The brain

Question 1

What does the CNS comprise of?

Answer 1

Brain and spinal cord

Question 2

Function of the brain

Answer 2

interprets and stores information and
sends orders to muscles, glands and
organs

Question 3

Function of spinal cord

Answer 3

pathway connecting the
brain and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 4

Function of peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 4

PNS transmits information to and from CNS

Question 5

What does the PNS comprise of? (what type of systems?)

Answer 5

Autonomic Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System

Question 6

Where is the PNS?

Answer 6

Contains all portions of NS (outside brain & spinal cord) right down to nerves in the tips of fingers and toes.
Includes sensory & motor nerves connecting CNS to the rest of the body

Question 7

What is the function of ANS?

Answer 7

Controls the functioning of internal organs (e.g., heart, stomach) glands and blood vessels

Question 8

What does the ANS comprise of? (which type of nervous systems)

Answer 8

Sympathetic NS
Parasympathetic NS

Question 9

Function of Sympathetic NS

Answer 9

mobilises bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotion and stress

Question 10

Function of Parasympathetic NS

Answer 10

enables body to conserve and restore energy, slows things down
- keeps things running smoothly

Question 11

What is the function of SNS?

Answer 11

Controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Carries sensory information.

Includes nerves that are connected to sensory receptors (cells that allow you to sense the world) and skeletal muscles (that permit voluntary action)

Question 12

What does SNS comprise of? and state their functions.
(hint: two inputs)

Answer 12

Sensory input: carries messages from senses to CNS
Motor output: carries messages from CNS to muscles and glands

Question 13

Function of neurons

Answer 13

the communication specialists,
transmitting information to, from, and within the CNS

Question 14

Function of gila

Answer 14

hold neurons together, as well as nourish, insulate, and protect them

Question 15

What are the structures of neurons?
and their features? (5 structures)

Answer 15

• Dendrites: branch-like structures that receive information from other neurons and transmit it to the cell body
• Soma: the cell body that keeps entire cell alive and determines whether it will fire
• axon: neuron’s tube-like extension that transmits messages to other neurons, muscles or gland cells
• axon terminals: terminal branches of axon
• myelin sheath: fatty insulation surrounding the axon, helps
  speed the neural impulses
• myelin sheath degeneration: multiple sclerosis (communication to
  muscles slows, loss of muscle control)

Question 16

What are the processes for neurons to communicate?

Answer 16

1. Electrical process
2. Chemical process
3. Cleaning up process

Question 17

What is electrical process and where does it occur?

Answer 17

Action potential: a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels
down an axon.
Information is pushed through the axon based on a process of positive and negative charges of electrical atoms (ions)

It occurs within a neuron.

Question 18

What is chemical process and where does it occur?

Answer 18

Neurotransmitter: a chemical substance that is released by a transmitting neuron at the synapse and that alters the activity of a receiving neuron

It occurs between neurons

Question 19

What is cleaning process?

Answer 19

Reuptake: process of reabsorbing excess neurotransmitters by the sending neuron

Question 20

In summary, how does a neuron communicate?

Answer 20

Electrical impulses travel down a neuron’s axon until reaching a tiny junction known as a synapse.

When an action potential reaches an axon terminal, it stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules. Molecules cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron. Electrically charged atoms can enter the receiving neuron and excite or inhibit a new action potential.

The sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules (reuptake)

Question 21

neurotransmitter functions
(Dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, endorphins, gaba)