McCance Huether Pathophysiology Test 1/(9th Edition) Exam
2026/2027
central nervous system (CNS) - ANSWER✔ � -consists of brain and spinal cord, enclosed within the
cranial vault and vertebrae
peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANSWER✔ � -composed of cranial nerves and spinal nerves
also can be divided into somatic and autonomic nervous systems
cranial nerves - ANSWER✔ � -project from the brain and pass through foramina in the skull
spinal nerves - ANSWER✔ � -project from the spinal cord and pass through intervertebral foramina of
the vertebrae
afferent - ANSWER✔ � -pathways that carry sensory impulses toward the CNS
efferent - ANSWER✔ � -descending pathways carrying sensory impulses from the CNS to effector
organs
somatic nervous system - ANSWER✔ � -consist of motor and sensory pathways regulating voluntary
motor control of skeletal muscle
autonomic nervous system - ANSWER✔ � -consists of motor and sensory components and is involved
with regulation of the body's internal environment through involuntary control of organ systems
-can be further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic
,microtubules - ANSWER✔ � -made of protein and believed to be involved in transport of cellular
products
neuroglial cells - ANSWER✔ � -found in the CNS and PNS and can provide structural support and
nutrition for neurons, remove debris, increase speed of nerve impulses, and play a role in memory
Nissl substances - ANSWER✔ � -consist of ER and ribosomes and are involved in protein synthesis
nuclei - ANSWER✔ � -dense, packed cell bodies in the CNS
ganglia - ANSWER✔ � -groups of cells bodies in the PNS
dendrites - ANSWER✔ � -extensions that carry nerve impulses toward the cell body
dendritic zone - ANSWER✔ � -the receptive portion of a neuron that receives a stimulus and continues
further conduction
axons - ANSWER✔ � -long, conductive projections from the cell body that carry nerve impulses away
from the cell body
axon hillock - ANSWER✔ � -the cone-shaped, organelle-free area where the axon leaves the cell body
fascicles - ANSWER✔ � -bundles of axons in large nerves
myelin - ANSWER✔ � -an insulating substance made of a segmented layer of lipid material
endoneurium - ANSWER✔ � -a delicate connective tissue around each axon in the PNS
,nodes of Ranvier - ANSWER✔ � -interruptions in the neurilemma and myelin sheath
saltatory conduction - ANSWER✔ � -process by which ions can flow between segments rather than
along the entire length of the membrane, resulting in increased velocity of neuronal conduction
divergence - ANSWER✔ � -ability of branching axons to influence many different neurons
convergence - ANSWER✔ � -branches of numerous neurons converging on and influencing one or a
few nuerons
larger - ANSWER✔ � -_________axons transmit impulses at a faster rate
unipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons have one process that branches shortly after leaving the cell body.
pseudounipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that have one process that has its dendritic portion extending
away from the CNS and its axon portion projecting into the CNS
-typical of sensory neurons in cranial and spinal nerves
bipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that have two distinct processes arising from the cell body; example:
neuron connecting rod and cone cells of the retina
multipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that are the most common and have multiple dendrites and a single
axon; example: most motor neurons
sensory - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that carry im,pulses from peripheral sensory receptors to the CNS
, interneurons - ANSWER✔ � -transmit impulses from neuron to neuron and are also involved in
cognitive function
motor - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that transmit impulses away from the CNS to an effector organ
neuroglia - ANSWER✔ � -most numerous type of CNS cell
astrocyte - ANSWER✔ � -a neuroglial cell that fills spaces between neurons and surrounds blood
vessels in the CNS
oligodendrocyte - ANSWER✔ � -a neuroglial cell that functions to deposit myelin within the CNS; the
CNS counterpart of the Schwann cells
ependymal - ANSWER✔ � -neuroglial cell that lines the CSF-filled cavities in the CNS
microglia - ANSWER✔ � -remove debris through phagocytosis in the CNS
Schwann cell - ANSWER✔ � -a glial cell that wraps around and covers axons in the PNS. Forms and
maintains the myelin sheath
wallerian degeneration - ANSWER✔ � -the sequence of events that occur when an axon is severed
synapse - ANSWER✔ � -region between adjacent neurons
presynaptic - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that relay impulses toward the synapse
postsynaptic - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that relay impulses away from the synapse
