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Questions and Answers
What type of reflex is primarily responsible for controlling skeletal muscles?
Which of the following hormones is secreted by the posterior pituitary gland?
How are releasing and inhibiting factors transported to the anterior pituitary gland?
What characterizes autonomic reflexes?
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What is the primary function of parafollicular cells in the thyroid gland?
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What distinguishes steroid hormones from amino acid-based hormones?
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What is the main role of the hypothalamus in relation to the pituitary gland?
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What is the primary function of somatic reflexes?
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What is an example of an autonomic reflex?
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Which gland is primarily responsible for regulating calcium levels in the blood?
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What is the primary function of the medulla oblongata in the brainstem?
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Which part of the brainstem is primarily involved in the control of REM sleep?
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How does conscious control typically differ from subconscious control?
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What type of neuron carries sensory information from receptors to the central nervous system?
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Which structure is primarily responsible for the conscious decision to move?
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What is the role of the brainstem in relation to the spinal cord?
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What type of response does the endocrine system provide compared to the nervous system?
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Which function is NOT associated with the midbrain?
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Which structure is involved in switching between inspiration and expiration during breathing?
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What is the effect of increased synapses in the context of conscious control?
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Study Notes
Nervous System
- Functions with rapid response through action potentials and neurotransmitters.
- Controlled consciously (cerebrum) or subconsciously (somatic/autonomic reflexes).
Endocrine System
- Functions with slower, prolonged responses using hormones transported via blood.
- Operates through feedback loops to maintain homeostasis.
Conscious Control
- Initiated in the cerebral cortex, characterized by 2-4mm of grey matter.
- Involves conscious thought and the recognition of stimuli.
Sensory Information Processing
- Involves receptors and sensory/afferent neurons transmitting to CNS.
- Integration occurs in spinal cord (ascending pathways) and brain (ascending to cerebral cortex).
Motor Information Processing
- Initiated by the cerebral cortex for conscious decision-making.
- Involves descending tracts through cerebrum, brainstem, and spinal cord to motor/efferent nerves.
Brainstem Composition
- Comprised of three parts: medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain.
- Functions as a primitive brain section with essential integration centers for vital functions and reflexes.
Medulla Oblongata
- Continuation of the spinal cord with considerable white matter and nuclei for autonomic reflexes.
- Regulates heart rate, blood vessel diameter, respiration, hiccupping, coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting.
Pons
- Acts as a bridge connecting the medulla, midbrain, and cerebellum.
- Contains nuclei controlling sleep (REM) and respiratory functions, working with the medullary rhythmicity center.
Midbrain
- Positioned between the pons and diencephalon with significant white matter.
- Important for stabilizing movement and includes reflex areas for visual and auditory responses.
Conscious vs. Subconscious Control
- Conscious control utilizes CNS for complex motor patterns like running or playing instruments; requires faster nerve impulses and many synapses.
- Subconscious control entails reflexes allowing quick, involuntary responses without higher brain involvement.
Reflexes
- Classified as somatic (control of skeletal muscles) and autonomic (control of smooth and cardiac muscles).
- Reflexes are rapid, predictable, and unlearnt, following specific neural pathways.
Hypothalamus
- Located in the diencephalon, it has an inverted triangle shape.
- Secretes factors controlling the anterior pituitary and produces ADH and oxytocin.
Pituitary Gland
- A small gland in the sella turcica, divided into anterior (glandular tissue) and posterior (neural tissue) parts.
- Anterior pituitary secretes seven hormones in response to releasing/inhibiting factors.
- Posterior pituitary secretes ADH and oxytocin via neural connections.
Endocrine System Structure
- Composed of cells that secrete hormones, either isolated or within glands.
- Differentiates between communication types: autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine.
Types of Glands
- Endocrine glands are ductless, releasing chemicals into the bloodstream.
- Exocrine glands possess ducts, secreting products like sweat and mucus.
Thyroid Gland
- Located anterior to the trachea/larynx with right/left lobes and isthmus.
- Follicular cells synthesize T3 and T4; a lack causes hypothyroidism.
- Parafollicular cells produce calcitonin, lowering blood calcium levels.
Hormone Classes
- Amino acid-based hormones: Water-soluble, include peptides and proteins, all pituitary hormones.
- Steroid-based hormones: Lipid-soluble, derived from cholesterol; characterized by names ending in –one or -ol (e.g., testosterone, estrogen).
Hormonal Transport and Function
- A hormone's chemical composition determines its transport in blood and mechanisms of action on target tissues.
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Description
Explore the intricacies of the nervous and endocrine systems in this quiz. Understand how the body responds to stimuli through action potentials, neurotransmitters, and hormones. Test your knowledge on conscious and subconscious control mechanisms and feedback loops.
