The nervous system

Question 1

central nervous system

Answer 1

consists of the brain and the spinal cord

Question 2

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 2

Includes the cranial and spinal nerves that connect the CNS to other body parts

Question 3

Effectors

Answer 3

A muscle or gland that can effect change in the body

Question 4

Somatic nervous system

Answer 4

Motor pathways of the PNS which lead to skeletal muscles

Question 5

autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

Motor portion of the PNS which operates without conscious effort and involves smooth muscle or cardiac muscle.

Question 6

Neuron

Answer 6

Nerve cell which is the functional unit within the nervous system.

Question 7

Soma (cell body)

Answer 7

The part of the nerve cell that contains the cytoplasm and nucleus and from which nerve processes extend.

Question 8

Dendrite

Answer 8

part of the neuron that receives input from other neurons

Question 9

Axon (Nerve fibre)

Answer 9

The part of the neuron that conducts an impulse away from the cell body

Question 10

Neurofilaments

Answer 10

maintain cell shape and ensure proper diameter of the axon

Question 11

Axon hillock

Answer 11

A cone-shaped thickening that arises from the cell body that acts as the axon.

Question 12

Multipolar neurons

Answer 12

Have many processes arising from their cell bodies. Only one of each neuron is an exon, the rest are dendrites.

Question 13

Bipolar neurons

Answer 13

Have only two processes arising from each end of their cell body. One is an axon, and one is a dendrite.

Question 14

unipolar neurons

Answer 14

Have a single process extending from the cell body. Usually an axon.

Question 15

sensory neurons

Answer 15

conduct impulses from peripheral body parts into the brain or the spinal cord

Question 16

interneurones

Answer 16

lie entirely within the brain or spinal cord. They are multipolar and link other neurons. Interneurons conduct impulses from one part of the brain or spinal cord to another.

Question 17

motor neurons

Answer 17

Multipolar and conduct impulses out of the brain or spinal cord to effectors.

Question 18

extracellular space

Answer 18

the outside of the cell

Question 19

Polarity

Answer 19

exhibiting a difference of charges in a given area.

Question 20

membrane potential

Answer 20

A charge inside of a cell

Question 21

excitatory stimulus

Answer 21

Opens “chemically gated” Na+ channels. This makes the neuron less negative.

Question 22

threshold potential

Answer 22

stimulation level that must be achieved to elicit an action potential.

Question 23

resting membrane potential

Answer 23

the difference of charges that exist between the inside and the outside of the cell at rest.

Question 24

Synapse

Answer 24

The functional connection between two neurons

Question 25

Synaptic celft

Answer 25

A narrow extracellular space between two cells at the synapse

Question 26

neurotransmitters

Answer 26

chemicals that carry out synaptic transmission

Question 27

neural pathways

Answer 27

the routes impulses follow as they travel through the nervous system

Question 28

reflex

Answer 28

automatic response to stimuli within or outwith the body

Question 29

meninges

Answer 29

Layered membranes that lie between the bony coverings and the soft tissues of the CNS and protect the brain and the spinal cord.

Question 30

Dura matter

Answer 30

the tough outer layer of the meninges

Question 31

arachnoid matter

Answer 31

delicate, web-like middle layer of the meninges.

Question 32

Pia matter

Answer 32

inner layer of the meninges that is in direct contact with the brain and spinal cord

Question 33

spinal cord

Answer 33

Part of the central nervous system extending from the brainstem below the foramen magnum through the vertebral canal.

Question 34

cervical enlargement

Answer 34

The thickening of the spinal cord in the cervical region of the spinal cord that gives rise to the nerves serving the upper limbs.

Question 35

Lumbar enlargement

Answer 35

The thickening of the spinal cord in the lumbar region of the spinal cord that gives rise to the nerves serving the lower limbs

Question 36

Cauda equina

Answer 36

Nervous tissue extends downwards from the intervertebral disc that separates L1 and L2 to become spinal nerves. This is called cauda equina (Horses tail)

Question 37

Spinal nerve

Answer 37

nerve that arises from the spinal cord and gives rise to peripheral nerves

Question 38

ascending tracts

Answer 38

any of a number of bundles of axons in the spinal cord that conduct sensory impulses up to the brain.

Question 39

Descending tracts

Answer 39

Any of a number of bundles of axons that conduct motor impulses from the brain down through the spinal cord.

Question 40

Longitudinal fissure

Answer 40

A deep groove that separates the brain into two hemispheres.

Question 41

Gyri

Answer 41

Folds on the brains surface

Question 42

Sulci

Answer 42

The space between the gyri

Question 43

Thalamus

Answer 43

Major processing and relay centre for information entering the cerebral hemispheres

Question 44

hypothalamus

Answer 44

Primary role in homeostasis, body temperature, food and water intake, sleep, memory, and emotional responses

Question 45

Epithalamus

Answer 45

The epithalamus has two parts the pineal gland (endocrine organ) and a relay centre between the mid brain and limbic system.

Question 46

Midbrain

Answer 46

The midbrain has an important role in visual and auditory reflexes.

Question 47

The pons

Answer 47

The pons conducts impulses from the cerebrum to centres in the cerebellum

Question 48

medulla oblongata

Answer 48

The medulla oblongata is responsible for automatic functions such as respiration, blood pressure, heart rate et cetera. All nerve fibres pass through the medulla oblongata.

Question 49

cerebellum

Answer 49

responsible for the co-ordination of motor function

Question 50

autonomic nervous system

Answer 50

The autonomic nervous system functions without conscious effort add regulates the visceral activities that maintain homeostasis