23 Questions
What is the primary role of the sensory nerve ending in the index finger in the example described?
Sending a nerve impulse to the spinal cord
Where does the second interneuron synapse in the example?
With brain tissue in the cerebral cortex
What is the specific role of the upper motor neuron in the example?
Initiating a motor command in the brain
What is the function of the axon of the upper motor neuron in the example?
Extending all the way to the spinal cord
Where is the dendrite of the sensory neuron located in the example?
In the dorsal root ganglion
What is responsible for allowing conscious perception of the water temperature in the example?
Brain tissue in the cerebral cortex
What is responsible for causing muscle fibers to contract?
Lower motor neuron
At what specialized synapse does acetylcholine cause the muscle action potential to begin?
Neuromuscular junction
What causes the large potential known as an end plate potential?
Acetylcholine release
What initiates an action potential to travel along the motor neuron axon into the periphery?
Lower motor neuron
What is responsible for exciting the muscle fiber, leading to its contraction?
Lower motor neuron
Where does a graded potential occur in the nervous system?
Spinal cord
What type of neurons detect water temperature in the skin?
Sensory neurons
Where does the action potential travel after being generated in response to water temperature?
Spinal cord
What region of the brain acts as a relay for sensory information?
Thalamus
Which region of the brain is responsible for conscious perception of water temperature?
Cerebral cortex
What part of the frontal cortex sends motor commands to adjust shower water temperature?
Precentral gyrus
Where does the upper motor neuron synapse with the dendrites of the lower motor neuron?
Spinal cord
What type of neuron triggers muscle contractions and movement in response to water temperature detection?
Motor neuron
What is the specialized region of the cortex that sends motor commands called?
Precentral gyrus of the frontal cortex
Where is the region of the cortex specialized for sending motor commands located?
Frontal cortex
Where does the neuron in the spinal cord send an action potential after receiving sensory information?
Thalamus
What happens if the stimulus detected by thermoreceptors is strong enough?
It can trigger an action potential
Study Notes
- The nervous system processes the stimulus of water temperature using sensory neurons and motor neurons.
- Sensory neurons in the skin (theroreceptors) detect water temperature and generate a graded potential in response, which can trigger an action potential if the stimulus is strong enough.
- The action potential travels down the axon to the spinal cord, where it synapses with a neuron in the gray matter.
- The neuron in the spinal cord sends an action potential to the thalamus, a region of the brain that acts as a relay for sensory information.
- The thalamus sends the sensory information to the cerebral cortex, where conscious perception of the temperature occurs.
- The cerebral cortex processes the sensory information and sends a motor command to the precentral gyrus of the frontal cortex.
- The upper motor neuron sends an action potential down to the spinal cord and synapses with the dendrites of the lower motor neuron, which triggers muscle contractions and adjustment of the shower water temperature.
- The motor neuron branches and each branch synapses with a different muscle in the hand, forming a neuromuscular junction that causes muscle contraction and movement.
- The region of the cortex specialized for sending motor commands is called the precentral gyrus of the frontal cortex, and it has an axon that extends all the way down the spinal cord.
Test your knowledge of nervous tissue communication pathways and the complete pathway a nerve impulse takes, illustrated with an example of testing the temperature of shower water. Explore how the components of nervous tissue come together to facilitate communication within the nervous system.
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