NERVOUS SYSTEM

Anatomy and Physiology

1. Name the structures that make up the CNS and cross to transmit the signal.
those that make up the PNS. Chemically via the release of a
▪ CNS = brain and spinal cord. PNS = neurotransmitter and binding of the
nerves that extend to and from the neurotransmitter to the postsynaptic
CNS. membrane.
2. Which neuroglia are most abundant in the 10. Which portion(s) of a neuron is (are) likely to be
body? Which produce the insulating material associated with a sensory receptor or a
called myelin? sensory organ?
▪ Astrocytes are the most numerous ▪ Dendrites
neuroglia. Oligodendrocytes produce 11. What is a reflex?
myelin. ▪ A reflex is a rapid, predictable, and
3. Why is a brain tumor more likely to be formed involuntary response to a stimulus.
from neuroglia than from neurons? 12. What are the three major regions of the
▪ Neuroglia can divide. Most neurons cerebrum?
cannot. A criterion of cancer cells is ▪ Cerebral cortex, white matter, and
their uncontrolled division. basal nuclei.
4. How does a tract differ from a nerve? 13. What is the composition of white matter of the
▪ A tract is a bundle of nerve fibers in brain?
the CNS. A nerve is a bundle of nerve ▪ Mostly myelinated nerve fibers
fibers in the PNS. 14. Which brain region controls such vital activities
5. How does a ganglion differ from a nucleus? as breathing and blood pressure—cerebrum,
▪ A ganglion is a cluster of nerve cell brain stem, or cerebellum?
bodies in PNS; a nucleus is a cluster ▪ The brain stem controls vital
of nerve cell bodies in the CNS. activities.
6. Which part of a neuron conducts impulses 15. What is the function of the cerebellum?
toward the cell body in multipolar and bipolar ▪ The cerebellum provides precise
neurons? Which part releases timing for skeletal muscle activity and
neurotransmitters? helps control our balance and
▪ Dendrites conduct impulses toward equilibrium.
the nerve cell body; the axon terminal 16. In what major brain region are the thalamus,
releases neurotransmitters. hypothalamus, and pineal gland found?
7. Your professor tells you that one neuron ▪ Diencephalon
transmits a nerve impulse at the rate of 1 meter 17. What would be the consequence of blocked
per second and another neuron conducts at the arachnoid granulations?
rate of 40 meters per second. Which neuron ▪ Hydrocephalus
has the myelinated axon? 18. What name is given to the cerebrospinal fluid–
▪ The fiber that conducts at 40 m/sec. filled cavities within the brain?
8. What is the difference between a graded ▪ Ventricles
potential and an action potential? 19. What name is given to the barrier that protects
▪ A graded potential is a local current the brain from toxic chemicals?
that dies out with distance. An action ▪ Blood-brain barrier
potential is a current that is 20. Which meningeal layer provides the means for
continuously regenerated along the draining cerebrospinal fluid back into the
length of the axon and does not die blood—dura mater, arachnoid mater, or pia
out. mater?
9. Explain the difference between a synaptic cleft ▪ Arachnoid mater
and a synapse. How is a stimulus transmitted 21. A person has been hit on the head with a
across a synapse? baseball and soon becomes comatose. Has he
▪ The synapse is the location where an suffered a concussion or a contusion?
impulse passes from one neuron to ▪ Contusion
another or to a target cell. The
synaptic cleft is the gap at the
synapse that neurotransmitter must
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Anatomy and Physiology

22. What is found in the gray matter of the spinal quickly from a reclining position. The
cord? sympathetic nervous system, which
▪ Nerve cell bodies of interneurons and regulates blood pressure, is less
motor neurons. efficient in old age.
23. Which spinal cord pathways are sensory 34. Which of the following is an example of
pathways— ascending or descending? integration by the nervous system?
▪ Sensory pathways are ascending a. The feel of a cold breeze
pathways. b. Shivering and goose bumps in response
24. Why is the leash of nerve fibers at the end of to cold
the spinal cord called the cauda equina? c. Perceiving the sound of rain
▪ Because the leash of nerve fibers d. The decision to go back for an
there looks like a horse’s tail, the umbrella.
literal translation of cauda equina. 35. Where might a gray matter nucleus be located?
25. Where is the epineurium located? a. Alongside the vertebral column
▪ Around each nerve fiber. b. Within the brain
26. Which cranial nerve pair is the only one to c. Within the spinal cord
serve structures outside the head and neck? d. In the sensory receptors
▪ Vagus nerves 36. The innermost delicate meningeal layer is the
27. What is a nerve plexus? a. dura mater
▪ Nerve plexus = complex network of b. corpus callosum
nerves. c. arachnoid mater
28. Ron has a horrible pain in his right buttock, d. pia mater
thigh, and leg. He is told he has sciatica. Which 37. Histological examination of a slice of neural
spinal nerve is involved, and what plexus does tissue reveals a bundle of nerve fibers held
it belong to? together by cells whose multiple processes
▪ Sciatic nerve of the sacral plexus. wrap around several fibers and form a myelin
29. Which regions or organs of the body are served sheath. The specimen is likely to be a.
by the autonomic nervous system? Which are a. a nucleus
served by the somatic nervous system? b. a ganglion
▪ Visceral organs (smooth and cardiac c. a nerve
muscles and glands) are served by d. a tract
the ANS. Skeletal muscles are served 38. The pineal gland is located in the
by the somatic nervous system a. hypothalamus
30. How does the motor pathway of the autonomic b. mesencephalon
nervous system differ from that of the somatic c. epithalamus
nervous system? d. corpus callosum
▪ The ANS has a two-motor neuron 39. The spinal cord feature associated with the
pathway from the CNS to the organ to leash of nerves supplying the upper limbs is the
be served. The somatic nervous a. brachial plexus
system has just one motor neuron in b. brachial enlargement
the motor pathway c. cervical enlargement
31. Which division of the autonomic nervous d. lateral gray horns
system is the “fight-or-flight” system? 40. Which contains only motor fibers?
▪ Sympathetic division a. Dorsal root
32. Why must premature babies be placed in b. Dorsal ramus
incubators until their hypothalamus matures? c. Ventral root
▪ They are unable to regulate their body d. Ventral ramus
temperature until the hypothalamus 41. Cranial nerves that have some function in
matures. vision include the
33. What is orthostatic hypotension? Why do many a. trochlear
older people suffer from this condition? b. trigemina
▪ It is hypotension caused by a rapid c. abducens
change in position, such as getting up d. facial
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Anatomy and Physiology

42. Motor functions of the extensor muscles of the

arm, forearm, and fingers would be affected by
damage to which one of these nerves?
a. Radial
b. Axillary
c. Ulnar
d. Median
43. Neuroglia present in large numbers in areas of
bacterial infection in the brain are most likely a.
a. oligodendrocytes
b. astrocytes
c. ependymal cells
d. microglia
44. Which of the following is true of the autonomic,
but not the somatic, nervous system?
a. Neurotransmitter is acetylcholine
b. Axons are myelinated
c. Effectors are muscle cells
d. It has motor neurons located in
ganglia.