24 Questions
What is the main function of Ependyma cells in the nervous system?
Controlling the production and flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What is the primary function of Microglial Cells in the nervous system?
Acting like macrophages to clear cellular debris and dead neurons
Which of the following types of neurons has only one process that extends from the cell body?
Unipolar Neurone
What is the main component of the Myelin Sheath in the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
Schwann cells
Which of the following is NOT a function of Astrocytes?
Producing Myelin Sheath
How many pairs of cranial nerves are found in the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
12
What is the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) composed of?
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic neurons
Which type of neuron carries information away from the sensory receptor?
Afferent neuron
What is the primary function of oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system?
To myelinate axons
In the spinal reflex arc, which type of neuron connects sensory neurons to motor neurons?
Interneuron
What is the effect of the parasympathetic division on the digestive tract?
Increases peristalsis and motility
What is the origin of the sympathetic division in the spinal cord?
Thoracic and lumbar spinal cord
What is the main function of the neuro-endocrine system?
To produce hormones that regulate various bodily functions
What is the direction of the sensory neuron in the spinal cord?
Posterior root
What is the effect of the parasympathetic division on the heart rate?
Decreases heart rate
What is the main advantage of the spinal reflex arc?
It is faster than the autonomic nervous system
What is the primary germ layer that gives rise to most of the major components of the nervous system?
Ectoderm
What is the term for the serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull?
Anencephaly
What is the term for the gap in the spine that occurs when the neural tube does not develop properly?
Spina Bifida
Which of the following reflexes is involved in the tracking and searching of a source of stimulation?
Rooting
What is the term for the primitive and involuntary reflex found in infants where they grasp an object placed in their palm?
Palmar Grasp
Which of the following is an example of an avoidance reflex?
Sneezing
At what approximate day does the underlying mesoderm and notochord orchestrate the ectoderm to form the neural tube and somites?
19 days
What are the four main approach reflexes that infants are born with?
Breathing, Rooting, Sucking, Swallowing
Study Notes
Introduction to the Nervous System
- 12 pairs of cranial nerves in the CNS
- 2 components of the Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Neurone Structure
- Sensory neurones: afferent
- Relay neurones: interneuron
- Motor neurones: efferent
- Unipolar Neurone Structure: sensory (e.g. sensory receptors)
- Bipolar Neurone Structure
- Pseudo-unipolar Neurone Structure
- Multipolar Neurone Structure
Glial Cells
- Glial cells: neural supporting cells
- Types of glial cells: Schwann cells, Microglial cells, Ependyma, Astrocyte, Oligodendrocyte
- Astrocyte function: clearing excess neurotransmitters, regulating the blood-brain barrier, promoting synapse formation
- Microglial cells function: clearing cellular debris and dead neurons through phagocytosis
- Ependyma cells function: controlling the production and flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), brain metabolism, and waste clearance
- Oligodendrocyte cell function: supporting myelinating cells of the CNS
Somatic Motor System
- Sensory neurones enter the spinal cord through the posterior root
- Cell bodies live in ganglia
- Motor neurones exit the spinal cord through the anterior root
Spinal Reflex Arc
- Involuntary response
- Stimulus detected by free nerve endings
- Interneuron involved (connects sensory and motor neurones)
- Skips the brain, resulting in a faster response
Autonomic Nervous System
- Parasympathetic division: rest and digest
- Origin: sacral spinal cord
- Effects: constricts pupil, increases secretion of tears and saliva, decreases heart rate and force of contraction, bronchoconstriction, increased secretion of lungs and airway, digestive tract functions, bladder contraction for urination
- Sympathetic division: fight or flight
- Origin: thoracic and lumbar spinal cord
- Effects: dilates pupil, increases sweating, increases heart rate and force, bronchodilatation, decreases GI motility, glycogen breakdown, reduces urine production/micturition, releases adrenaline/noradrenaline
Neuro-Endocrine System
- Cell bodies in nucleus of hypothalamus release hormones into the blood by acting on glands
Neurulation and Developmental Disorders
- Neurulation: ectoderm germ layer gives rise to most of the major components of the nervous system
- Anencephaly: a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull
- Spinal Bifida: a neural tube defect where the baby's brain and spinal cord do not develop properly in the womb
Reflexes
- Approach reflexes: breathing, rooting, sucking, and swallowing
- Rooting reflex: tracking, searching, head redirection towards source of stimulation
- Sucking reflex: allows infants to locate and ingest food
- Avoidance reflexes: coughing, sneezing, blinking
- Palma grasp: a primitive and involuntary reflex found in infants where the fingers reflexively grasp an object placed in the palm
Test your knowledge of the basics of the nervous system, including cranial nerves, autonomic nervous system, and neuron structure and function.
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