WEEK 5

Question 1

Describe the organization of the nervous system and explain the functions of its principal components.

Question 2

Draw a flow chart demonstrating the relationships between, and stating the main function of each of the following components of the nervous system:
◦ Central nervous system
◦ Peripheral nervous system
◦ Sensory neurons
◦ Motor neurons
◦ Somatic nervous system
◦ Autonomic nervous system
◦ Sympathetic nervous system
◦ Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 3

Are the twelve cranial nerves considered part of the central nervous system, or the peripheral nervous system? Explain how you know.

Question 4

Are the dorsal root ganglia considered part of the central or peripheral nervous system? Explain how you know.

Question 5

Describe the structure of the following: neuron, glia, ganglion, nerve, gray matter, tract, white matter, sensory neuron, motor neuron.

Question 6

Name the parts of a typical neuron and describe their functions.

Question 7

Compare and contrast the location, structure, and function of:
◦ Neurons and glia
◦ Nerves and tracts
◦ White matter and nerves
◦ White matter and gray matter
◦ Nerves and ganglia
◦ Ganglia and gray matter
◦ Sensory and motor neurons

Question 8

Name, locate and describe the functions of the main areas of the human brain.

Question 9

Describe the general anatomy of the brain, including the location of the lobes.

Question 10

Where in the brain would you find the cell bodies of neurons? Where would you find their axons? Describe how you can tell just by looking at a (cut) brain with the naked eye.

Question 11

Describe the location and function of each of the following areas of the human brain:
◦ Cerebrum
◦ Diencephalon
◦ Thalamus
◦ Hypothalamus
◦ Brain stem
◦ Midbrain
◦ Pons
◦ Medulla oblongata
◦ Cerebellum

Question 12

What are the names of the three meninges, and where are they located?

Question 13

What are the names of the four ventricles, and where are they located?

Question 14

Describe the path taken by cerebrospinal fluid through the brain.

Question 15

Describe the structure and explain the functions of the spinal cord.

Question 16

Where in the spinal cord would you find the cell bodies of neurons? Where would you find their axons? Describe how you can tell just by looking at a (cut) spinal cord with the naked eye.

Question 17

What are some of the functions of the spinal cord?

Question 18

Describe the components of a reflex arc and explain how a reflex arc works.

Question 19

Describe the events that take place from the moment the knee is tapped to the moment when the leg extends during the patellar reflex, including the role of each of the structures involved.

Question 20

Describe the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and compare the specific functions of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the ANS.

Question 21

Compare the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system based on the:
◦ Physiological situation to which they respond
◦ Location and neurotransmitter of the central (preganglionic) neuron
◦ Location and neurotransmitter of the ganglionic neuron

Question 22

Describe the resting membrane potential of a neuron and explain how it is maintained.

Question 23

Describe the gating mechanism of ligand-gated, voltage-gated, mechanically-gated and leakage ion channels.

Question 24

What is the typical resting membrane potential of an animal cell, and what factors contribute to it?

Question 25

Explain how a neuronal action potential is generated.

Question 26

Draw a fully annotated figure plotting membrane potential vs. time as an action potential passes a specific location in an axon’s membrane. Include in your annotations labels explaining the main mechanisms that underlie each shift in membrane potential.

Question 27

Explain how neuronal action potentials travel down the axon.

Question 28

Compare the mechanism by which nerve impulses are conducted in unmyelinated and
myelinated axons.

Question 29

Explain the process of neurotransmission, and name three different neurotransmitters.

Question 30

Create an annotated diagram (or series of diagrams) showing how neurons communicate with each other:

Question 31

Describe the mechanism by which an action potential travels from the cell body to the axon terminals of a neuron.

Question 32

Describe the mechanisms that return a neuron to its resting state (resting membrane potential) once an action potential has passed.

Question 33

Describe the intracellular events that occur in a neuron once an action potential reaches a synaptic end bulb.

Question 34

Describe how an excitatory neurotransmitter causes an action potential to be produced in a postsynaptic cell.

Question 35

Name at least three specific neurotransmitters: one from the cholinergic system, one amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter, and one neuropeptide.

Question 36

What factor(s) determines whether a neurotransmitter has an excitatory or inhibitory effect on a cell exposed to that neurotransmitter?