Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biomedical Anatomy > Peripheral Nervous System > Flashcards

Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Define “ganglion”

A

A cluster of cell bodies outside of the CNS; enveloped in an epineurium

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

Describe the dorsal root ganglia

A

Ganglia a short distance away from the spinal cord; contain neurosomas (cell bodies) of sensory neurons

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

Describe the sympathetic ganglia

A

Neurosomas that lie laterally to the vertebral body; responsible for carrying motor information

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

Name the twelve cranial nerves

A

I: Olfactory

II: Optic

III: Oculomotor

IV: Trochlear
V: Trigeminal
VI: Abducens

VII: Facial

VIII: Vestibulocochlear

IX: Glossopharyngeal

X: Vagus

XI: Accessory

XII: Hypoglossal

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

Describe cranial nerve I. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Olfactory nerve

Function: sensory; contains “fascicles”, or projections from the olfactory bulb through the ethmoid bone into the nasal cavity

Origin: Olfactory mucosa in nasal cavity

Termination: Olfactory bulb

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

Describe cranial nerve II. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Optic nerve

Function: Sensory; responsible for relaying visual information from the retina to the thalamus and midbrain at the optic chiasm; ultimately leads to occipital lobe

Origin: Retina

Termination: Thalamus and midbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe cranial nerve III. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Oculomotor

Function: Predominantly motor responsible for opening of eyelid, pupillary constriction, and focusing

Origin: Midbrain

Termination: somatic fibers to levator palpebrae superioris; superior, medial, and inferior rectus muscles, and inferior oblique of the eye; autonomic fibers enter eyeball and lead to constrictor of iris and ciliary muscle of lens

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

Describe cranial nerve IV. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Trochlear

Function: Predominantly motor; responsible for medial eye movements

Origin: Midbrain

Termination: superior oblique muscle of contralateral eye

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe cranial nerve V. Name? Function? Subdivisions?

A

Name: Trigeminal

Function: Mixed nerve for sensation and chewing

3 divisions: V1 = opthalmic; V2 = maxillary; V3 = Mandibular

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

Describe subdivision V1 of the trigeminal nerve. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Ophthalmic

Function: touch, temperature, pain, and sensation from upper face

Origin: superior region of the face; surface of eyeball; lacrimal gland; superior nasal mucosa; frontal and ethmoid sinuses

Termination: Pons

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

Describe subdivision V2 of the trigeminal nerve. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Maxillary

Function: Touch, temperature, and pain from the lower face

Origin: Middle region of the face; nasal mucosa; maxillary sinus; palate; upper teeth and gums

Termination: Pons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe subdivision V3 of the trigeminal nerve. Name? Function? Origins? Terminations?

A

Name: Mandibular

Function: Mixed; some sensory for the lower face; motor for mastication (chewing)

Sensory origin: Inferior region of the face, anterior 2/3 of tongue (not taste buds), lower teeth and gums, floor of mouth, and dura mater

Sensory termination: Pons

Motor origin: Pons

Motor termination: Anterior belly of digastric; masseter, temporalis, mylohyoid, and pterygoid muscles; tensor tympani muscle of inner ear

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

Describe cranial nerve VI. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Abducens

Function: Lateral eye movement

Origin: Inferior pons

Termination: Lateral rectus muscle of the eye

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe cranial nerve VII. Name? Function? Origins? Terminations?

A

Name: Facial

Function: Mixed; taste; facial expression; secretion of tears, saliva, nasal, and oral mucus

Sensory origin: taste buds of anterior 2/3 of tongue

Sensory termination: Thalamus

Motor origin: pons

Motor termination: somatic fibers of digastric muscle, stapedius muscle of middle ear, stylohyoid muscle, muscles of facial expression. Autonomic fibers to submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, tear glands, nasal and palatine glands

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

What are the five subdivisions of the facial nerve (CN VII)?

A

Temporal

Zygomatic

Buccal

Mandibular

Cervical

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

Describe cranial nerve VIII. Name? Function? Origins? Terminations?

A

Name: Vestibulocochlear

Function: Predominantly sensory; hearing and equilibrium

Sensory origin: cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular ducts

Sensory termination: Fibers for hearing end in medulla; fibers for equilibrium end at junction of medulla and pons

Motor origin: Pons

Motor termination: Outer hair cells of cochlea of inner ear

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

Describe cranial nerve IX. Name? Function? Origins? Terminations?

