Nervous System

Question 1

Central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 1

nervous system comprising brain and spinal cord, the three broad functions of the CNS are to take in sensory information, process information, and send out motor signals.

Question 2

peripheral nervous system

Answer 2

nervous system outside of brain and spinal cord; primarily nerves that extend from CNS. These nerves form the communication network between the CNS and the body parts. The peripheral nervous system is further subdivided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Question 3

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 3

involuntary part of the PNS; regulates glands, smooth muscles, and cardaic muscles

Question 4

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 4

division of autonomic nervous system in charge of “fight or flight”

Question 5

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 5

division of autonomic nervous system in charge of rest and rejuvenation

Question 6

Neuron

Answer 6

nerve cells that send messages all over your body to allow you to do everything from breathing to talking, eating, walking, and thinking

Question 7

dendrite

Answer 7

part of neuron that receives information into the cell

Question 8

axon

Answer 8

part of neuron that conducts nerve impulses out of the cell

Question 9

myelin sheath

Answer 9

insulates and protects axons

Question 10

nerve impulse

Answer 10

electrical message carried by a neuron

Question 11

electrolyte

Answer 11

minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge; conducting electrical impulses in the body

Question 12

sensory neuron

Answer 12

neuron that gathers information such as taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing, pain, pressure, heat or light

Question 13

interneuron

Answer 13

a neuron that carries messages between other neurons to process, integrate think and decide

Question 14

motor neuron

Answer 14

a neuron that carries action messages to muscles and glands

Question 15

spinal nerves

Answer 15

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

Question 16

cranial nerves

Answer 16

12 pairs of nerve arising from the brain

Question 17

proprioception

Answer 17

unconscious sensory apparatus that monitors muscles. The sense of limb position and movement. This feedback is critical for proper balance and motor control.

Question 18

spindle cell

Answer 18

proprioceptor that measures change in length and speed of change in muscle tissue. Specialize in control of vocalization, facial expression, attention, the expression and interpretation of emotions

Question 19

golgi tendon organ

Answer 19

proprioceptor that measures the weight a muscle is moving. When people lift weights, this organ is the sense organ that tells how much tension the muscle is exerting. If there is too much muscle tension the it will inhibit the muscle from creating any force (via a reflex arc), thus protecting the you from injuring itself.

Question 20

meninges

Answer 20

tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord

Question 21

cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 21

clear fluid that circulates and surrounds brain and spinal cord

Question 22

paraplegic

Answer 22

total motor and sensory loss of lower limbs

Question 23

quadriplegic

Answer 23

total motor and sensory loss of upper and lower limbs

Question 24

plexus

Answer 24

a network of nerves