Chapter 13

Question 1

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

Question 2

What structures make up the CNS?

Answer 2

The brain and spinal cord.

Question 3

What structures make up the PNS?

Answer 3

Cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

Question 4

What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) control?

Answer 4

Involuntary functions, like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.

Question 5

What are the two divisions of the ANS?

Answer 5

Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Question 6

What is the function of the sympathetic division of the ANS?

Answer 6

Prepares the body for “fight or flight” responses.

Question 7

What is the function of the parasympathetic division of the ANS?

Answer 7

Promotes “rest and digest” activities.

Question 8

What are the three main parts of a neuron?

Answer 8

Cell body (soma), dendrites, and axon.

Question 9

What is the function of dendrites?

Answer 9

Receive signals from other neurons and transmit them to the cell body.

Question 10

What is the function of the axon?

Answer 10

Transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Question 11

How are neurons classified structurally?

Answer 11

Multipolar, bipolar, unipolar, and anaxonic.

Question 12

How are neurons classified functionally?

Answer 12

Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent), and interneurons.

Question 13

What is myelin?

Answer 13

A lipid-rich substance that insulates axons and increases the speed of impulse transmission.

Question 14

Which cells produce myelin in the CNS?

Answer 14

Oligodendrocytes.

Question 15

Which cells produce myelin in the PNS?

Answer 15

Schwann cells.

Question 16

What is the function of astrocytes?

Answer 16

Maintain the blood-brain barrier, provide structural support, and regulate ion concentrations.

Question 17

What do ependymal cells do?

Answer 17

Line the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord; produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Question 18

What is the role of microglia?

Answer 18

Act as immune cells in the CNS, cleaning up debris and pathogens through phagocytosis.

Question 19

What is the main function of Schwann cells?

Answer 19

Produce myelin in the PNS and assist in nerve regeneration.

Question 20

What do satellite cells do in the PNS?

Answer 20

Surround neuron cell bodies and regulate the environment around them.

Question 21

What are mechanoreceptors?

Answer 21

Receptors that detect mechanical stimuli, such as touch, pressure, and vibration.

Question 22

What are nociceptors?

Answer 22

Receptors that detect pain.

Question 23

What are the main functions of the spinal cord?

Answer 23

Conducts sensory and motor information and integrates reflexes.

Question 24

How is the spinal cord organized regionally?

Answer 24

Into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions.

Question 25

What does the dorsal root of a spinal nerve contain?

Answer 25

Sensory (afferent) nerve fibers.

Question 26

What does the ventral root of a spinal nerve contain?

Answer 26

Motor (efferent) nerve fibers.

Question 27

What are the three layers of the spinal meninges?

Answer 27

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Question 28

What is the dura mater?

Answer 28

The tough, outermost layer of the meninges.

Question 29

What is the pia mater?

Answer 29

The delicate, innermost layer of the meninges that adheres to the surface of the spinal cord.

Question 30

What is the conus medullaris?

Answer 30

The tapered, conical end of the spinal cord.

Question 31

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 31

A bundle of spinal nerves and nerve roots extending from the conus medullaris.

Question 32

What is the filum terminale?

Answer 32

A fibrous extension of the pia mater that anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx.

Question 33

What is the function of the denticulate ligament?

Answer 33

To anchor the spinal cord laterally to the dura mater, providing stability.

Question 34

What is the coccygeal ligament?

Answer 34

A structure formed by the fusion of the filum terminale and dura mater, anchoring the spinal cord to the coccyx.

Question 35

What are spinal nerves composed of?

Answer 35

Both sensory and motor nerve fibers.

Question 36

What are sensory (afferent) pathways?

Answer 36

Pathways that transmit sensory information from the body to the brain.

Question 37

What are motor (efferent) pathways?

Answer 37

Pathways that transmit motor commands from the brain to the body.

Question 38

What is the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway?

Answer 38

A sensory pathway that transmits information about fine touch, pressure, and proprioception to the brain.

Question 39

What is the spinothalamic pathway responsible for?

Answer 39

Transmitting pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations to the brain.

Question 40

What is the function of the corticospinal tract?

Answer 40

To carry motor signals from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, controlling voluntary movements.

Question 41

What are vesicular synapses?

Answer 41

Synapses where neurotransmitters are released from vesicles into the synaptic cleft.

Question 42

What is a common neurotransmitter at vesicular synapses?

Answer 42

Acetylcholine.

Question 43

What are electrical synapses?

Answer 43

Synapses where electrical signals are directly transmitted between neurons through gap junctions.

Question 44

Why are electrical synapses faster than chemical synapses?

Answer 44

Because they allow direct electrical communication without the need for neurotransmitters.

Question 45

What are the main differences between the dorsal and ventral roots of spinal nerves?

Answer 45

Dorsal roots carry sensory information into the spinal cord, while ventral roots carry motor information out to the body.

Question 46

What is the significance of the spinal meninges?

Answer 46

They protect and stabilize the spinal cord and contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for cushioning.

Question 47

What type of information does the lateral spinothalamic tract carry?

Answer 47

Pain and temperature sensations.

Question 48

What is the role of proprioceptors?

Answer 48

To detect body position and movement, providing feedback to the brain about joint angles and muscle length.

Question 49

Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found in the spinal meninges?

Answer 49

In the subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid mater and pia mater.

Question 50

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system in controlling internal organs?

Answer 50

It regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate through the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.