system)

Answer 31

Neurological disorder that affects motor function

Symptoms: weakness, spasticity or stiffness, and impaired fine motor control

Some may experience difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing

Tends to affect older adults

Avg. survival period of 2-5 years

Google source:
a progressive neuromuscular disease. ALS is characterized by a progressive degeneration of motor nerve cells in the brain (upper motor neurons) and spinal cord (lower motor neurons).

Question 32

Spinal cord injury

Pathology of the central nervous system

Answer 32

Symptoms depend on the level of injury and the amount of damage

A complete SCI implies there is no movement or sensation below the level of injury

Complete severance of the cord is rare

A incomplete spinal cord injury may result in paralysis of the legs or damage to the motor nerves while retaining some sensation

Question 33

Cerebral palsy

Pathology of the central nervous system

Answer 33

Motor disorder

Affects muscle coordination
Loss of muscle control

Caused by Damage to the brain smaller areas during fetal life, birth or infancy

Causes during fetal life include rubella infection, toxemia, malnutrition during pregnancy, or damage during birth resulting in reduced oxygen

Causes during childhood are trauma or seizures

Not progressive but is irreversible

Intelligence may or may not be affected speech may be impaired

Question 34

Parkinson’s disease

Pathology of the central nervous system

Answer 34

Progressive, degenerative, neurological disorder

destruction of dopamine producing neurons in the brain

Onset is over 50 years of age but may start in early 40’s

Muscles may alternately contract and relax, causing tremors or rigidness

Difficulty initiating movement or walking

Question 35

Reflex

Answer 35

A REFLEX is an automatic nerve reaction to a stimulus that involves the movement of impulses from a sensory receptor along the afferent neuron to a muscle, causing a reaction (for example, the quick removal of the hand from a hot object)

Reflexes do not have to be learned, they are automatic