A

Name: Glossopharyngeal

Function: Mixed; senses taste, touch, pressure, pain, and temperature on tongue and outer ear; regulates blood pressure and respiration; motor controls salivation, swallowing, and gagging

Sensory origin: pharynx; middle and outer ear; posterior 1/3 (including tastebuds) of tongue; internal carotid artery

Sensory termination: Medulla oblongata

Motor origin: Medulla oblongata

Motor termination: Parotid salivary gland; glands of posterior tongue; stylopharyngeal muscle (dilates pharynx for swallowing)

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

Describe cranial nerve X. Name? Function? Origins? Terminations?

A

Name: Vagus

Function: senses taste, hunger, fullness, and gastrointestinal discomfort; responsible for swallowing, speech, deceleration of heart, bronchoconstriction, gastrointestinal secretion and motility

Sensory Origin: Thoracic and abdominal viscera, root of tongue, pharynx, larynx, epiglottis, outer ear, dura mater

Sensory Termination: Medulla oblongata

Motor Origin: Medulla oblongata

Motor Termination: tongue, palate, pharynx, and most other internal organs

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

Describe cranial nerve XI. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Accessory

Function: primarily motor; swallowing; head, neck, and shoulder movements

Origin: Medulla oblongata and spinal cord segments C1-C6

Termination: Palate; pharynx; trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles

“wanna be spinal nerve”

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

Describe cranial nerve XII. Name? Function? Origin? Termination?

A

Name: Hypoglossal

Function: Primarily motor; tongue movements of speech, food manipulation, and swallowing

Origin: Medulla oblongata

Termination: Intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define plexus

A

A network of intersecting nerve fibers that serve the same part of the body

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

How many PAIRS of spinal nerves are there and what are their subdivisions?

A

31 pairs

C1-C8

T1-T12

L1-L5

S1-S5

Co1

23
Q

Describe the proximal branches of spinal nerves. Where do they emerge? What kind of nerves are they? What structures are associated with it?

A

6-8 rootlets emerge from the anterior surface on either side of the spinal cord to form the ventral root (and posterior rootlets form the dorsal roots)

Dorsal root ganglia lie just distal to the point where posterior rootlets converge; sensory

Dorsal and ventral roots merge just beyond dorsal root ganglion and exits the vertebral canal through the intervertebral foramen

24
Q

Describe the distal branches of spinal nerves

A

Begin immediately after emerging from the intervertebral foramen

Divides into posterior and anterior rami as well as a small meningeal branch (detects swelling at the spinal cord)

