nervous system

Question 1

give a brief overview of the nervous system

Question 2

Which part of the brain has a blood-brain barrier?

Answer 2

he capillaries of the median eminence of the hypothalamus

Question 3

the Peripheral Nervous System can be further divided into which two major subdivisions?

Answer 3

• Somatic
• Autonomic

Question 4

What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 4

• controls voluntary muscle movements
• transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Question 5

What is the role of the autonimic nervosu sytem ?

Answer 5

regulates involuntary functions—heart rate, digestion.

Question 6

What branches is the Autonomic Nervous System further split into?

Answer 6

• sympathetic
• parasympathetic
• enteric

Question 7

What are the 4 lobes of the brain/cerebrum and their functions?

Answer 7

Frontal Lobe: Motor control, decision-making, personality.
Parietal Lobe: Sensory perception, spatial awareness.
Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing, memory.
Occipital Lobe: Visual processing.

Question 8

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 8

Balance and posture, mental function (e.g. language processing and memory), movement, motor learning, and vision.

Question 9

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 9

serves as a communication pathway between the brain and PNS
transmits signals for reflexes and voluntary movements

Question 10

What are the meninges?

Answer 10

3 protective layers of tissue that surround and encase the brain and spinal cord:

Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Mater

Question 11

What are the gyrus and sulcus?

Answer 11

gyrus: elevated folds on the brain’s surface
Sulcus: the grooves that separate the gyri

Question 12

What comprises the diencephalon, and what functions does it serve?

Answer 12

Thalamus: relays sensory information
Hypothalamus: autonomic control, endocrine function.

Question 13

What comprises the brainstem, and what functions does it serve?

Answer 13

Midbrain: Visual and auditory reflexes.
Pons: respiratory regulation
Medulla oblongata: Cardiac and vasomotor control, respiratory regulation.

Question 14

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

Answer 14

connects brain hemispheres, allowing communication and coordination of cognitive functions

Question 15

what compromises the gross structure of the spinal cord?

Answer 15

dorsal vs. ventral horn, dorsal root ganglion, spinal nerves, spinal tracts

Question 16

location of grey matter vs white matter

Answer 16

grey: cerebral cortex of the brain, H region of spinal cord
white: tracts/bundles of axons deeper in the brain, surround central grey matter in the spinal cord

Question 17

Why do grey and white matter in the brain have distinct colors?

Answer 17

grey: due to a higher concentration of cell bodies, capillaries, and dendrites
white: due to myelinated axons

Question 18

what are the functions of grey matter?

Answer 18

Processes information, sensory perception, muscle control, memory

Question 19

what is the function of white matter?

Answer 19

facilitates communication between different regions of the brain and spinal cord

Question 20

what are spinal tracts and what is their function?

Answer 20

Bundles of axons in the spinal cord that travel together
either carrying sensory information towards the brain or motor commands from the brain to the muscles

Question 21

describe the flow of information in the spinal cord.

Answer 21

Afferent neurons carry info into the spinal cord through the dorsal horn
Efferent neurons send commands out through the ventral horn.
Spinal nerves transmit signals bidirectionally to/from body parts.
Dorsal root ganglia house cell bodies of sensory (afferent) neurons.
Spinal tracts organize communication pathways within the spinal cord.

Question 22

afferent vs efferent neurons

Answer 22

afferent - sensory
motor - efferent

Question 23

which glial cells are found in the PNS?

Answer 23

• schwann cells
• staellite cells

Question 24

which glial cells are found in the CNS?

Answer 24

• astrocytes
• ependymal cells
• microglia
• oligodendrocytes

Question 25

function of microglia

Answer 25

- act as macrophages of CNS

Question 26

function of astrocytes and where they are found

Answer 26

- maintain an external environment for neurons - surround blood vessels and form blood-brain barrier

Question 27

oligodendrocyte location and function

Answer 27

form myelin sheaths in CNS to enhance signal conduction

Question 28

ependymal cell location and function

Answer 28

line the brain's ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord Produce cerebrospinal fluid, providing buoyancy, protection against physical trauma, and nutrient transport in the CNS

Question 29

satellite cell location and function

Answer 29

Located in PNS ganglia. Support and regulate the microenvironment around neuron cell bodies within ganglia.

Question 30

what is ganglia

Answer 30

clusters of nerve cell bodies outside CNS integrate sensory information and coordinate motor responses in PNS