Nervous System

Question 1

What is the primary function of the nervous system?

Answer 1

The body’s control and communication centre, detects stimuli, processes sensory information, and sends signals to muscles and glands to trigger responses.

Question 2

What are the two main components of the nervous system?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What are the two main parts of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

Answer 3

Brain and Spinal Cord

Question 4

What is the role of the brain?

Answer 4

Controls thought, memory, emotions, and decision-making.

Question 5

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 5

Relays messages between the brain and the body, controlling reflexes.

Question 6

What is the function of sensory neurons in the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

Answer 6

Transmit signals from sensory receptors to the CNS.

Question 7

What do motor neurons do?

Answer 7

Carry instructions from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Question 8

What are neurons?

Answer 8

Specialized cells that transmit electrical and chemical signals in the body, enabling communication with the nervous system.

Question 9

What does the cell body (soma) of a neuron contain?

Answer 9

The nucleus and controls the cell’s activities.

Question 10

What are dendrites?

Answer 10

Branch-like extensions that receive signals from other neurons and send them to the cell body.

Question 11

What is the function of the axon?

Answer 11

A long, thin projection that carries electrical signals away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Question 12

What is the myelin sheath?

Answer 12

A fatty layer that surrounds the axon, speeding up the transmission of signals.

Question 13

What is a synapse?

Answer 13

The junction between two neurons where chemical signals (neurotransmitters) are passed to the next cell.

Question 14

What are the types of neurons?

Answer 14

• Sensory: Carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS.
• Motor: Transmit signals from the CNS to muscles and glands.
• Interneurons: Connect neurons within the CNS.

Question 15

How does an electrical signal travel through a neuron?

Answer 15

An electrical impulse (action potential) travels down the axon to the axon terminal.

Question 16

What triggers the release of neurotransmitters at the synapse?

Answer 16

The electrical signal at the synapse.

Question 17

What happens to neurotransmitters after they are released?

Answer 17

They cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on the neighboring neuron’s dendrites or target cell.

Question 18

What are excitatory synapses?

Answer 18

Synapses that encourage the receiving neuron to generate a signal, promoting action.

Question 19

What are inhibitory synapses?

Answer 19

Synapses that prevent the receiving neuron from firing, reducing activity.

Question 20

Name three examples of neurotransmitters.

Answer 20

• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• Acetylcholine

Question 21

What functions does the Central Nervous System (CNS) regulate?

Answer 21

• Voluntary activities (e.g., movement)
• Involuntary functions (e.g., breathing, heart rate)

Question 22

What is the role of the CNS in processing information?

Answer 22

Integrates sensory data and determines responses.

Question 23

What is a reflex action?

Answer 23

An automatic response controlled by the spinal cord without involving the brain.

Question 24

What cognitive functions are managed by the CNS?

Answer 24

• Memory
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Emotional responses

Question 25

What is the control center of the nervous system?

Answer 25

The brain

Question 26

What does the spinal cord do?

Answer 26

Relays messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

Question 28

What is the primary organ of the NCS responsible for information processing?

Answer 28

The brain ## Footnote NCS stands for Nervous System.

Question 29

What are the cognitive functions of the brain?

Answer 29

Controls thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, decision making, regulates memory and learning.

Question 30

What is the emotional function of the brain?

Answer 30

Processes emotions, manages stress responses and mood.

Question 31

What does the brain do for movement and coordination?

Answer 31

Sends signals to muscles to control voluntary movements, cerebellum helps with coordination and balance.

Question 32

How does the brain handle sensory information?

Answer 32

Intercepts input from the senses (sight, sound, touch) to help understand and react to the environment.

Question 33

What automatic body functions does the brain regulate?

Answer 33

Breathing, heartbeat, digestion through the brain stem.

Question 34

What roles does the brain play in speech and communication?

Answer 34

Controls speech production, language understanding, communication abilities.

Question 35

What is the largest part of the brain responsible for higher brain functions?

Answer 35

Cerebrum.

Question 36

What are the functions of the left hemisphere of the cerebrum?

Answer 36

Logical thinking, language, analytical skills.

Question 37

What are the functions of the right hemisphere of the cerebrum?

Answer 37

Creativity, intuition, spatial abilities.

Question 38

What is the role of the cerebellum?

Answer 38

Coordinates movement and maintains balance and posture.

Question 39

What does the brainstem connect?

Answer 39

Connects the brain to the spinal cord.

Question 40

What essential functions does the brainstem control?

Answer 40

Breathing, heartbeat, digestion, reflexes.

Question 41

What is the spinal cord?

Answer 41

Long thin bundle of nerve fibers extending from the brainstem down the spine.

Question 42

What are the three protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord?

Answer 42

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater.

Question 43

What is the function of the dura mater?

Answer 43

Tough outermost layer, protects against injury.

Question 44

What is the role of the arachnoid mater?

Answer 44

Middle web-like layer, provides cushioning, holds cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Question 45

What is the function of the pia mater?

Answer 45

Delicate innermost layer, nourishes the brain and spinal cord with blood supply.

Question 46

Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found?

Answer 46

In the space between arachnoid and pia mater (subarachnoid space).

Question 47

What is the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Answer 47

Acts as cushioning, protecting CNS from injury and providing nutrients.

Question 48

What does the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consist of?

Answer 48

All the nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.

Question 49

What is the function of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 49

Controls involuntary physiological functions, operates automatically.

Question 50

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 50

Increases heart rate and blood pressure, dilates pupils, relaxes airway.

Question 51

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 51

Calms body, conserves energy, decreases heart rate and blood pressure.

Question 52

What is the Somatic Nervous System responsible for?

Answer 52

Controlling voluntary movements and processing sensory information.

Question 53

What do motor neurons do?

Answer 53

Carry commands from CNS to skeletal muscles for voluntary movements.

Question 54

What do sensory neurons do?

Answer 54

Relay sensory information from body to CNS.

Question 55

What are sense organs?

Answer 55

Specialized structures that receive and process information from the environment.

Question 56

What is the function of the eyes?

Answer 56

Detect light and color, allowing us to see and interpret visual information.

Question 57

How does light enter the eye?

Answer 57

Through the cornea.

Question 58

What is the role of the lens in the eye?

Answer 58

Adjusts shape to focus light on the retina.

Question 59

What converts light into electrical signals in the eye?

Answer 59

Photoreceptors in the retina.

Question 60

What are rods and cones in the retina responsible for?

Answer 60

* Rods: low-light vision * Cones: color vision.

Question 61

What is the pathway of electrical signals from the retina?

Answer 61

Sent via the optic nerve to the visual cortex in the brain.

Question 62

What is the function of the outer ear?

Answer 62

Collects sound waves, channels them to the eardrum.

Question 63

What happens when sound waves hit the eardrum?

Answer 63

Causes it to vibrate.

Question 64

What are the ossicles in the middle ear?

Answer 64

Three tiny bones: malleus, incus, stapes.

Question 65

What does the cochlea do?

Answer 65

Contains hair cells that convert vibrations into electrical signals.

Question 66

How are electrical signals from the inner ear transmitted?

Answer 66

Via the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex in the brain.