The Nervous System

Question 1

What functions are carried out by the parietal lobe of the brain?

Answer 1

Integration of sensory afferents
Discrimination between different types of stimuli and localising intensity of stimulus
Involved in the ability to manipulate objects in space

Question 2

Which anatomical structure demarcates the boundary between the frontal and parietal lobes?

Answer 2

The central sulcus

Question 3

What are the functions of the occipital lobe of the brain?

Answer 3

Primary visual cortex

Dreams are developed and processed

Question 4

What functions are undertaken by the temporal lobe of the Brain?

Answer 4

Responsible for hearing and interpretation of speech and hearing

Question 5

What are the functions of the cerebellum of the brain?

Answer 5

Associated with movements that are grouped for the performance of selective responses requiring specific adjustments.
Maintains posture and muscle tone

Question 6

What comprises the brainstem?

Answer 6

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

Question 7

What are the functions of the brainstem?

Answer 7

It is a relay tract area for the motor and sensory systems.
Cranial nerves arise here to supply motor and sensory innervation to the face and neck
Controls cardio-respiratory systems

Question 8

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

Answer 8

7

Question 9

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

Answer 9

12

Question 10

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

Answer 10

5

Question 11

How many sacral vertebrae are there?

Answer 11

5 fused vertebrae

Question 12

How many bones make up the coccyx?

Answer 12

3-5

Question 13

What is the fluid called that circulates around the brain and spinal cord?

Answer 13

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 14

What information passes through the dorsal root of the spinal nerve?

Answer 14

Sensory afferent fibres of spinal nerves

Question 15

What information passes through the ventral root of the spinal nerve?

Answer 15

Motor efferent fibres leaving from the ventral grey horn

Question 16

What is the white matter of the spinal cord primarily composed of?

Answer 16

Myelinated axons

Question 17

What is the grey matter of the spinal cord primarily composed of?

Answer 17

Unmyelinated neurons and supporting glia

Question 18

What is contained in the dorsal root ganglion?

Answer 18

It is composed of the cell bodies of afferent neurons

Question 19

What is a nerve plexus?

Answer 19

A collection of nerves that supply specific body regions

Question 20

What does the brachial plexus supply?

Answer 20

Motor and sensory innervation to the upper limbs

Question 21

What is the spinal origin of the brachial plexus?

Answer 21

C5-T1

Question 22

Does the brachial plexus form part of the central or peripheral nervous system?

Answer 22

PNS

Question 23

What is a dermatome?

Answer 23

A dermatome is a unilateral area of skin innervated by the sensory nerve fibres if a single spinal nerve

Question 24

In total, how many spinal nerves are there?

Answer 24

31 pairs

Question 25

What is the clinical significance of the dermatomes?

Answer 25

They can give an indication of the level of spinal cord where damage may be. A lesion of just a single spinal nerve however would rarely give numbness over that area due to overlap of innervation?

Question 26

How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?

Answer 26

12

Question 27

Do the cranial nerves form part of the CNS or PNS?

Answer 27

PNS

Question 28

Where do cranial nerves arise from?

Answer 28

Brain and brain stem

Question 29

Generally, what do the cranial nerves supply?

Answer 29

Head and neck structures as well as the gut, heart and respiratory system

Question 30

Is the brain a part of the CNS or PNS?

Answer 30

CNS

Question 31

Is the spinal cord part of the CNS or PNS?

Answer 31

CNS

Question 32

What is the function of myelin?

Answer 32

Electrical insulation to allow faster conduction along a nerve

Question 33

Which cells form myelin in the PNS?

Answer 33

Schwann cells

Question 34

What is contained in the lateral ventricles of the brain?

Answer 34

Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 35

What two major blood vessels provide the blood supply to the brain?

Answer 35

Internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries

Question 36

Where does venous blood from the brain drain to?

Answer 36

Internal jugular veins

Question 37

From what vertebral levels does the sympathetic nervous system arise?

Answer 37

T1-L2

Question 38

What are the origins of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 38

Cranial nerves 3,7,9 and 10 | S2-4

Question 39

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 39

The lower end of the spinal cord that terminates as nerve roots

Question 40

In an adult, at what level will the spinal cord terminate?

Answer 40

L2

Question 41

What is the clinical relevance of knowing where the spinal cord terminates?

Answer 41

A sample of cerebrospinal fluid can be taken after the cord terminates.

