Nervous System

Question 1

cns (central)

Answer 1

brian and spinal cord

Question 2

pns (peripheral)

Answer 2

nerves outsdie brain and spinal cord.
– Sensory (afferent)
Nerve fibres that carry information to the CNS
- Motor (efferent) division:
Nerve fibres that carry impulses away from the CNS
• Somatic (voluntary)
• Autonomic (involuntary)
– Interneurons (association neurons)
Found in neural pathways in the central nervous system
Connect sensory and motor neurons

Question 3

neuron (7 parts)

Answer 3

Cell body/Nucleus
Dendrites 
Axons 
axon terminals 
Myelin sheath
Schwann cells
Nodes of Ranvier

Question 4

Dendrites

Answer 4

– conduct impulses toward the cell body

Question 5

• Axons

Answer 5

– conduct impulses away from the cell body

Question 6

• Axonal terminals

Answer 6

– contain vesicles with neurotransmitters

Question 7

Myelin sheath

Answer 7

– whitish, fatty material covering axons.

Question 8

• Schwann cells

Answer 8

– Produce myelin sheaths; produce speed.

Question 9

• Nodes of Ranvier

Answer 9

– gaps in myelin sheath along the axon

Question 10

nerve impulses

Answer 10

electrical currents (sodium and postasium) charged ions.
action potential - transmittion.

Question 11

regions of the brain

Answer 11

• Cerebrum (cerebral hemispheres)
  • Diencephalon (thalamus, pineal, hypothalamus)
  • Brain stem (pons, medulla, midbrain)
  • Cerebellum

Question 12

cerebrum

Answer 12

divided into left/right,
right controls left, creative and artistic 
left controls right, logic/rational thinking. 
hemispheres are divided into lobes:
1. frontal; personality, speech, behav
2. temporal; memory, language
3. parietal; sensations
4. occipital; primary vision

Question 13

Diencephalon

Answer 13

Sits on top of the brain stem 
• Enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres
• Made of three parts
– Thalamus (help interpret sensation)
– Hypothalamus (body temperature, water balance and
metabolism, regulates pituitary)
– Epithalamus (holds pineal gland)

Question 14

Brain Stem

Answer 14

• Attaches to the spinal cord/ survival mechinisim

Midbrain
(Mostly composed of tracts of nerve fibers, reflex centre for vision and hearing)

Pons
(includes nuclei involved in the control of breathing)

Medulla oblongata 
• Heart rate control 
• Blood pressure regulation • Breathing 
• Swallowing
• Vomiting

Question 15

Cerebellum

Answer 15

• Two hemispheres with convoluted surfaces

* Controls balance/coordination

Question 16

autonomic nervous system

Answer 16

Regulates functions of the internal systems.

sympathetic; fight or flight
parasympathetic; housekeeping

Question 17

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 17

(operates when we are relaxed and conserves energy)
• Conserves energy
• Maintains daily necessary body functions
• Remember as the “D” division
• digestion, defecation, and diuresis
• Decrease heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure

Question 18

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 18

(active during extreme situations such as fear, exercise or rage)
• Response to unusual stimulus
• Remember as the “E” division
• Exercise, excitement, emergency, and embarrassment
• Increases heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, respiratory rate , dilates pupils, opens airways, decreases digestion, decrease urine output

Question 19

neurotransmitter for somatic nervous system

Answer 19

The autonomic Nervous System uses acetylcholine, adrenalin(epinephrine) or noradrenalin (norepinephrine) as neurotransmitters

Question 20

meningitis

Answer 20

Inflammation of the meninges
(membranes covering brain)
usually secondary to
another infection and can
be caused by
• Virus
• Bacteria (most serious)
• Fungus
Untreated is usually fatal.
- Signs and symptoms; Fever, Headache, Nausea and vomiting, Stiff neck, Photophobia, Joint aches or pains, Skin rash in some cases (meningococcal meningitis)

Question 21

stroke

Answer 21

atherosclerosis
thrombus; attached to blood vessle wall
embulos; part of thrombus and detaches and causes blockage.

Disruption to blood flow to the brain causing brain cells in the area to die and may become permanently damaged.
Due to artery being blocked by a blood clot or plaque, or
because the artery breaks or bursts.
Types
1. Ischaemic stroke (blocked blood to tissue in brain. blood vessel in brain)
2. Haemorrhagic stroke (bleed in the brain/aneurysm)

Causes
• High Blood Pressure, Smoking, High Cholesterol levels,
Obesity, Diabetes, Alcohol, Genetics, Atherosclerosis,
Oral contraceptives
Sign and symptoms (depend on area of brain affected)
• Headache, numbness, tingling, visual disturbance,
hemiparesis, hemiplegia, dysphasia/aphasia, dysphagia
Treatment
• Medications – Thrombolytic therapy – dissolves clots
• Craniotomy to tie off aneurysm

Question 22

TIA

Answer 22

Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
 Temporary reduction in blood flow to an area of the brain
 May be a warning a future stroke may be imminent.
 Symptoms similar to a stroke

Question 23

Parkinson’s

Answer 23

 Loss of dopamine (neuro-transmitter) producing cells of brain
 Dopamine influences initiation, modulation and completion of
movement
 Occurs mainly in the elderly but can manifest in the 40’s & 50’s

S &S
 Bradykinesia
(Slowing down of movement - especially automatic)
 Hand Tremor (pill rolling of fingers)
 Stooped posture and shuffling gait (short running steps)
 Mask-like expression/Infrequent blinking
 Muscle rigidity – lack of coordination/jerky movements, difficulty
with initiation of movement

Treatment
• Dopamine replacement medications

Question 24

multiple sclerosis

Answer 24

A chronic disease caused by the progressive demyelination of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. These sporadic patches of demyelination in the CNS cause interruption or blockage of nerve impulse

Characterised by periods of exacerbation followed by periods of remission, the remission periods may last several years (partial healing can occur)

The cause is unknown but it may be autoimmune and probably has a genetic component

Onset usually between 15 and 50 years of age and mainly women.

Signs and Symptoms
• Spasticity/ tremors
• Fatigue (early sign, often cause of diagnosis)
• Bladder and bowel problems (later)
• Sensory symptoms/visual changes
• Motor dysfunction: balance, muscle coordination, muscle weakness
• Minor cognitive and motor functions
• Vertigo

Treatment
• Medications – Immunotherapy, Corticosteroids

Question 25

contusion

Answer 25

a region of injury tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured.
- bleeding in the brain
(bruise)

Question 26

concussion

Answer 26

disruption of normal electrical activity in the brain that causes head aches.