Nervous System - Structure and function

Question 1

Three broad parts of the brain

Answer 1

Cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem / medulla oblongata

Question 2

Which hemisphere of the cerebrum controls the left side of the body?

Answer 2

Right hemisphere

Question 3

Which functions does the left hemisphere of the cerebrum control for most people?

Answer 3

Speech
Logic
Math calculations
Pulling facts from memory

Question 4

Which functions does the right hemisphere of the cerebrum control for most people?

Answer 4

Music
Face recognition
Spatial awareness

Question 5

Where is information processed in the cerebrum?

Answer 5

Cerebral cortex - outermost layer where “gray matter” is found

Question 6

What feature of the cerebrum increases its surface area?

Answer 6

Grooves

Question 7

What are the lobes of the cerebrum?

Answer 7

Four regions in each hemisphere associated with different functions

Question 8

Where is the cerebellum located?

Answer 8

Below and behind the cerebrum

Question 9

What connects the two hemispheres of the cerebellum?

Answer 9

Vermis - worm-like mass of nerve tissue

Question 10

How do the grooves of the cerebellum compare to those of the cerebrum?

Answer 10

More shallow and parallel

Question 11

How is the white matter of the cerebellum arranged?

Answer 11

Like a branched tree

Question 12

Function of the cerebellum

Answer 12

Controls voluntary movements, posture (muscle tone) and balance

Question 13

C-shaped connector of the two hemispheres of the cerebrum

Answer 13

Corpus callosum

Question 14

The corpus callosum consists of…

Answer 14

White matter; lots of axons

Question 15

Which part of the brain is an extension of the spinal cord?

Answer 15

Medulla oblongata

Question 16

How does the medulla oblongata differ from the brain?

Answer 16

Grey matter is inside, white is outside

Question 17

Functions of the medulla oblongata

Answer 17

Transmit nerve impulses between the spinal cord and brain

Controls automatic functions

Question 18

Location of the spinal cord

Answer 18

extends from medulla oblongata through the spinal canal of the vertebral column to the lumbar region

Question 19

The spinal cord is composed of…

Answer 19

Grey and white matter

Question 20

Layers of the spinal cord from the inside out

Answer 20

Central canal, H-shaped grey matter, white matter, spinal meninges

Question 21

What connects to the spinal cord between successive vertebrae?

Answer 21

Bundles of neuron axons (nerves)

Question 22

Two types of nerves in the peripheral nervous system

Answer 22

Sensory nerves and motor nerves

Question 23

Function of sensory nerves

Answer 23

Conduct impulses from the receptors to the CNS

Question 24

Function of motor nerves

Answer 24

Conduct impulses from the CNS to the effectors

Question 25

Three main types of neurons

Answer 25

Interneuron Sensory neuron Motor neuron

Question 26

Function of sensory neurons (afferent)

Answer 26

Receive information and send impulses to the spinal cord and brain

Question 27

Function of motor neurons (efferent)

Answer 27

Conduct impulses from the spinal cord and brain to muscles/glands (effectors)

Question 28

Function of the PNS

Answer 28

Conduct nerve impulses from receptors to the CNS along sensory neurons Conduct nerve impulses from the CNS to the effectors along motor neurons

Question 29

Function of the somatic nervous system

Answer 29

Conducts impulses from the CNS to voluntary (skeletal) muscles

Question 30

Function of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 30

Conducts impulses from the CNS to involuntary (cardiac/smooth) muscles

Question 31

How many pairs of cranial nerves are in the PNS?

Answer 31

12

Question 32

How many pairs of spinal cord nerves are in the PNS?

Answer 32

31

Question 33

Where do the cranial nerves connect to the CNS?

Answer 33

Brain

Question 34

Where do spinal cord nerves connect to the CNS?

Answer 34

Spinal cord via dorsal and ventral roots

Question 35

What is a nerve?

Answer 35

An enclosed, cable-like bundles of nerve fibres (axons) in the PNS

Question 36

Function of a nerve

Answer 36

Provides a common pathway for the nerve impulses to and from peripheral organs

Question 37

The three types of nerves

Answer 37

Afferent (sensory) nerves Efferent (motor) nerves Mixed nerves (carries axons of both afferent and efferent neurons)

Question 38

The two sets of roots/nerves connecting to the spinal cord

Answer 38

Dorsal root and ventral root

Question 39

Which root connects sensory neurons to the spinal cord?

Answer 39

Dorsal root

Question 40

Which root connects motor neurons to the spinal cord?

Answer 40

Ventral root

Question 41

Name of the bulge on the dorsal root

Answer 41

Dorsal root ganglion

Question 42

Function of the dorsal root ganglion

Answer 42

Holds sensory neuron cell bodies

Question 43

Two subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 43

Sympathetic division and parasympathetic division

Question 44

What is a reflex action?

Answer 44

A quick, automatic response of an effector to a stimulus

Question 45

What is a reflex arc?

Answer 45

The pathway along which an impulse is transmitted to bring about a response to a stimulus during a reflex arc

Question 46

Significance of a reflex action

Answer 46

Reflex actin allows for a quick response, without thinking about it, to prevent damage to the body

Question 47

Significance of a synapse

Answer 47

Ensures impulse moves in one direction only Prevents continuous stimulation of the neurons Ensures that the impulse is transmitted from the sensory neuron to the motor neuron

Question 48

Function of the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 48

Prepares the body for extra action (fight or flight)

Question 49

When is the sympathetic nervous system engaged?

Answer 49

When you come across a threat

Question 50

How does the sympathetic nervous system change your body processes?

Answer 50

Changes breathing, heart rate and releases glucose so that the body has extra energy

Question 51

Function of the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 51

Return the body to its resting state once danger has passed (rest and digest)

Question 52

Alzheimer's disesase

Answer 52

Progressive disorder which causes the brain cells to degenerate and die Leads to memory loss and a decline in thinking

Question 53

Causes of Alzheimer's disease

Answer 53

Combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain Brain proteins do not function properly and cause neurons to be damaged and disconnected and this loss spreads predictably to other regions of the brain

Question 54

Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Answer 54

``` Worsening memory function Difficulty thinking and reasoning Poor judgement Difficulty planning/doing familiar tasks Changes in personality/behaviour ```

Question 55

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 55

Immune system attacks the myelin sheath which damages and deteriorates the nerves and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body