Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Gross Anatomy I > Nervous system - general knowledge > Flashcards

Nervous system - general knowledge Flashcards

1
Q

Four Major Nerve Plexuses formed by the spinal nerves?

A

Cervical Plexus
Brachial Plexus
Lumbar Plexus
Lumbosacral Plexus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the cervical plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the neck, C1-C4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the brachial plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the shoulder and upper limbs, C5-T1 (sometimes C4 and T2)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does the lumbar plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the anterior and medial thigh, L1-L4 (sometimes T12)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does the lumbosacral plexus innervate and which spinal nerves does it include?

A

muscles of the buttock, pelvis, perineum and lower limbs, L4-S4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the functions of the nervous system?

A
  • enable body to react to changes in internal and external environment
  • control and integrate various body activities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the structural divisions of the Nervous system?

A
  • Central Nervous System (CNS)

- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define Central Nervous system

A
  • consists of brain and spinal cord
  • functions to integrate and coordinate
  • carries out higher mental functions such as thinking and learning
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define Peripheral Nervous system

A
  • consists of everything but brain and spinal cord

- conducts pulses to or away from the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the functional divisions of the nervous system?

A
  • somatic nervous system (SNS)

- autonomic nervous system (ANS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the composition of a nerve fiber?

A
  • axon
  • neurolemma
  • surrounding connective tissue
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the two forms of neurolemma?

A
  • myelinated

- unmyelinated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the composition of a nerve?

A
  • bundle of nerve fibers
  • connective tissue binding/covering nerve fibers and fascicles together
  • blood vessels that nourish nerve fibers and their coverings
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a ganglion?

A

a collection of neuron cell bodies that can be motor or sensory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the two types of nerve fibers?

A
  • afferent (sensory) fibers - are affected by stimulus

- efferent (motor) fibers - cause an effect to occur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the function of afferent nerve fibers?

A

convey impulses to the CNS from sensory receptors (found in the skin) or sensory organs (eyes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the function of efferent nerve fibers?

A

convey impulses from the CNS to effector organs (muscles, glands)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are cranial nerves?

A

nerves that exit cranial cavity via foramina in the cranium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are spinal nerves?

A

nerves that arise in bilateral pairs from a segment of the spinal cord and exit the vertebral column vis vertebral foramen (except spinal n. C1 which exists above C1 vertebrae, sacral and coccygeal nerves)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How many spinal nerves are there?

A

31 pairs

  • 8 cervical
  • 12 spinal
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 1 coccygeal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How to spinal nerves arise?

A

as ventral and dorsal rootlets that converge to form two nerve roots (dorsal and ventral) that unite within or proximal to vertebral foramen to form a mixed spinal nerve that immediately divides into two arms (rami)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the different types of spinal nerve roots?

A
  • ventral (anterior) nerve root

- dorsal (posterior) nerve root

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define ventral (anterior) nerve root

A

consists of motor fibers from cell bodies in the anterior horn of the spinal cord to effector organs located peripherally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Define dorsal (posterior) nerve root

A

consists of sensory fibers from cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) that extend peripherally to sensory endings and centrally to posterior horn of spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are the two rami of mixed spinal nerves?

A
  • dorsal primary rami (DPR)

- ventral primary rami (VPR)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What kind of nerve fibers are present in spinal nerve rami?

A

both sensory and motor

27
Q

How does the dorsal primary ramus branch?

A

it gives off medial and lateral cutaneous branches, then the medial branches have dorsal branches that become dorsal cutaneous nerves

28
Q

Where does the dorsal primary ramus give nerve supply?

A
  • synovial joints of vertebral column
  • deep muscles of the back
  • overlying skin in segmental pattern
29
Q

Where does the ventral primary ramus give nerve supply?

A
  • muscles and skin in the anterior and lateral regions of the trunk in segmental pattern
  • upper and lower limbs
30
Q

Do dorsal primary rami form plexuses?

A

not usually. If they do, they are usually much smaller than VPR plexuses

31
Q

Do ventral primary rami form plexuses?

A

most of them do

32
Q

The merging, intermingling and resegmenting of nerve fibers from multiple primary rami (usually VPR) is called what?

A

A somatic nerve plexus

33
Q

Do spinal nerve T2-T12 join plexuses?

A

not usually, they remain segmental

34
Q

A unilateral area of skin that is innervated by sensory fibers of a single spinal nerve is called what?

35
Q

Do adjacent dermatomes overlap?

