Chapter 2 • Basic Exercise Science: Nervous System

Question 1

Human movement system

Answer 1

The combination and interrelation of the nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems

Question 2

Nervous system

Answer 2

Conglomeration of billions of cells specifically designed to provide a communication network within the human body

Question 3

Sensory function

Answer 3

The ability of the nervous system to sense hanged in the internal and external environment

Question 4

Integrative function

Answer 4

Te ability if the nervous system to analyze and interpret sensory information to allow for proper decision making, which produces the appropriate response

Question 5

Motor function

Answer 5

The neuromuscular response to the sensory information

Question 6

Propriocetion

Answer 6

The cumulative sensory input to the central nervous system from all mechanoreceptors that sense body position and limb movement

Question 7

Neuron

Answer 7

The functional unit of the nervous system

Question 8

What is another name for sensory neurons?

Answer 8

Afferent

Question 9

Sensory neuron

Answer 9

Transmit nerve impulses from effector sites (such as muscles and organs) via receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Question 10

Interneurons

Answer 10

Transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another

Question 11

Central nervous system

Answer 11

The portion of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

Question 12

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 12

Cranial and spinal nerves that spread throughout the body

Question 13

What are the three main parts of a neuron?

Answer 13

1) Cell body (soma)
2) Axon
3) Dendrites

Question 14

What is the purpose of the axon on a neuron?

Answer 14

It transmits nervous impulses to other neurons or effector sites (muscles & organs)
It provides communication from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body

Question 15

What does a dendrite (on a neuron) do?

Answer 15

Gather information from other structures and transmit it back into the neuron

Question 16

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 16

Cranial and spinal nerves that spread throughout the body

Question 17

What are the two main functions of peripheral nerves?

Answer 17

1) Provide a connection for the nervous system to activate different effector sites (i.e. muscles/motor function)
2) Relay information from effector sites back to the brain via sensory receptors providing a constant update on the relation between the body and environment

Question 18

What are two subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 18

Somatic and autonomic nervous systems

Question 19

What’s the function of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 19

Its nerves serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and are responsible for voluntary control of movement

Question 20

What is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 20

Supplies neural input to involuntary systems (i.e. heart, digestive systems)

Question 21

What are sensory receptors?

Answer 21

Specialized structures located throughout the body that convert environmental stimuli (i.e. heat, light, sound, taste and motion) into sensory information the brain and spinal cord use to produce a response

Question 22

What are the four categories of sensory receptors?

Answer 22

1) Mechanoreceptors
2) Nociceptors
3) Chemoreceptors
4) Photoreceptors

Question 23

What are mechanoreceptors and what do they do?

Answer 23

A type of sensory receptor. Respond to mechanical forces (i.e. touch and pressure)

Question 24

What are joint receptors and where are they located?

Answer 24

Joint receptors surround a joint and respond to pressure, acceleration, and declaration of the joint. They are located in and around the joint capsule.

Question 25

What are the two divisions if the skeletal system?

Answer 25

1) Axial skeleton

2) Appendicular skeleton

Question 26

What and how many bones make up the axial skeleton?

Answer 26

Skull, rib cage, and the vertebral column. There are about 80 bones.

Question 27

Where are mechanoreceptors located?

Answer 27

In muscles, ligaments, tendons and joint capsules and include muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs and joint receptors

Question 28

What are muscle spindles?

Answer 28

Sensory receptors located within he muscle that run parallel to muscle fibers. They are sensitive to changes in muscle length and rate of length change. Also helps in regulating contraction of muscles via the stretch reflex mechanism.

Question 29

What are Golgi tendon organs or GTO’s?

Answer 29

Specialized sensory receptors located at the point where skeletal muscle fibers insert into the tendons of skeletal muscles.

Question 30

What happens when the Golgi tendon organ (GTO) is activated?

Answer 30

It causes the muscle to relax, which prevents the muscle from excessive stress or possibility of injury.