Question 42

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

Answer 42

Communication between the left and right hemispheres

Question 43

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 43

It is the relay centre for motor and sensory fibres

Question 44

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 44

To maintain homeostasis

Question 45

What are the functions of the nervous system?

Answer 45

``` Communication Regulating internal events Organising behaviour Information storage (memory) Sensations, perceptions, emotions ```

Question 46

What are the two main types of cell in the nervous system?

Answer 46

Neurons | Glia cells

Question 47

What is myelin and where does it come from?

Answer 47

Myelin is a fatty tissue and is an outgrowth of glial cells

Question 48

What kinds of cells form myelin in the PNS?

Answer 48

Schwann cells

Question 49

What kinds of cells form myelin in the CNS?

Answer 49

Oligodendrocytes

Question 50

What is the purpose of a myelin sheath around a neuron?

Answer 50

The sheath is electrically insulating so allows the effect to travel the length of the neuron more quickly

Question 51

Astrocytes are a type of glial cells. What do they do?

Answer 51

Involved in nutrient supply to the CMS join to blood vessels on one side and neurons on the other to perform this function

Question 52

Microglia are a type of glial cells. What do they do?

Answer 52

They have a role on phagocytic defence

Question 53

Epedymal cells are a type of glial cells. What do they do?

Answer 53

Involved in the production of many substances such as cerebrospinal fluid which cushions and protects the brain

Question 54

What part of the neuron receives information?

Answer 54

The dendrite

Question 55

What is the name of the little notches on the myelin sheaths which allow for faster transmission of nerve signals?

Answer 55

Nodes of Ranvier

Question 56

How do somatic nerves differ structurally from visceral nerves?

Answer 56

Somatic nerves are continuous whereas visceral nerves have two nerves on exit

Question 57

What brain structures comprise the forebrain?

Answer 57

The cerebrum (telencephalon) and the thalamus and hypothalamus (diencephalon)

Question 58

What structures comprise the midbrain or mesencephalon?

Answer 58

Pons Medulla oblongata Cerbellum

Question 59

The brainstem is included in which part of the brain?

Answer 59

Hindbrain or rhombencephalon

Question 60

What is the function of the frontal lobe of the brain?

Answer 60

Executive functions | Longterm memory

Question 61

What is the function of the parietal lobe of the brain?

Answer 61

Integration of sensory functions

Question 62

What is the function of the occipital lobe of the brain?

Answer 62

Visual processing

Question 63

What is the function of the temporal lobe of the brain?

Answer 63

Auditory processing

Question 64

In the spinal cord, sensory nerves travel at the ventral end and motor nerves travel at the dorsal end. T/F?

Answer 64

False - sensory nerves are dorsal | Motor nerves are ventral

Question 65

Where are the cell bodies of primary sensory neurons contained?

Answer 65

Dorsal root ganglia

Question 66

How many cervical spinal nerves are there?

Answer 66

8

Question 67

How many thoracic spinal nerves are there?

Answer 67

12

Question 68

How many lumbar spinal nerves are there?

Answer 68

5

Question 69

How many sacral spinal nerves are there?

Answer 69

5

Question 70

How many coccygeal spinal nerves are there?

Answer 70

1-3

Question 71

Name the first three cranial nerves?

Answer 71

Olfactory Optic Oculomotor

Question 72

Name the fourth, fifth and sixth cranial nerves.

Answer 72

Trochlear Teigeminal Abducens

Question 73

Name the seventh, eighth and ninth cranial nerves.

Answer 73

Facial Vestobulocochlear Glossopharyngeal

Question 74

Name the tenth, eleventh and twelfth cranial nerves?

Answer 74

Vagus Spinal accessory Hypoglossal

Question 75

What are the basic functions of the sympathetic nervous system as opposed to the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 75

Sympathetic - flight or fight response | Parasympathetic - rest and digest

Question 76

What would be the signs of damage to the afferent pathway of a tendon reflex?

Answer 76

Loss of reflex and associated sensory loss

Question 77

What would be the signs of damage to the efferent pathway of a tendon reflex?

Answer 77

Loss of reflex and muscle paralysis

Question 78

What is a myotome?

Answer 78

A group of muscles supplied by a specific spinal root

Question 79

What are the effects on tone, power and reflexes of a lower motor neurone lesion?

Answer 79

Decreased tone Decreased power Hyporeflexia

Question 80

What are the effects on tone, power and reflexes of an upper motor neurone lesion?

Answer 80

Increased tone Decreased power Hyperreflexia