25
Describe the intercostal nerves
Nerves that arise from anterior rami of thoracic spinal nerves; travel along the inferior margin of a rib Responsible for innervation of the skin and intercostal muscles, thus contributing to breathing; also innervate internal oblique, external oblique, and transverse abdominal muscles
26
Describe the cervical plexus. What are its somatosensory and motor innervations?
Composition: nerves C1-C5 Somatosensory innervation: ears, neck, mandible, chin, shoulders, chest Motor innervation: Hyoid muscles
27
What does the **axillary nerve** innervate?
Sensory: skin of lateral shoulder and arm; shoulder joint Motor: Deltoid and teres minor muscles
28
What does the **musculocutaneous nerve** innervate?
Sensory: skin of anterolateral forearm; elbow joint Motor: brachialis, biceps brachii, and coracobrachialis muscles
29
What does the **median nerve** innervate?
Sensory: Joints and skin of the hand (half of thumb, index, middle, and half of ring fingers) Motor: Brachialis, biceps brachii, and coracobrachialis muscles
30
What does the **ulnar nerve** innervate?
Sensory: joint of elbow and hand; skin of half of ring and pinky fingers, as well as the medial half of the palm and back of hand Motor: some forearm flexors; adductor pollicis; hypothenar group; interosseous muscles; lumbricles III-IV
31
What does the **radial nerve** innervate?
Sensory: joints of elbow, wrist, and hand; skin of posterior arm, posterior and lateral forearm; skin of back of thumb and back of lateral hand Motor: Mainly extensor muscles of posterior arm and forearm
32
What spinal nerves give rise to the rest of the brachial plexus?
C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
33
What spinal nerves give rise to the lumbar plexus?
L1, L2, L3, L4, and some T12
34
Describe the **phrenic nerve**. What type of nerve is it? What does it innervate? What plexus does it emerge from?
Mixed nerve Major nerve that innervates the diaphragm and is essential for breathing; also innervates the pleura and pericardium Arises from the cervical plexus
35
Describe the **iliohypogastric nerve**. What type of nerve is it and what does it innervate?
Mixed nerve Sensory innervation: skin of lower anterior abdominal and posterolateral gluteal regions Motor innervation: internal and external oblique and transverse abdominal muscles
36
Describe the **ilioinguinal nerve**. What type of nerve is it and what does it innervate?
Mixed nerve of the lumbar plexus Sensory innervation: skin of upper medial thigh; male scrotum and root of penis; female labia majora Motor innervation: internal oblique
37
Describe the **genitofemoral nerve**. What type of nerve is it and what does it innervate?
Mixed nerve of lumbar plexus Sensory innervation: skin of middle anterior thigh; male scrotum; female labia majora Motor innervation: Male cremaster muscle (surrounds testis; pulls them closer to the body when cold)
38
Describe the **lateral femoral cutaneous nerve**. What type of nerve is it and what are its innervations?
Somatosensory nerve of the lumbar plexus Sensory innervations: skin of anterior and upper lateral thigh
39
Describe the **femoral nerve**. What type of nerve is it and what are its innervations?
Mixed nerve of the lumbar plexus Sensory innervation: skin of anterior, medial, and lateral thigh and knee; skin of medial leg and foot; hip and knee joints Motor innervations: iliacus, pectineus, quadriceps femoris, and sartorious muscles
40
Describe the **obturator nerve**. What type of nerve is it and what are its innervations?
Mixed nerve of the lumbar plexus; passes through obturator foramen in pelvis Sensory innervations: Skin of medial thigh; hip and knee joints Motor innervations: obturator externus; medial (adductor) thigh muscles
41
What spinal nerves give rise to the sacral and coccygeal plexuses
L4, L5, S1-S5, Co1
42
Describe the **sciatic nerve**. What does it innervate? What nerves does it give rise to?
Innervates hamstring and muscles of the leg and foot Gives rise to **tibial nerve** (innervates medial and posterior leg) and **common fibular nerve** (innervates lateral lower leg)
43
What is a dermatome?
Area of skin innervated by cutaneous branches of a spinal nerve All spinal nerves except C1 participate in dermatomes Some spinal nerves overlap on dermatome
44
What common viral disease stays confined to a particular area on a dermatome?
Shingles
45
Describe a stretch reflex
Increased muscle tension in response to stretch Serves to maintain equilibrium and posture, stabilizes joints, and makes joint actions smoother and better coordinated Ex: knee-jerk (patellar) reflex
46
Describe a flexor reflex
Contraction of flexor muscles resulting in withdrawal of a limb from an injurious stimulus Ex: withdrawing away from a burn or pinprick
47
Describe a crossed extension reflex
Contraction of extensor muscles in one limb when the flexor muscles of the opposite limb contract Ex: one leg stiffens when opposite leg is lifted off the ground; prevents you from falling over
48
Describe a tendon reflex
Inhibition of muscle contraction when a tendon is excessively stretch, serving to prevent tendon injuries
49
Describe Guillain-Barré sydrome
An acute demyelinating nerve disorder often triggered by a viral infection Symptoms: muscle weakness, elevated heart rate, unstable blood pressure, shortness of breath, and sometimes death from respiratory paralysis
50
Describe neuralgia
General term for nerve pain, often caused by pressure on spinal nerves from herniated intervertebral discs or other causes
51
Describe peripheral neuropathy
Any loss of sensory or motor function due to nerve injury Also called "nerve palsy"
52
Describe rabies
Hydrophobia A disease usually contracted from animal bites, involving viral infection that spreads via somatic nerve fibers to the CNS and then out of the CNS via autonomic nerve fibers Symptoms: Seizures, severe hydrophobia, coma, death
53
Describe spinal meningitis
Inflammation of the spinal meninges due to viral, bacterial, or other infection

Biomedical Anatomy (10 decks)

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