Week 3 - Nervous System 1

Question 1

What are some relevant nursing actions?

Answer 1

• Assessment and recording of neurological observations
• Care of the unconscious patient
• Eye and ear medications, theatre nursing (anaesthetics)
• Peri-operative nursing, management of sleep and pain
• Assistance with lumbar puncture (spinal tap), tympanic temperature, spinal reflex testing, personal protective equipment (PPE).

Question 2

Draw the organisation of the organisation of the nervous system

Answer 2

.

Question 3

The structural cell units of the nervous system that transmit electrical signals are the _____________

Answer 3

Neurons

Question 4

The nervous system of the body is made up of two sections. These are the ___________ and the _______________

Answer 4

• CNS
• PNS

Question 5

The central nervous system is composed of the ___________ and the ____________

Answer 5

• Brain
• Spinal cord

Question 6

The peripheral nervous system is composed of the __________ and the ____________

Answer 6

• Cranial
• Spinal nerves

Question 7

The peripheral nervous system is also divided into two divisions. These are the ______________ and the ______________

Answer 7

• Sensory
• Motor

Question 8

The motor division of the peripheral nervous system is divided into the __________ and the ______________

Answer 8

• Somatic
• Autonomic

Question 9

The protective and supporting cells of the nervous system are called _____________

Answer 9

Neuroglia

Question 10

State why brain cancers originate from the neuroglia and meninges, not the neurons.

Answer 10

• Neuroglia undrgo mitosis
• Neurons amitotic (no centrioles)

Question 11

Identify the structural feature of the neuron on the previous page that indicates that this neuron belongs to the peripheral nervous system.

Answer 11

Shwann Cells

Question 12

Describe the role(s) of the myelin sheath

Answer 12

• White fatty material around axon of some neurons
• Insulates axon to speed up nerve impulse (signal) transmission

Question 13

Describe the events associated with an action potential (or nerve signal).

Answer 13

Electrical event, once initiated spreads along neuron toward axon terminal, due to the influx of Na+

Question 14

Name the chemical substance that is in the synaptic vesicles of the axon terminal.

Answer 14

Neurotransmitter

Question 15

Name three neurotransmitters.

Answer 15

• Acetylcholine
• Adrenalin (epinephrine), nor adrenalin (nor epinephrine)
• Serotonin, dopamine

Question 16

Name the five essential components of a somatic reflex arc

Answer 16

• Receptor
• Sensory organs
• Integration centre (neurosoma of motor or interneuron)
• Motor neuron
• Effector

Question 17

Name the muscle that contracts in the knees

Answer 17

Quadriceps

Question 18

Name the mixed nerve that carries this sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) information toward and away from the spinal cord.

Answer 18

Femoral

Question 19

Name the three areas of the brain stem

Answer 19

• Midbrain
• Pons
• Medulla oblongta

Question 20

Explain why trauma to the base of the brain is often more dangerous than to the front.

Answer 20

• Medulla oblongata = respiratory, cardiac, vasomotor etc centres (nuclei)
• Reticular activating system (RAS) extends length of brain stem (consciousness)

Question 21

List the structures through which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates

Answer 21

• Ventricles of brain, subarachnoid space, central canal of spinal cord
• Reabsorbed into veins via arachnoid granulations

Question 22

List the function(s) of CSF.

Answer 22

• Buoyancy for brain (decrease brain weight)
• Protects
• Oxygen, glucose, proteins, electrolytes, waste etc

Question 23

Protective and supportive cells of the nervous system

Answer 23

Neuroglia

Question 24

Nerve cells that transmit information as electrical signals

Answer 24

Neurons

Question 25

Most abundant support cell: Covers brain surface, helps form blood brain barrier

Answer 25

Astrocyte

Question 26

Ciliated support cell that lines the inside of cavities of brain and spinal cord; helps produce CSF

Answer 26

Ependymal cell

Question 27

Support cell that engages in phagocytosis of pathogens and cell debris

Answer 27

Microglia

Question 28

Support cell that forms the myelin sheath around neurons in the PNS

Answer 28

Shwann

Question 29

Octopus-shaped support cell that forms the myelin sheath around neurons in the CNS

Answer 29

Oligodendrocyte

Question 30

Clusters of neurosoma (grey matter) within the CNS

Answer 30

Nuclei

Question 31

Clusters of neurosoma within the PNS

Answer 31

Ganglai

Question 32

State the most obvious effect(s) from damage to the occipital area.

Answer 32

Visual disturbances

Question 33

State the most obvious effect(s) from damage to the temporal lobe.

Answer 33

- Hearing - Speech - Language - Memory disturbances

Question 34

Name the two pairs of arteries that supply blood to the brain

Answer 34

- Internal carotid - Vertebral

Question 35

The above anterior and posterior blood vessels are connected by small communicating arterial branches (anastomosis). Name this circle of blood vessels in the brain.

Answer 35

Cerebral arterial circle (circle of willis)

Question 36

Sleep is a temporary state of unconsciousness (in contrast to coma) from which one can be awakened. Across one night, humans progress through five cycles of sleep, each cycle being composed of lightest (stage 1) to deepest (stage 4) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, stage four is only attained in the first ______ cycles of the first ______ hours.

Answer 36

Two; three

Question 37

Excess consumption of ______ is(are) associated with a lower quality of sleep e.g., fragmented sleep, less deep sleep and less REM sleep. Also, beyond 30 years of age the amount of deep sleep reduces.

Answer 37

- Ultra processed foods - Alcohol, some medication - Caffeine

Question 38

Boredom is a cue to the body that it needs to move. Regular exercise is associated with deeper sleep, better cognition and off setting of dementia. Interestingly, exercise results in the enlargement of the ______ (sea horse-shaped), one of only two places in the nervous system that can perform mitosis. This structure is associated with memory as part of the limbic system of the ______.

Answer 38

Hippocampus; brain