Topic 6 Nervous System

Question 1

• Highly complex system that is responsible for coordinating our sensory and motor functions by transmitting signals around our body
• Responsible for rapid, direct, and specific communication
• Remember: the endocrine system relies on slower, more spread out, and long-lasting communication via hormones that affect many cells and tissues

Answer 1

Note

Question 2

• Includes brain, spinal cord, nerves, neural support cells, and certain sensory organs (eye, ear)
• Functional unit is the neuron

Answer 2

Structures

Question 3

• Consists of several dendrites, a single branched axon, and cell body (soma)
• Highly specialized, aren’t able to divide, and are highly dependent on glucose for chemical energy
  a. Use facilitated transport to move glucose from the blood into the cell, but is not uniquely dependent on insulin for this transport
  b. Contain low stores of glycogen and oxygen, and rely on the blood supply for these nutrients

Answer 3

Neuron

Question 4

• Where the soma connects to the axon; action potentials are generated here

Answer 4

Axon Hillock

Question 5

• Receive information and transfer it to the cell body

Answer 5

Dendrites

Question 6

• Transfers impulses away from the cell body

Answer 6

Axon

Question 7

• Nervous tissue support cells that are capable of cell division
  a. Oligodendrocytes
  b. Schwann Cells
  c. Microglia
  d. Ependymal Cells
  e. Satellite cells
  f. Astrocytes

Answer 7

Glial Cells

Question 8

• produce myelin in the central nervous system

Answer 8

Oligodendrocytes

Question 9

• produce myelin in the peripheral nervous system

Answer 9

Schwann Cells

Question 10

• Type of Schwann Cell
• fatty sheaths that act as insulators and are separated by Nodes of Ranvier that allow the action potential to travel continuously down the axon, jumping from node to node, a process known as saltatory conduction, that speeds up the impulse

Answer 10

Myelin Sheath

Question 11

• phagocytes of the central nervous system

Answer 11

Microglia

Question 12

• use cilia to circulate cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 12

Ependymal Cells

Question 13

• groups of cell bodies in the PNS that serve as support cells

Answer 13

Satellite Cells

Question 14

• provide physical support to neurons of the CNS and maintain the mineral and nutrient balance

Answer 14

Astrocytes