The brain and nervous system part 1

Question 1

The nervous system is made up of what inputs and outputs

Answer 1

Input from the sensory division (afferent) and outputs from the motor division (effferent)

Question 2

What are autonomic and somatic functions

Answer 2

Autonomic are functions that we are often unaware of whilst somatic are considered voluntary functions.

Question 3

How does a neuron pass info

Answer 3

Info is passed from the cell body down an axon via electrical waves, and info is passed to the next neuron via neurotransmitters.

Question 4

What does the central nervous system consist of

Answer 4

Everything inside the spine and the skull. The cortex, subcortical structures and nuclei, spinal cord

Question 5

Where are the structures of the cns located.

Answer 5

They are encased in bone.

Question 6

What does the peripheral nervous system consist of

Answer 6

Everything outside the spine and skull. Nerves and clusters of cells associated with nerves.

Question 7

Name a difference between the cns and the pns

Answer 7

The pns can regrow after damage.

Question 8

What are neurons

Answer 8

Nerve cells that are electrically excitable, and communicate with other cells via synapses. They make up the majority of nervous tissue.

Question 9

What are glial cells

Answer 9

Cells in the nervous system that maintain homeostasis and provide protection for neurones.

Question 10

Describe the axon

Answer 10

The axon is a single long projection from the cell body. It is covered in myelin a fatty sheath which makes electrical signals pass more quickly.

Question 11

What does the axon terminal do

Answer 11

this is the end of the axon and contacts dendrites of other neurons, passing on information.

Question 12

5 steps of how information is passed chemically through neurons

Answer 12

1.Action potential reaches axon terminals, it causes calcium to be released.
2.Causes neurotransmitters to bind to cell membrane and release there contents into the synaptic cleft.
3.Neurotransmitter binds to dendrite of next cell.
4.If it is inhibitory it lowers the charge if it is excitatory it increases the charge.
5.If the charge passes threshold the neurone will fire an action potential.

Question 13

what type of cell is an astrocyte

Answer 13

a glia cell

Question 14

Name 3 functions of an astrocyte

Answer 14

1.Regulate chemicals around neurons.
2.Regulate blood flow around the brain.
3.nervous system repair.

Question 15

What are oligodendrocytes

Answer 15

Form the myelin sheath on the axons in the cns

Question 16

What are schwann cells

Answer 16

Form myelin in the pns and assist in regrowth of axons

Question 17

What is microgila

Answer 17

cells that are the brains immune system

Question 18

What are ependymal cells

Answer 18

Make up the ependyma membrane, which lines the central canal of the spinal cord and ventricles

Question 19

What is the brainstem made up of

Answer 19

1.Medulla
2.Pons
3.Cerebellum

Question 20

Describe the basic motor functions of the medulla

Answer 20

1.Cardiac- central chemoreceptors sense oxygen levels in the brain and alter heart rate.
2.Respiration-Chemoreceptors sense changes in blood and alters breathing rate.
3.reflexes-vomiting and coughing.

Question 21

Function of pons

Answer 21

Contains nuclei that relay signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum.

Question 22

Function of cerebellum

Answer 22

Maintenance of balance and posture and coordination of movements.

Question 23

Function of the midbrain

Answer 23

Controls rapid orientation of the head and neck, vision and sound

Question 24

Function of the thalamus

Answer 24

Takes information from the periphery and passes it to the cortex

Question 25

3 Functions of the basal ganglia

Answer 25

1.skill learning
2.movement regulation
3.habbit formation

Question 26

3 functions of the cerebral cortex

Answer 26

1.movement
2.memory
3.language