2026/2027
central nervous system (CNS) - ANSWER✔ � -consists of brain and spinal cord, enclosed within the
cranial vault and vertebrae
peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANSWER✔ � -composed of cranial nerves and spinal nerves
also can be divided into somatic and autonomic nervous systems
cranial nerves - ANSWER✔ � -project from the brain and pass through foramina in the skull
spinal nerves - ANSWER✔ � -project from the spinal cord and pass through intervertebral foramina of
the vertebrae
afferent - ANSWER✔ � -pathways that carry sensory impulses toward the CNS
efferent - ANSWER✔ � -descending pathways carrying sensory impulses from the CNS to effector
organs
somatic nervous system - ANSWER✔ � -consist of motor and sensory pathways regulating voluntary
motor control of skeletal muscle
autonomic nervous system - ANSWER✔ � -consists of motor and sensory components and is involved
with regulation of the body's internal environment through involuntary control of organ systems
-can be further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic
,microtubules - ANSWER✔ � -made of protein and believed to be involved in transport of cellular
products
neuroglial cells - ANSWER✔ � -found in the CNS and PNS and can provide structural support and
nutrition for neurons, remove debris, increase speed of nerve impulses, and play a role in memory
Nissl substances - ANSWER✔ � -consist of ER and ribosomes and are involved in protein synthesis
nuclei - ANSWER✔ � -dense, packed cell bodies in the CNS
ganglia - ANSWER✔ � -groups of cells bodies in the PNS
dendrites - ANSWER✔ � -extensions that carry nerve impulses toward the cell body
dendritic zone - ANSWER✔ � -the receptive portion of a neuron that receives a stimulus and continues
further conduction
axons - ANSWER✔ � -long, conductive projections from the cell body that carry nerve impulses away
from the cell body
axon hillock - ANSWER✔ � -the cone-shaped, organelle-free area where the axon leaves the cell body
fascicles - ANSWER✔ � -bundles of axons in large nerves
myelin - ANSWER✔ � -an insulating substance made of a segmented layer of lipid material
endoneurium - ANSWER✔ � -a delicate connective tissue around each axon in the PNS
,nodes of Ranvier - ANSWER✔ � -interruptions in the neurilemma and myelin sheath
saltatory conduction - ANSWER✔ � -process by which ions can flow between segments rather than
along the entire length of the membrane, resulting in increased velocity of neuronal conduction
divergence - ANSWER✔ � -ability of branching axons to influence many different neurons
convergence - ANSWER✔ � -branches of numerous neurons converging on and influencing one or a
few nuerons
larger - ANSWER✔ � -_________axons transmit impulses at a faster rate
unipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons have one process that branches shortly after leaving the cell body.
pseudounipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that have one process that has its dendritic portion extending
away from the CNS and its axon portion projecting into the CNS
-typical of sensory neurons in cranial and spinal nerves
bipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that have two distinct processes arising from the cell body; example:
neuron connecting rod and cone cells of the retina
multipolar - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that are the most common and have multiple dendrites and a single
axon; example: most motor neurons
sensory - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that carry im,pulses from peripheral sensory receptors to the CNS
, interneurons - ANSWER✔ � -transmit impulses from neuron to neuron and are also involved in
cognitive function
motor - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that transmit impulses away from the CNS to an effector organ
neuroglia - ANSWER✔ � -most numerous type of CNS cell
astrocyte - ANSWER✔ � -a neuroglial cell that fills spaces between neurons and surrounds blood
vessels in the CNS
oligodendrocyte - ANSWER✔ � -a neuroglial cell that functions to deposit myelin within the CNS; the
CNS counterpart of the Schwann cells
ependymal - ANSWER✔ � -neuroglial cell that lines the CSF-filled cavities in the CNS
microglia - ANSWER✔ � -remove debris through phagocytosis in the CNS
Schwann cell - ANSWER✔ � -a glial cell that wraps around and covers axons in the PNS. Forms and
maintains the myelin sheath
wallerian degeneration - ANSWER✔ � -the sequence of events that occur when an axon is severed
synapse - ANSWER✔ � -region between adjacent neurons
presynaptic - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that relay impulses toward the synapse
postsynaptic - ANSWER✔ � -neurons that relay impulses away from the synapse
