The CNS: An Introduction

Question 1

You can divide the nervous system into two anatomical regions, what are they?

Answer 1

Central Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Question 2

You can divide the nervous system into three physiological regions, what are they?

Answer 2

Somatic Nervous System
(body wall)

Autonomic Nervous System (visceral)

Enteric Nervous System

Question 3

Sensory neurons are also known as?

Answer 3

Afferent neurones

Question 4

What are the two types of Afferent neurons?

Answer 4

Somatic afferents (external stimuli)

Visceral afferents (internal stimuli)

Question 5

Motor neurons are also known as?

Answer 5

Efferent neurones

Question 6

What are the two types of Efferent neurons?

Answer 6

Somatic efferents (voluntary i.e. skeletal)

Visceral efferents (involuntary, i.e. smooth and cardiac muscle)

Question 7

In the CNS, what does the grey or white matter signify?

Answer 7

Grey matter: Cell bodies

White matter: Axons

Question 8

What are the four basic neuron types?

Answer 8

Bipolar (interneuron)
Unipolar (sensory neuron)
Multipolar (motor neuron)
Pyrimidal cells

Question 9

What are the three coverings of the brain? Inside to out?

Answer 9

Pia
Arachnoid
Dura

Question 10

Out of the three layers (Pia, arachoid and dura), where will you find CSF?

Answer 10

Subarachnoid space

Question 11

The dura mater is comprised of two layers, what are they called?

Answer 11

Periosteal layer

Meningeal layer

Question 12

What is located immediately inferior to the Pons?

Answer 12

Medulla Oblongata

Question 13

What is located immediately inferior to the Midbrain?

Answer 13

Pons

Question 14

What is the name given to the embryonic cerebrum?

Answer 14

Telencephalon

Question 15

What is the name given to the embryonic thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus and subthalamus?

Answer 15

Diencephalon

Question 16

Telencephalon + Diencephalon = ??

Answer 16

Prosencephalon

Question 17

What is the name given to the embryonic cerebellum and brainstem (hind-brain)?

Answer 17

Rhombencephalon

Question 18

What is the name given to the embryonic midbrain?

Answer 18

Mesencephalon

Question 19

Is there an extradural space in the skull?

Answer 19

No, the dura is firmly attached to the skull bone, however there is an extradural space in the spine

Question 20

How many spinal rootlets are there?

Answer 20

31

Question 21

Each spinal nerve splits into two once it exits the spinal cord. What are both structures called?

Answer 21

Posterior (dorsal) primary ramus

Anterior (ventral) primary ramus

Question 22

In the spinal cord, where are the grey and white matters located?

Answer 22

Grey = inside
White = outside

Question 23

In the bran, where are the grey and white matters located?

Answer 23

Grey = outside
White = inside

Question 24

The 10th cranial nerve is known as?

Answer 24

The Vagus nerve

Question 25

What is a plexus?

Answer 25

A branching network of vessels or nerves

Question 26

What is a dermatome?

Answer 26

An area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve

Question 27

What is a myotome?

Answer 27

A group of muscles that is mainly supplies by a single spinal nerve