1 - Basic Organisation of the Nervous System

Question 1

What is contained in grey matter?

Answer 1

neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, axon terminals and glial cells

Question 2

What is contained in white matter?

Answer 2

axons (that are connecting the grey matter together)

Question 3

What does ventral and dorsal refer to?

Answer 3

ventral - enters spinal chord at the from of the trunk

dorsal - enters spinal chord at the back of the trunk

Question 4

Give the 3 layers that cover/wrap around the spinal nerve components

Answer 4

endoneurium - around individual axon
pereneurium - (axons are bundled into fascicles) surround the fascicles
epineurium - encapsulates the whole nerve

Question 5

How does the regeneration of axons differ in the CNS and periphery?
Why?

Answer 5

PERIPHERY - can regenerate
CNS - axons are unable to regenerate over long distances to be useful

• there are inhibitory molecules in the CNS and not in the PNS
• absence of guidance cues that stimulate growth during development
• loss of intrinsic axon growth capabilities but the neurons

Question 6

In fast reflexes, there is no need for communication with the _______ cortex

Answer 6

sensorimotor cortex

Question 7

What is the relationship between the side of the cerebral cortex that receives sensory information and the side of the body whose movement it controls?

Answer 7

each hemisphere receives sensory information from and controls the movement of the opposite sides of the body

Question 8

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 8

controls coordination of movement

Question 9

Describe the brainstem and state what is regulates?

Answer 9

it is the most primitive part of the brain
it has densely packed fibres

it regulates vital functions (consciousness and breathing)
(damage here is serious and can be fatal)