Nervous System Physiology FINAL EXAM GUIDE
2025
|MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY A+
GRADED|GUARANTEED PASS
central nervous system - brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central
nervous system to the rest of the body
afferent neurons - Also called sensory nerves; nerves that carry information about the
external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.
efferent neurons - neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body
Neuron - a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuroglia - cells that support and protect neurons
Astrocytes - links the nutrient-supplying capillaries to neurons, and controls the chemical
environment to protect neurons from harmful substances, forms the blood brain barrier
Microglia - Act as phagocytes, eating damaged cells and bacteria, act as the brains
immune system
ependymal cells - produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid
Oligodendrocytes - Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.
Schwann cells - Supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the
formation of myelin.
sattelite cells - neuroglia in the PNS that are located around cell bodies to regulate
nutrients and wastes
,Steps in an action potential: 5 steps - 1. Small increase in sodium ion membrane
permeability
Threshold: Membrane potential - moves in positive direction to -55 mV - threshold value
2. Voltage-gated Na+ channels open
Depolarization: Membrane potential change to positive value.
3. Membrane potential reaches +30 mV
Voltage-gated Na+ channels close, Voltage-gated K+ channels open.
Repolarization: Movement of membrane potential toward polarized state is called as
repolarization.
4. Continued repolarization until reach resting potential.
5. Hyperpolarization, Sodium Potassium pumps are functioning until membrane potential
stabilizes.
refractory period - the time following an action potential during which a new action
potential cannot be initiated
saltatory conduction - the jumping of action potentials from node to node
continuous conduction - slow conduction that occurs in nonmyelinated axons
myelin sheath - covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
excitatory response - the response of a nerve fiber in which the firing rate increases
inhibitory response - occurs when a neuron's firing rate decreases due to inhibition from
another neuron
axosecretory synapse - axon terminal ends on tiny blood vessel and secretes transmitter
directly into blood
axoaxonic synapse - axon terminal ends on another axon
axodendritic synapse - between axon terminals of one neuron and dendrites of others
axoextracellular synapse - Terminal with no specific target. Secretes transmitter into
extracellular fluid
,axosomatic synapse - axon terminal ends on cell body
Acetocholine - enables muscle action, learning, and memory
Dopamine - A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and
the brain's pleasure and reward system.
Serotonin - A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.
Norepinephrine - A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood
regulation
GABA - An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Endorphins - "morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain
control and to pleasure.
reflex arc - the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action including at its simplest a
sensory nerve and a motor nerve with a synapse between.
somatic reflexes - activate skeletal muscle
autonomic reflexes - regulate the activity of smooth muscles, the heart, and glands
frontal lobe - The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, and
impulsive behavior. Primary Motor Cortex
temporal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
parietal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing
information about touch. Primary Sensory Cortex.
occipital lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Cerebellum - Balance and coordination
Thalamus - the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs
messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum
and medulla
pineal gland - secretes melatonin
Hypothalamus - a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking,
body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to
emotion
, pituitary gland - The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of
the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Brainstem - The oldest part and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic
survival functions.
Midbrain - Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing
and sight.
Pons - A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the
brain
medulla oblongata - Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such
as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.
spinal nerves - 31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord that communicate with the
rest of the body
cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord
choroid plexus - produces CSF
blood-brain barrier - Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances
enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
CN I - Olfactory (smell)
CN II - Optic - vision
CN III - oculomotor
motor
- eye movement
CN IV - Trochlear - eye movement, peripheral vision
CN V - Trigeminal - face sensation and movement
CN VI - Abducens; abducts the eye
CN VII - -facial
-assess mouth for taste
-assess the face for symmetrical movement
2025
|MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY A+
GRADED|GUARANTEED PASS
central nervous system - brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central
nervous system to the rest of the body
afferent neurons - Also called sensory nerves; nerves that carry information about the
external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.
efferent neurons - neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body
Neuron - a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuroglia - cells that support and protect neurons
Astrocytes - links the nutrient-supplying capillaries to neurons, and controls the chemical
environment to protect neurons from harmful substances, forms the blood brain barrier
Microglia - Act as phagocytes, eating damaged cells and bacteria, act as the brains
immune system
ependymal cells - produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid
Oligodendrocytes - Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.
Schwann cells - Supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the
formation of myelin.
sattelite cells - neuroglia in the PNS that are located around cell bodies to regulate
nutrients and wastes
,Steps in an action potential: 5 steps - 1. Small increase in sodium ion membrane
permeability
Threshold: Membrane potential - moves in positive direction to -55 mV - threshold value
2. Voltage-gated Na+ channels open
Depolarization: Membrane potential change to positive value.
3. Membrane potential reaches +30 mV
Voltage-gated Na+ channels close, Voltage-gated K+ channels open.
Repolarization: Movement of membrane potential toward polarized state is called as
repolarization.
4. Continued repolarization until reach resting potential.
5. Hyperpolarization, Sodium Potassium pumps are functioning until membrane potential
stabilizes.
refractory period - the time following an action potential during which a new action
potential cannot be initiated
saltatory conduction - the jumping of action potentials from node to node
continuous conduction - slow conduction that occurs in nonmyelinated axons
myelin sheath - covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
excitatory response - the response of a nerve fiber in which the firing rate increases
inhibitory response - occurs when a neuron's firing rate decreases due to inhibition from
another neuron
axosecretory synapse - axon terminal ends on tiny blood vessel and secretes transmitter
directly into blood
axoaxonic synapse - axon terminal ends on another axon
axodendritic synapse - between axon terminals of one neuron and dendrites of others
axoextracellular synapse - Terminal with no specific target. Secretes transmitter into
extracellular fluid
,axosomatic synapse - axon terminal ends on cell body
Acetocholine - enables muscle action, learning, and memory
Dopamine - A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and
the brain's pleasure and reward system.
Serotonin - A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.
Norepinephrine - A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood
regulation
GABA - An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Endorphins - "morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain
control and to pleasure.
reflex arc - the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action including at its simplest a
sensory nerve and a motor nerve with a synapse between.
somatic reflexes - activate skeletal muscle
autonomic reflexes - regulate the activity of smooth muscles, the heart, and glands
frontal lobe - The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, and
impulsive behavior. Primary Motor Cortex
temporal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
parietal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing
information about touch. Primary Sensory Cortex.
occipital lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Cerebellum - Balance and coordination
Thalamus - the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs
messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum
and medulla
pineal gland - secretes melatonin
Hypothalamus - a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking,
body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to
emotion
, pituitary gland - The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of
the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Brainstem - The oldest part and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic
survival functions.
Midbrain - Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing
and sight.
Pons - A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the
brain
medulla oblongata - Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such
as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.
spinal nerves - 31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord that communicate with the
rest of the body
cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord
choroid plexus - produces CSF
blood-brain barrier - Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances
enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
CN I - Olfactory (smell)
CN II - Optic - vision
CN III - oculomotor
motor
- eye movement
CN IV - Trochlear - eye movement, peripheral vision
CN V - Trigeminal - face sensation and movement
CN VI - Abducens; abducts the eye
CN VII - -facial
-assess mouth for taste
-assess the face for symmetrical movement
