Week 10: The nervous system

Question 1

Define Nerve

Answer 1

A structure that conducts electrical impulses too and from muscles and organs

Question 2

What are the functions of the nervous system?

Answer 2

Sensory function, integrative function and motor function

Question 3

Define sensory function

Answer 3

The ability of the nervous system to sense changes in either internal or external stimuli

Question 4

Define integrative function

Answer 4

The ability of the nervous system to analyse and interpret sensory info and produce an appropriate response

Question 5

Define motor function

Answer 5

The ability of the nervous system to produce a neuromuscular outcome

Question 6

What are the two subdivisions of the nervous system?

Answer 6

Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 7

What does the CNS consist of?

Answer 7

Brain and spinal cord

Question 8

What does the PNS consist of?

Answer 8

Sensory division (afferent) and Motor division (efferent)

Question 9

What does the PNS split into?

Answer 9

Voluntary contraction (somatic) and involuntary (Autonomic)

Question 10

What does the autonomic (involuntary contractions) split into?

Answer 10

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 11

Define sympathetic

Answer 11

The fight or flight response

Question 12

Define parasympathetic

Answer 12

Salivation, digestion, urination

Question 13

What does the brain do?

Answer 13

Info processing and control centre
Pivotal role in what we feel and do
Emotional control centre
Storage of memories and past experiences
Homeostasis
Spinal cord orginates at brain stem

Question 14

Define Neuron

Answer 14

A cell which carries electrical impulses (action potential)

The building blocks of the nervous system

Question 15

Define dorsal nerve root

Answer 15

Afferent sensory signals to the brain

Question 16

Define ventral nerve root

Answer 16

Efferent motor signals from the brain

Question 17

Define intervertebral foramen

Answer 17

Exit point of spinal nerves

Question 18

What does the sensory division do?

Answer 18

Carries info to the spinal cord and brain, afferent info (ascending)

Question 19

What does the motor division do?

Answer 19

Carries info away from the spinal cord and brain, efferent info (descending)

Question 20

Define proprioception

Answer 20

Found in muscle, tendons and joints and provide info relating to position

Question 21

Define baroreceptors

Answer 21

Found in the walls of blood vessels and provide info regarding blood pressure

Question 22

Define chemoreceptors

Answer 22

Monitor the concentration of certain chemicals in the body

Question 23

Define thermoreceptors

Answer 23

Found in all tissues of the body and detect changes in temp

Question 24

Define nociceptors

Answer 24

Sensory neuron that responds to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli by sending possible threat signals to the spinal cord and the brain

Question 25

What are motor programs?

Answer 25

Complex movement skills can become learned

Question 26

What is the sequence of the motor division?

Answer 26

Muscle stimulators bypass the brain and provide and electrical stimulus to the neuromuscular junction resulting in a muscle contraction

Question 27

How many nerves does the PNS contain?

Answer 27

43 pairs

Question 28

How many cranial nerves are there?

Answer 28

12 pairs

Question 29

What do the cranial nerves do?

Answer 29

Emerge directly from the brain, supply head and face

Question 30

How many spinal nerves are there?

Answer 30

31 pairs

Question 31

What do the spinal nerves do?

Answer 31

Emerge from segments of the spinal cord, supply skeletal muscle

Question 32

What are the most common 8 spinal nerves?

Answer 32

Musculocutaneous, axillary, median, radial, common peroneal, tibial, sciatic and femoral

Question 33

Is pain an input or output of the brain?

Answer 33

Output

Question 34

Define dorsal

Answer 34

posterior

Question 35

Define ventral

Answer 35

anterior

Question 36

What are examples of sensory input?

Answer 36

Pressure, temperature, chemical change, change in joint position and muscle length, tissue damage, taste, vision, hearing and smell

Question 37

What are exampkes of motor output?

Answer 37

Muscle contraction, movement control, co-ordination, balance, pain, fine and gross motor skills