A

yes, almost completely so that at least two spinal nerves would have to be interrupted to produce discernible numbness

36
Q

What is the function of cutaneous nerves?

A

to carry sensory information from the skin to CNS and motor information from skin to glands and smooth muscle

37
Q

What is the function of general sensory (somatic afferent) fibers?

A

to transmit sensation from the body (pain, temp, pressure, proprioception) to the CNS

38
Q

What is the function of general motor (somatic efferent) fibers?

A

to transmit impulses to skeletal muscles

39
Q

What is the function of visceral sensory (visceral afferent) fibers?

A

to transmit sensations from hollow organs or blood vessels to CNS

40
Q

What is the composition and function of the somatic nervous system?

A
  • composed of somatic (motor and sensory) parts of both the CNS and PNS that innervate only skeletal muscle
  • transmit sensations such as pain, temp and position that reach a conscious level and create voluntary and reflexive muscle contractions
41
Q

What is the composition and function of the autonomic nervous system?

A
  • composed of motor (visceral efferent) fibers

- stimulate smooth (involuntary) muscles, cardiac muscles and gladular (secretory) muscles to regulate visceral function

42
Q

What are the functional divisions of the nervous system?

A
  • SNS, somatic nervous system

- ANS, autonomic nervous system

43
Q

What are the subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

A
  • sympathic (thoracolumbar)

- parasympathetic (craniosacral)

44
Q

What are the names of the two multipolar neurons of the ANS?

A
  • pre synaptic

- post synaptic

45
Q

Where is the cell body of the presynaptic neuron of the ANS located?

A

in the grey matter of the CNS

46
Q

Where is the cell body of the postsynaptic neuron of the ANS located?

A

outside the central nervous system in autonomic ganglia that terminate on effector organ

47
Q

Where are the post synaptic neurons of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A
  • paravertebral ganglia extending the length of the trunk

- prevertebral (preaortic) ganglia in plexuses that surround the origins of main branches of abdominal aorta

48
Q

Where are the pre synaptic neurons of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A

vertebral levels T1-L2 or L3

49
Q

Where are the post synaptic neurons of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A

on or in wall of target organs in:

  • head
  • thoracic
  • abdominal viscera
  • pelvic viscera
  • lower GI tract
50
Q

Where are the pre synaptic neurons of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

A
  • grey matter of the brainstem and exit with CN III, VII, IX, X (constitutes cranial outflow)
  • grey matter of S2-S4 (constitutes sacral outflow)
51
Q

What does cranial outflow supply innervation to?

A

head, thoracic and abdominal viscera

52
Q

What does sacral outflow supply innervation to?

A

pelvic viscera and lower GI tract

53
Q

What are the functions of the sympathetic division of the ANS?

A
  • heart: increase HR and force of contraction
  • bronchi: dilate
  • pupil: dilate
  • vessels of skeletal muscle: dilate
  • vessels of skin: constrict
  • digestive tract: inhibit peristalsis/decreased blood flow
  • sweat glands: increase perspiration
  • ejaculation
54
Q

Which division of the ANS is catabolic, energy-expending?

A

sympathetic

55
Q

Which division of the ANS is anabolic, energy-conserving?

A

parasympathetic

56
Q

What are the functions of the parasympathetic division of the ANS?

A
  • heart: decrease HR and force of contraction
  • bronchi: constrict
  • pupil: constrict
  • digestive tract: increase peristalsis/blood flow
  • erection
57
Q

What do visceral reflexes regulate?

A

blood pressure and chemistry

58
Q

What is the function fo visceral afferent nerve fibers?

A

to provide information on the body’s internal environment

59
Q

What division of the Nervous System are visceral nerve fibers integrated in and where are they located?

A

They are integrated into the CNS but they hitch a ride with the nerve fibers of the ANS

60
Q

Is visceral sensation subconscious or conscious?

A

Both. It is usually subconscious but will reach conscious level as pain (spasms, chemical/mechanical/pathological irritation, ischemia)

61
Q

What is an unconscious sensation that travels in visceral afferent nerve fibers, retrograde to parasympathetics?

A

a visceral reflex sensation

62
Q

What are sensations that travel in visceral afferent fibers, accompanying sympathetics?

A

visceral pain sensations

63
Q

Fight or flight refers to….?

A

sympathetic nervous system

64
Q

Rest and digest refers to…?

A

parasympathetic nervous system

Gross Anatomy I (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions