The Nervous System

Question 1

What does the nervous system do?
What basic functional unit carries this out?

Answer 1

Responds to stimuli
Transmits impulses
Controls every function in the human body

Via neurons

Question 2

What does the CNS consist of? What is its function?

Answer 2

Brain and spinal cord
Receives, processes and acts in information in the environment

Question 3

What is the function of the PNS?

Answer 3

Connects CNS to areas outside of the nervous system
Connections made via cranial nerves and spinal nerves

Question 4

Describe the weight and development of the brain

Answer 4

Weighs 3 lbs
Reaches maximum size at the age of 6
Development is not complete until the early 20s
Peripheral extensions are cranial nerves

Question 5

Describe the spinal cord and its extensions.

Answer 5

Extends from the brain stem and through the neck and back
Peripheral extensions are spinal nerves

Question 6

What is the largest part of the brain?

Answer 6

Cerebrum

Question 7

What does the cerebrum function to do within the brain?

Answer 7

Conscious thought processes, intellectual function, memory storage and processing, motor functions

Receives information from the human environment, process it, shares it with other areas, and coordinates a response. It also stores information for future use.

Question 8

What are the 4 lobes of the cerebrum and their functions?

Answer 8

Frontal: Movement, personality, emotions, motivation, judgment, planning
Parietal: sensations, spatial awareness
Temporal: hearing olfaction, taste, memory
Occipital: vision and visual processing

Question 9

What part of the brain works independently?

Answer 9

No part of the brain works independently
Neurological pathways connect each lobe

Question 10

What are the functions of the wrinkles on the cerebral surface? What are they called? When do they form?

Answer 10

Gyrus (gyri): elevated cortical tissue, have different function (motor, senses etc)

Sulcus (sulci): shallow groove of cortical tissue, form important landmarks

Both form during development

Question 11

What are Brodmann’s Areas?

Answer 11

Scientists classified the cortex into over 50 functional areas
Each has its own physiological function and pattern of connections

Question 12

What is contained in the diencephalon? What are their functions?

Answer 12

Thalamus: relays center for info coming from brain (sorting system)

Hypothalamus: unconscious brain functions, ANS, endocrine, mood and behavior (control panel)

Question 13

What additional structures are part of the diencephalon?

Answer 13

Nuclear structures: (basal ganglia) enable the regulation of movement

Limbic system structures: determine personality, mood emotions

Question 14

What is the function of the brainstem?

Answer 14

Conveys various brain pathways between hemispheres, spinal cord and cerebellum
Contains nuclei for cranial nerves
Centers for breathing, heart rate, and arousal
Coordinate motor activity

Question 15

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 15

Program movement
Connections with vestibular system (balance, adjustment of eye movements with head movements)
Receives signals from cerebrum to program movement, signals to the rest of the body.

Question 16

What is CNS tissue made up of?

Answer 16

White (axons and pathways) and gray (cell bodies/nuclei and synapses) matter

Question 17

What is the spinal cord function and location?

Answer 17

Extends from lowest part of brainstem to lower back
Conveys sensory info from body to brain via thalamus and brainstem
Conveys motor info from motor cortex of cerebrum to body.

Question 18

Describe the anatomy of a neuron.

Answer 18

Cell body: metabolic center
Dendrites: convey impulses towards cell body
Axon: convey impulses away form cell body

Question 19

Describe myelin and its function.

Answer 19

Made up of protein and fat
Insulates the axon
Enhances conduction of nerve impulses

Question 20

How are neurons connected?

Answer 20

Connect (synapse) to other neurons
Connect with receptors in various tissues

Question 21

Describe functional pathways.

Answer 21

Can consist of single or multiple neurons
Multiple neurons form bundles
Pathways can overlap

Question 22

Describe afferent brains pathways.

Answer 22

Brings information into the brain
Consists of sensory information
◦ General senses (pain, temperature, fine touch, pressure, position, vibration) (CNS)
◦ Special Senses (5 senses)

Question 23

Describe efferent brain pathways.

Answer 23

Acts on the information brought into the brain (autonomic and somatic)
◦ Motor (influences muscles)
◦ Visceral (influences glands or organs)

Question 24

Where are general sensations received and processed?

Answer 24

Parietal lobe

Question 25

Compare somatic and autonomic NS.

Answer 25

Somatic: voluntary
Autonomic: involuntary, sympathetic (fight or flight), parasympathetic (rest and digest), hypothalamus