Week 1: Introduction to the Nervous System

Question 1

What is the nervous system?

Answer 1

The command centre of your body

Question 2

What is included in the Nervous System?

Answer 2

Brain
Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nerves

Question 3

What does the Nervous System do?

Answer 3

• Controls movement
• Generates thought
• Responds to stimuli
• Automatic responses
• Glands & hormone secretion
• Heart, digestion & breathing

Question 4

How are stimulus used in the nervous system?

Answer 4

1. Stimuli is transmitted through to the nervous system via a receptor
2. The receptor converts the stimuli to a signal that the nervous system can understand

Question 5

What are the main integration areas?

Answer 5

The brain and spinal cord

Question 6

What is the role of chemoreceptors

Answer 6

Chemoreceptors sense the various concentrations of chemicals in the blood and sends this to the integration system which processes the information and then sends a signal for the glands to secrete or not secrete various hormones

Question 7

Glands that can secrete hormones….

Answer 7

Pancreas: secretes hormones in response to blood sugar level changes

Adrenal glands: regulars salt and water balance. Also helps trigger the flight or fight response.

Pineal glands: regulates the sleep/wake cycle

Parathyroids: regulars level of calcium in the blood

Question 8

What controls the pituitary gland?

Answer 8

The hypothalamus (located in the brain)

Question 9

What is homeostasis?

Answer 9

A self-regulating process by which biological systems maintain stability while adjusting to external conditions

Question 10

What is thermoregulatory control?

Answer 10

The control of temperature in the body

Question 11

How does temperature control work with regards to homeostasis?

Answer 11

1. Thermal input is provided from structures eg skin, deep tissue & spinal cord
2. Signals are sent to and integrated by areas in the spinal cord and brain (hypothalamus)
3. If temp increases above 37 degrees: sweating & vasodilation will occur. If temp decreases below 37 degrees: vasoconstriction and shivering will occur

Question 12

Types of receptors…. (5)

Answer 12

Mechanoreceptors respond to physical force such as pressure, touch or muscle stretch/loading

Photoreceptors respond to light

Thermoreceptors respond to internal an external temperature changes

Nociceptors respond to a variety of stimuli associated with tissue damage

Chemoreceptors respond to dissolved chemicals during the sensation of taste and smell.

Question 13

What are the two parts of the nervous system?

Answer 13

Central nervous system & Peripheral nervous system

Question 14

What is included in the CNS

Answer 14

Brain & Spinal cord

Question 15

The brain and spinal cord aren’t directly in contact with the bones that encase them…. T or F?

Answer 15

True

Question 16

What protects the brain and spinal cord?

Answer 16

Meninges

Question 17

What are the three layers of the meninges known as?

Answer 17

Pia matter (inner)
Arachnoid (middle)
Dura matter (outer)

Question 18

Where is the brain located?

Answer 18

Encased in the skull within the cranial cavity

Question 19

Role of the brain?

Answer 19

• Receives sensory information
• Integrates information from the PNS & spinal cord
• Contains control centres that assist with all body functions eg breathing, hormone release, etc
• Stores information
• Initiates responses
• Generates thoughts and emotions

Question 20

What is the role of the spinal cord?

Answer 20

Relays signals from periphery to brain and from the brain to the periphery.

Also relays/integrates reflexes

Question 21

Where is the spine located?

Answer 21

Travels from the back of the brain down the centre of the spine to the lumbar region

*Spinal cord = encased in the vertebrae.

Question 22

How are motor and sensory nerves connected to the central nervous system?

Answer 22

Synapses

Allow for communication of information from the peripheral nerve endings to the CNS and the CNS to the peripheral nerves.

Question 23

What two types of nerves exist within the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 23

Motor & sensory division

Question 24

What is the motor division?

Answer 24

Transits signals (action potentials) from the CNS to organs, muscles, limbs and skin

Question 25

What is the sensory division?

Answer 25

Transmits action potentials from sensory receptors to the CNS

Question 26

What are the two elements of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 26

Somatic nervous system & Autonomic nervous system

Question 27

What two components make up the somatic nervous system?

Answer 27

Cranial nerves & Spinal nerves

Question 28

What two components make up the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 28

Parasympathetic nervous system & sympathetic nervous system

Question 29

Role of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 29

Produces voluntary movements (voluntary nervous system) and processes sensory information. It connects the CNS to skeletal muscles.

Question 30

How many pairs of cranial nerves and spinal nerves are there?

Answer 30

12 cranial nerves & 31 spinal nerves

Question 31

Do cranial nerves synapse directly with the brain?

Answer 31

Yes *Spinal cords synapse directly with the spinal cord as well.

Question 32

What are the types of nerves that makeup the somatic system?

Answer 32

Afferent & efferent nerves

Question 33

Afferent vs efferent nerves?

Answer 33

Afferent nerves send information to the brain and spinal cord. These contain sensory neurons that inform the CNS about the things we sense eg touch, see, etc. Efferent nerves send information from the brain and spinal cord to the periphery. These contain motor neurons responsible for voluntary movement.

Question 34

What do cranial nerves do?

Answer 34

Relay information to and from regions of the head & neck including the special senses of vision, taste, smell & hearing

Question 35

What is the breakdown of the 31 spinal nerves?

Answer 35

8 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 1 coccygeal

Question 35

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 35

Involuntary nervous system. Controls automatic processes. Largely related to the function of internal organs eg blood vessels, stomach, heart, etc. Regulates digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, balance of water and electrolytes etc (not controlled consciously)

Question 35

Sympathetic vs parasympathetic systems

Answer 35

After the autonomic nervous system receives information about the body and its internal and external environment, the stimulation of the processes usually occurs through the sympathetic division and the inhibition of these processes usually occurs through the parasympathetic

Question 35

How many nerve cells are involved in the autonomic pathway and where are these located?

Answer 35

Two nerve cells. One located in the brain stem or the spinal cord which is connected to fibres of another nerve cell. This is located in a cluster of nerve cells known as an autonomic ganglion.

Question 36

What do the nerve fibres from the ganglia connect with?

Answer 36

Internal organs

Question 36

4 key features of sympathetic nervous system

Answer 36

- Active during physical activity - Increases energy usage - Increases arousal - FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSES *IE it is engaged when you are stressed - accelerates HR, widens the bronchiole passages, decreases mobility in the large intestine, constricts blood vessels to the periphery and dilates blood vessels, causes pupil dilation and causes you to start sweating as well as raising your blood pressure.

Question 37

4 key features of parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 37

- Conserves energy - Regulates resting functions - Reduces arousal - REST AND DIGEST RESPONSES In order to conserve energy it slows the HR, relaxes the muscles of the gastrointestinal and urinary tract and increase intestinal and gland activity.