Week 8 - Overveiw Of The Nervous System

Question 1

What are the main functions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Collects information from internal and external environment, processes information and integrates it with stored information, send motor commands to effectors, maintains homeostasis, and satisfies primary drives.

Question 2

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 2

CNS and PNS

Question 3

What is the role of the brain?

Answer 3

To complete complex integrative functions and process input

Question 4

What is the role of the spinal cord

Answer 4

Relay information from the PNS to the brain and direct simple voluntary actions eg/reflexes

Question 5

What are the three kinds of receptors in the afferent nervous system and what are their roles?

Answer 5

Visceral: monitor internal conditions and status of organ systems
Somatic: monitor position and movement of muscle and joints and skin
Special: responsible for sensing sight, smell, hearing

Question 6

What is the role of the afferent nervous system?

Answer 6

Uses sensory neurons to deliver input to the CNS

Question 7

What is the role of the efferent nervous system?

Answer 7

Uses motor neurons to transmit input from the CNS to the effector.

Question 8

What is the role of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 8

Sends signals to skeletal muscles, has voluntary and involuntary aspects.

Question 9

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 9

Can be divided further into the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions, control smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands.

Question 10

What is the function of the parasympathetic and symphonic divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 10

Provide opposing control over organs inorder to maintain homeostasis.

Question 11

What is the three ways receptors can be ALTERNATIVELY classified?

Answer 11

Interoceptors: moniter internal conditions and status organ systems
Exteroceptors: moniter external environment
Proprioceptors: moniter position and movement of muscles and joints.

Question 12

What are the four key components in neurons?

Answer 12

Cell body, Dendrites, Axons, Synapses.

Question 13

What is the role of the cell body in neurons?

Answer 13

Contains nucleus and most of organelles, maintains cells metabolic functions.

Question 14

What is the role of dendrites in neurons?

Answer 14

Branching extensions that recieve signals from other neurons

Question 15

What is the role of axons in neurons?

Answer 15

Axons arise from cell body at axon hillock, allow for messages to be propagated along them.

Question 16

What is the role of synapses?

Answer 16

Exchange of information between the presynaptic neuron and postsynaptic neuron.

Question 17

Describe the structure of multipolar neurons.

Answer 17

Have one axon and many dendrites, cell body is displaced to one side of axon.

Question 18

Describe the structure of unipolar neurons.

Answer 18

Cell body is at one end of single unbranched axon and there are no dendrites

Question 19

Describe the structure of bipolar neurons.

Answer 19

Have two processes arising from central cell body.

Question 20

Describe the structure of pseudounipolar neurons.

Answer 20

They only have one axon hillock which is divided into two branches by presence of cell body.

Question 21

What are the three functional classifications of neurons and their role?

Answer 21

Sensory: sensory information is conveyed towards CNS
Motor: information conveyed from CNS to effector cells
Interneurons: typically located in CNS, transfer information between sensory and motor neurons.

Question 22

What are the three kinds of structural synapses?

Answer 22

Axo-dendritic, axo-somatic, axo-axonic

Question 23

What are the two kinds of functional synapses?

Answer 23

Inhibitory and Excitatory

Question 24

What is the role of endendymal cells in the CNS?

Answer 24

Line the ventricles of the brain, regulates CSF production and movement.

Question 25

What is the role of Astrocytes in the CNS?

Answer 25

Maintain BBB, control ion concentrations, recycling of some neurotransmitters, provide structural framework

Question 26

What is the role of microglia in the CNS?

Answer 26

Clean up debris and engulf invading organisms

Question 27

What is the role of Oligodendrocytes in the CNS?

Answer 27

Insulate axons (except at nodes), improves nerve conduction velocity and provides structural support.

Question 28

What is the role of Shwann cells in the PNS?

Answer 28

PNS equivalent of Oligodendrocytes; insulates axons, increases conduction velocity and provides structural support.

Question 29

What is the role of satellite cells in the PNS?

Answer 29

PNS functional equivalent of Astrocytes; surround clusters of neurons (ganglia) and regulate the local environment.

Question 30

What is the role of the blood brain barrier?

Answer 30

Passes gases (O2 & CO2) and oil soluable anaesthetic, controls transport of water, ions and larger water soluable compounds.

Question 32

What is the purpose of Cereobro-spinal fluid?

Answer 32

Has different concentrations of K and Na in CNS to blood, tightly controls glucose levels, cushions and supports brain, transports nutrients and wastes.

Question 33

What is the process of CSF circulation?

Answer 33

Begins in the brain, then down the spinal cord and returns to the brain. Exerted in brain ventricles 500ml/day.

Question 34

What is the role of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 34

Conscious thought, voluntary movement and memory.

Question 35

What is the role of the diencephalon?

Answer 35

Relays sensory information to the cortex, controls the endocrine and autonomic systems.

Question 36

What is the role of the Cerebellum?

Answer 36

Coordination of movement.

Question 37

What is the role of the brainstem?

Answer 37

Controls motor and visceral functions, subconscious motor control.

Question 38

What are the five lobes of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 38

Frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital and limbic.

Question 39

What are the different cortexes of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 39

Primary motor cortex, Premotor cortex, Prefrontal cortex, Primary somatosensory cortex, gustory cortex, primary visual cortex, primary auditory cortex.

Question 40

What are the two association areas in the cerebral hemisphere’s?

Answer 40

Wernicke’s area, Broca’s area.