The Nervous System

Question 1

What is integration in the nervous system?

Answer 1

The process in which the nervous system processes and interprets sensory information and makes decisions about what should be done

Question 2

What are neuroglia?

Answer 2

The non-neuronal tissue of the CNS that supports, insulates and protects neurons

Question 3

Can neuroglia transmit nerve impulses?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

What is the primary function of schwann cells, satellite cells and oligodendrocytes?

Answer 4

To form myelin sheaths

Question 5

What is the primary function of astrocytes?

Answer 5

To form a scaffold that anchors the neurons in place in the CNS

Question 6

What is the primary function of microglia?

Answer 6

To remove dead cells

Question 7

What is the primary function of ependymal cells?

Answer 7

To line the brain cavities

Question 8

What are clusters of neuron cell bodies in the CNS called?

Answer 8

Nuclei

Question 9

What are clusters of neuron cell bodies in the PNS called?

Answer 9

Ganglia

Question 10

What are bundles of nerve fibres called when they run through the CNS?

Answer 10

Tracts

Question 11

What are bundles of nerve fibres called when they run through the PNS?

Answer 11

Nerves

Question 12

What does white matter consist of?

Answer 12

Dense collections of myelinated fibres (tracts)

Question 13

What does grey matter consist of?

Answer 13

Collections of mostly unmyelinated fibres and cell bodies

Question 14

What are multipolar neurons?

Answer 14

Neurons with more than two processes extending from the cell body

Question 15

What is the most common structural type of neuron?

Answer 15

Multipolar neurons

Question 16

What are bipolar neurons?

Answer 16

Neurons with two processes extending from the cell body (one axon, one dendrite)

Question 17

What are unipolar neurons?

Answer 17

Neurons with a single process (one dendrite) extending from the cell body

Question 18

In which direction do sensory/afferent neurons carry information?

Answer 18

From a sensory receptor to the central nervous system

Question 19

What are cutaneous sense organs?

Answer 19

Sensory receptors in the skin

Question 20

What are proprioceptors?

Answer 20

A sensory receptor located in muscles and tendons

Question 21

In which direction do motor/efferent neurons carry information?

Answer 21

From the CNS to a muscle or gland

Question 22

What is the role of interneurons/association neurons?

Answer 22

Connect afferent and efferent neurons in neural pathways

Question 23

What are the two major functional properties of neurons?

Answer 23

• Irritability
• Conductivity

Question 24

What in the irritability of a neuron?

Answer 24

The ability to respond to a stimulus by producing a nerve impulse

Question 25

What is the conductivity of a neuron?

Answer 25

The ability to transmit impulses to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Question 26

What does it mean for a resting neuron to be polarized?

Answer 26

The inner face of the plasma membrane is relatively negative compared to its outer face

Question 27

What is saltatory conduction?

Answer 27

The way in which nerve impulses are propagated along myelinated fibres, where the impulse jumps from node to node

Question 28

What are somatic reflexes?

Answer 28

Reflexes that stimulate the skeletal muscles

Question 29

What are autonomic reflexes?

Answer 29

Reflexes that regulate the activity of smooth muscles, the heart, and glands

Question 30

What is the reflex arc?

Answer 30

The neural pathway of a reflex

Question 31

What are the five elements of every reflex arc?

Answer 31

• A receptor
• An effector
• Sensory neurons
• Motor neurons
• The CNS integration centre

Question 32

What are the four major regions of the brain?

Answer 32

• The cerebral hemispheres
• The diencephalon
• The brain stem
• The cerebellum

Question 33

What are the left and right hemispheres collectively called?

Answer 33

The cerebrum

Question 34

What are gyri?

Answer 34

The elevated ridges of tissue all over the entire surface of the cerebrum

Question 35

What are sulci?

Answer 35

Shallow grooves/furrows that separate the gyri

Question 36

What are fissures?

Answer 36

The deepest depressions or inward folds of the brain that separate large regions

Question 37

What are the three basic regions of each cerebral hemisphere?

Answer 37

• The superficial cortex of grey matter (cerebral cortex)
• An internal area of white matter
• The basal nuclei

Question 38

What are basal nuclei?

Answer 38

Islands of grey matter situated deep within the white matter

Question 39

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 39

The outer grey matter of the cerebrum

Question 40

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 40

The large fibre tract of the cerebral white matter that connects the cerebral hemispheres and allows communication between them

Question 41

What is the basal nuclei/basal ganglia?

Answer 41

Grey matter areas deep within the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres

Question 42

What is the internal capsule?

Answer 42

A tight band of projection fibres that passes between the thalamus and basal nuclei

Question 43

What is the diencephalon?

Answer 43

The part of the forebrain between the cerebral hemispheres and the midbrain

Question 44

What brain structures does the diencephalon contain?

Answer 44

• The thalamus
• The hypothalamus
• The epithalamus

Question 45

What are the three structures of the brain stem?

Answer 45

• The midbrain
• The pons
• The medulla oblongata

Question 46

Which brain structure contains many nuclei that regulate vital visceral activities?

Answer 46

The medulla oblongata

Question 47

What are the meninges?

Answer 47

Three connective tissue membranes that cover and protect the CNS structures

Question 48

What are the three connective tissue membranes of the meninges?

Answer 48

• The dura mater
• The arachnoid mater
• The pia mater