Structure and Function of the Nervous System

Question 1

What are the two primary types of cells

Answer 1

• Neurons

- Glial cells

Question 2

Sensory neurons

Answer 2

Neurons that are sensitive to environmental stimuli and convert physical stimuli into an electrical signal and transmit that info to circuits of interneurons

Question 3

Interneurons

Answer 3

Nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord

Question 4

Interneurons are responsible for what?

Answer 4

• Conscious sensations
• Recognition
• Memory
• Decision making
• Cognition

Question 5

Motor neurons

Answer 5

Nerve cells that direct a biobehavioural response appropriate for the situation

Question 6

What are the common principal external features that neurons all have in common?

Answer 6

• The soma
• The dendrites
• The axon

Question 7

Soma

Answer 7

The cell body, which contains the nucleus and other organelles that maintain cell metabolic function

Question 8

Dendrites

Answer 8

Treelike projections from the soma that receive info from other cells

Question 9

Axon

Answer 9

The single tubular extension that conducts the electrical signal from the cell body to the terminal buttons on the axon terminals

Question 10

Neurons are enclosed by a semipermeable membrane called what?

Answer 10

The cytoplasm

Question 11

Mitochondria

Answer 11

Responsible for generating energy from glucose

Question 12

What is the name for cytoplasm within the axon?

Answer 12

Axoplasm

Question 13

Axon hillock

Answer 13

The portion of the axon that is adjacent to the cell body

Question 14

Axon hillock

Answer 14

The portion of the axon that is adjacent to the cell body

Question 15

Axon collaterals give neurons the ability to do what?

Answer 15

Influence many more cells

Question 16

Cells that release dopamine are called what?

Answer 16

Dopaminergic neurons

Question 17

Cells that release serotonin are called what?

Answer 17

Serotonergic

Question 18

Cells that release serotonin are called what?

Answer 18

Serotonergic

Question 19

What are the two types of glial cells that form the myelin sheath?

Answer 19

• Schwann cells

- Oligodendroglia

Question 20

Schwann cells

Answer 20

Glial cells that myelinate peripheral nerves that serve muscles, organs, and glands

Question 21

Oligodendroglia

Answer 21

Glial cells which myelinated nerves within the brain and spinal cord

Question 22

Where is the action potential regenerated during conduction of the electrical signal along the length of the axon?

Answer 22

At the nodes of Ranvier

Question 23

What is the soma responsible for?

Answer 23

The metabolic care of the neuron

Question 24

What part of the neuron is used for the synthesis of proteins that are needed throughout the cell for growth and maintenance?

Answer 24

The soma

Question 25

What part of the neuron is used for the synthesis of proteins that are needed throughout the cell for growth and maintenance?

Answer 25

The soma

Question 26

Chromosomes

Answer 26

Long strands of DNA

Question 27

Genes

Answer 27

Small portions of chromosomes that code for the manufacture of a specific protein molecule

Question 28

Genes

Answer 28

Small portions of chromosomes that code for the manufacture of a specific protein molecule

Question 29

What are the important characteristics of ion channels?

Answer 29

- They are relatively specific for a particular ion - Most channels are not normally open to allow free passage of the ions -

Question 30

What are the two types of ion channels?

Answer 30

- Ligand-gated channels | - Voltage-gated channels

Question 31

What are the four types of glial cells?

Answer 31

- Schwann cells - Oligodendroglia - Astrocytes - Microglia

Question 32

Astrocytes

Answer 32

Large, star-shaped cells that have numerous extensions

Question 33

Astrocytes

Answer 33

Large, star-shaped cells that have numerous extensions

Question 34

Resting membrane potential

Answer 34

A difference in electrical charge inside the cell compared with outside of the cell

Question 35

Explain the ions inside and outside the cell when the cell is at rest

Answer 35

More negative inside and more positive outside

Question 36

Are all cells polarized at rest?

Answer 36

Yes

Question 37

What is the resting membrane potential due to?

Answer 37

The uneven distribution of ions across the membrane, which occurs because ions move through relatively specific channels that normally are not open (the balance between two competing forces on K+ ions)

Question 38

Action potential

Answer 38

The rapid change in membrane potential that is propagated down the length of the axon

Question 39

Local potentials

Answer 39

Small, transient changes in membrane potential

Question 40

At rest, neurons have an electrical charge across the membrane of what?

Answer 40

-70 mV

Question 41

What are the two forces at play to maintain the membrane potential?

Answer 41

- Concentration gradient | - Na+ K+ pump

Question 42

What does the Na+ K+ pump do?

Answer 42

Moves three Na+ ions out and moves two K+ ions in

Question 43

When do EPSPs occur?

Answer 43

When ligand-gated Na+ channels open and allow Na+ to enter the cell on its concentration gradient, making it slightly more positive and bringing the membrane potential closer to the threshold for firing

Question 44

When do IPSPs occur?

