Overview of Nervous System

Question 1

What are the 5 functions of the CNS?

Answer 1

• Sensation
• Movement
• Thinking
• Experience of emotion
• Autonomic regulation

Question 2

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Answer 2

Sensation is the raw data, and perception is the interpretation of the raw data after sensory integration.

Question 3

What is the difference between white matter and gray matter?

Answer 3

White- myelinated, inner brain.

Gray- unmyelinated, outer six layers

Question 4

What is a cortex?

Answer 4

Outer layer

Question 5

What are nuclei?

Answer 5

Clusters of cell bodies

Question 6

What are columns?

Answer 6

Groups of cell bodies with a similar function organized in a longitudinal fashion.

Question 7

What is a neuron?

Answer 7

Elementary signaling element of the nervous system.

Question 8

What is the neuron doctrine?

Answer 8

That the elementary signaling element of the nervous system is the neuron.

Question 9

What does it mean to say that something has an excitable membrane?

Answer 9

It can propagate an action potential

Question 10

Define: Temporal summation.

Answer 10

A high frequency of action potentials in the presynaptic neuron results in postsynaptic potentials that overlap and summate.

Question 11

Define: Spatial summation.

Answer 11

Summation of potentials from different areas of input.

Question 12

Define: Unipolar cell

Answer 12

A neuron with only one dendrite.

Question 13

Define: Bipolar cell

Answer 13

Specialized neuron with two extensions, act as SENSORY structures for the retina and olfactory system.

Question 14

Define: Pseudopolar cell

Answer 14

Dorsal root ganglion in humans. Neuron with two axons: one to the periphery and one to the spinal cord.

Question 15

Define: Multipolar cell

Answer 15

Most common. Multiple dendrites from cell body with one axon. Many subtypes (pyramidal, granule, Purkinje, basket).

Question 16

What is anterograde axonal transport?

Answer 16

From cell body to the axon terminal.

Question 17

What is retrograde axonal transport?

Answer 17

From the axon terminal to the cell body.

Question 18

What is/and is the function of the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 18

Prevents chemicals that may mess with brain tissue from entering brain. If these things got in, they could cause unwanted action potentials.

Question 19

What makes up the midbrain?

Answer 19

Tectum + Tegmentum

Question 20

What makes up the hindbrain?

Answer 20

Medulla oblongata, Pons, Cerebellum

Question 21

Define: telencephalon

Answer 21

Cerebral hemispheres (cortex+white matter+basal ganglia)

Question 22

Define: Diencephalon

Answer 22

Thalamus + Hypothalamus + Pineal Body

Question 23

Define: Forebrain

Answer 23

Telencephalon and diencephalon

Question 24

Define: rostral

Answer 24

near the front end of the body

Question 25

What is another name for the midbrain?

Answer 25

Mesencephalon

Question 26

What makes up the metencephalon?

Answer 26

Pons + Cerebellum

Question 27

What makes up the myelencepahlon?

Answer 27

The medulla.

Question 28

What are the main apparatus for receiving inputs?

Answer 28

Dendrites.

Question 29

What is a soma?

Answer 29

A cell body.

Question 30

What are the four types of glial cells?

Answer 30

- Astrocytes - Oligodendrocytes - Schwann Cells - Microglia

Question 31

Where are astrocytes found?

Answer 31

Throughout gray and white matter.

Question 32

What is the most numerous type of glial cell?

Answer 32

Astrocytes.

Question 33

Where are oligodendrocytes found?

Answer 33

Throughout gray and white matter.

Question 34

How common are microglia?

Answer 34

Make up 1% of CNS cell population.

Question 35

What is the function of an astrocyte?

Answer 35

High potassium permeability which keeps other neurons from accidentally depolarizing. Also play an important role in development and injury of neurons

Question 36

What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

Answer 36

Produce myelin for axons from multiple neurons in CNS and has proteins which inhibit axonal growth.

Question 37

What is the function of Schwann cells?

Answer 37

Produce myelin for one segment of axons in PNS. and encourage growth post injury.

Question 38

What are the size characteristics of schwann cells?

Answer 38

Large and medium nerve fibers, peripheral nerve fibers that also have connective tissue sheaths.

Question 39

What is the function of microglia?

Answer 39

Scavenge post injury.

Question 40

What is the function of the pons?

Answer 40

Relay station between cerebral cortex and cerebellum and descending motor fibers.

Question 41

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 41

Coordination of smooth motor movement.

Question 42

What is the function of the midbrain?

Answer 42

Visual and auditory reflex pathways, visceral functions.

Question 43

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 43

A variety of autonomic and behavioral functions.

Question 44

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 44

All sensory info except olfaction passes through here, and transmits info to specific sites in cortex. Relays motor control info.

Question 45

What are the three projections of the dura mater?

Answer 45

- Falx cerebri - Tentorium cerebelli - Falx cerebelli

Question 46

What is the falx cerebri?

Answer 46

separates the cerebral hemispheres

Question 47

What is the tentorium cerebelli?

Answer 47

separates posterior cerebral hemispheres from cerebellum

Question 48

What is the falx cerebelli?

Answer 48

separates the cerebellar hemispheres.