Nervous System

Question 1

What divisions are there of the Peripheral nervous system?

Answer 1

The Sensory Division and the Motor Division (which contains the Somatic and Autonomic nervous systems)

Question 2

What are the 2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 2

Sympathetic division and the Parasympathetic division.

Question 3

What does the sympathetic division do?

Answer 3

Controls fight or flight reaction while slowing processes that are not needed during fight/flight (like digestion).

Question 4

What does the Parasympathetic division do?

Answer 4

The parasympathetic is associated with returning the body to resting state functions such as regulating heart rate, relaxing muscles, and controlling the bladder - supporting homeostasis. The Parasympathetic division calms the body after the fight/flight reaction.

Question 5

What do astrocytes do?

Answer 5

Astrocytes exchange materials between neurons and capillaries

Question 6

What do Microglial cells do?

Answer 6

Provide immune defence against invading microorganisms.

Question 7

What do ependymal cells do?

Answer 7

Ependymal cells produce, secrete and circulate CSF.

Question 8

What do Oligodendrocytes do?

Answer 8

Oligodendrocytes produce the myelin sheath which provides insulation to neurons.

Question 9

What Glial cells are present in the Central Nervous System?

Answer 9

Astrocytes, microglial cells, Ependymal Cells and Oligodendrocytes.

Question 10

What glial cells are present in the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 10

Satellite Cells and Schwann cells.

Question 11

What do Satellite cells do?

Answer 11

Surround and support nervous cell bodies - these perform a similair role to astrocytes in the CNS.

Question 12

What do Schwann cells do?

Answer 12

Schwann cells provide the insulating layer called the myelin sheath - similair to the Oligodendrocytes.

Question 13

What do sensory neurons do?

Answer 13

Transmit impulses from sensory receptors > the CNS.

Question 14

What do Motor neurons do?

Answer 14

Motor neurons transmit impulses from the CNS > rest of the body.

Question 15

What is the function of the brainstem?

Answer 15

The brainstem is where most cranial nerves emerge from the brain, it also has nuclei for many reflexes within it.
Midbrain: The top part of the brainstem is crucial for regulating eye movements.
Pons: The middle portion of the brainstem coordinates facial movements, hearing and balance.
Medulla oblongata: The bottom part of the brainstem helps regulate your breathing, heart rhythms, blood pressure and swallowing (Autonomic nervous system).

Question 16

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Answer 16

The Frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe and the occupital lobe.

Question 17

What areas are within the frontal lobe?

Answer 17

The motor cortex, the prefrontal cortex and Broca’s Area.

Question 18

What areas are within the Parietal lobe?

Answer 18

The Somatosensory cortex

Question 19

What areas are within the temporal lobe?

Answer 19

The auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area.

Question 20

What areas are within the occupital lobe?

Answer 20

The Primary visual cortex.

Question 21

What are the two ways the brain can be named?

Answer 21

By their developmental origin (mesencephalon etc) or by function (cerebrum etc)

Question 22

Basic overview.

What are the 3 basic parts of the brain?

Answer 22

The cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brainstem

Question 23

What are the 3 parts of the brainstem?

Answer 23

The Midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata.

Question 24

What does the Primary Motor Cortex do?

Answer 24

Controls voluntary movements

Question 25

What does the Primary Somatosensory cortex do?

Answer 25

This is resonsible for sensation - touch.

Question 26

What does the visual cortex do?

Answer 26

The visual cortex is responsible for sight.

Question 27

Where in the brain is hearing processed?

Answer 27

In the temporal lobe

Question 28

What does the Prefrontal cortex do?

Answer 28

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for cognition, personality, behaviour and mood.

Question 29

What does Broca’s area do?

Answer 29

Essential for language production (people with damage to Broca’s area know what they want to say, but cannot produce the words)

Question 30

What does Wernicke’s area do?

Answer 30

Wernicke’s area is important for language comprehension. Damage to Wernicke’s area means individuals can produce sensible language, but cannot understand it.