Answer 44

When Cl- channels open and allow Cl- to enter on it concentration gradient, making the cell more negative and farther from the threshold for firing

Question 45

Central nervous system

Answer 45

The brain and spinal cord

Question 46

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 46

All nerves outside the CNS

Question 47

What are the two divisions of the PNS?

Answer 47

- Somatic nervous system | - Autonomic nervous system

Question 48

How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?

Answer 48

12

Question 49

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 49

- Sympathetic | - Parasympathetic

Question 50

Dorsal refers to what (head)?

Answer 50

The top

Question 51

Rostral refers to what (head)?

Answer 51

The front

Question 52

Caudal refers to what (head)?

Answer 52

The back

Question 53

Ventral refers to what (head)?

Answer 53

The bottom

Question 54

Superior refers to what?

Answer 54

Above

Question 55

Anterior refers to what?

Answer 55

In front of

Question 56

Posterior refers to what?

Answer 56

Behind

Question 57

Inferior refers to what?

Answer 57

Beneath

Question 58

Dorsal refers to what (body)?

Answer 58

Back

Question 59

Caudal refers to what (body)?

Answer 59

Bottom

Question 60

Ventral refers to what (body)?

Answer 60

Front

Question 61

Rostral refers to what (body)?

Answer 61

Top

Question 62

What is the plane through the middle, horizontal, side-to-side of the brain?

Answer 62

Horizontal

Question 63

What is the plane through the middle, vertical, front-to-back of the brain?

Answer 63

Sagittal

Question 64

What is the plane through the middle, vertical, side-to-side of the brain?

Answer 64

Coronal

Question 65

What is the plane through the middle, vertical, side-to-side of the brain?

Answer 65

Coronal

Question 66

What is the first major structure of the brainstem?

Answer 66

Myelencephalon, or medulla

Question 67

What does the medulla do?

Answer 67

Regulate vital functions

Question 68

What are the -cephalons?

Answer 68

- Myelencephalon - Metencephalon - Mesencephalon - Diencephalon - Telencephalon

Question 69

What are the two large structures in the mesencephalon?

Answer 69

- Pons | - Cerebellum

Question 70

Damage to the cerebellum can cause what?

Answer 70

Poor coordination and jerky movements

Question 71

What are the two divisions of the midbrain?

Answer 71

- Tectum | - Tegmentum

Question 72

What does the tectum consist of?

Answer 72

- The superior colliculi | - The inferior colliculi

Question 73

What are the superior colliculi part of?

Answer 73

The visual system

Question 74

What are the inferior colliculi part of?

Answer 74

The auditory system

Question 75

What structures are within the tegmentum?

Answer 75

- Periaqueductal grey (PAG) | - Substantia nigra

Question 76

What is the periaqueductal grey responsible for?

Answer 76

Modulation of pain

Question 77

What are the two major structures in the diencephalon?

Answer 77

- Thalamus | - Hypothalamus

Question 78

Thalamus

Answer 78

A cluster of nuclei that first process and then distribute sensory and motor info to the appropriate portion of the cerebral cortex

Question 79

Thalamus

Answer 79

A cluster of nuclei that first process and then distribute sensory and motor info to the appropriate portion of the cerebral cortex

Question 80

What does the telencephalon include?

Answer 80

- Basal ganglia | - Limbic system

Question 81

What does the basal ganglia include?

Answer 81

- Caudate nucleus - Putamen - Globus pallidus

Question 82

Identify a structure of the myelencephalon

Answer 82

Medulla

Question 83

Identify a substructure of the medulla

Answer 83

Area postrema

Question 84

Identify a general function of the area postrema

Answer 84

Initiates vomiting in response to toxins in the blood

Question 85

Identify a structure of the metencephalon

Answer 85

Pons

Question 86

Identify a substructure of the pons

Answer 86

Reticular formation

Question 87

Identify a general function of the reticular formation

Answer 87

Arousal, attention, sleep, and muscle tone

Question 88

Identify a structure of the mesencephalon

Answer 88

Tegmentum

Question 89

Identify a substructure of the tegmentum

Answer 89

Periaqueductal gray

Question 90

Identify a general function of the periaqueductal gray

Answer 90

Pain modulation

Question 91

Identify a structure of the diencephalon

Answer 91

Thalamus

Question 92

Identify a substructure of the thalamus

Answer 92

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 93

Identify a general function of the lateral geniculate nucleus

Answer 93

Receiving visual info from the eyes and projecting it to the primary visual cortex

Question 94

Identify a structure of the telencephalon

Answer 94

Limbic system

Question 95

Identify a substructure of the limbic system

Answer 95

Amygdala

Question 96

Identify a general function of the amygdala

Answer 96

Emotional responses