Nervous System Test Questions with
Verified Answers
What structures make up the nervous system? - Ans -the brain, spinal cord, nerves,
neural support cells, and certain sensory organs (eye, ear)
What is the functional unit of the nervous system? - Ans -neuron
What are the major structures of the neuron? - Ans -several dendrites, a single
branched axon, and cell body (soma)
What describes the regenerative capabilities of neurons? - Ans -they cannot divide
What substances are neurons highly dependent upon for chemical energy? - Ans -
glucose
neurons use what process to move glucose from the blood into the cell? - Ans -
facilitated transport
(Note: not uniquely dependent on insulin for this transport)
What describes how neurons store nutrients? - Ans -contain low stores of glycogen
and oxygen
(Note: depend on blood mostly for these nutrients)
1
Page
,What is the structure where the soma connects to the axon called? - Ans -axon
hillock
(Note: action potentials are generated here)
What structure receives information and transfers it to the cell body in the neuron? -
Ans -dendrites
What structure transfers impulses away from the cell body in the neuron? - Ans -axon
What distinguishes gray and white matter? - Ans -- white: myelinated axons
- gray: neuronal cell bodies (no myelin)
What category of nervous tissue cells are capable of cell division? - Ans -glial cells
Which glial cells produce myelin in the central nervous system (CNS)? - Ans -
oligodendrocytes
Which glial cells produce myelin in
the peripheral nervous system (PNS) - Ans -Schwann cells
What are the fatty sheaths that act as insulators in the nervous system? - Ans -myelin
sheaths
Myelin sheaths are separated by what divisions? - Ans -nodes of Ranvier
2
Page
, The nodes of Ranvier allow the action potential to do what? - Ans -travel continuously
down the axon jumping from node to node
(Note: this process is called saltatory conduction, which speeds up the impulse)
What is the only type of animal that has myelinated axons? - Ans -vertibrates
What are the phagocytes of the CNS? - Ans -microglia
What cells use cilia to circulate cerebrospinal fluid - Ans -ependymal cells
What are groups of cell bodies in the PNS that serve as support cells? - Ans -satellite
cells
What is a kind of satellite cell that provides physical
support to neurons of the CNS and maintains the mineral and nutrient balance? -
Ans -astrocytes
What are the three types of neurons important to the DAT? - Ans -1. sensory (afferent)
neurons
2. association (interneuron) neurons
3. motor (efferent) neurons
What kind of neuron receives the initial stimulus from the brain (ex: neurons in the skin)? -
Ans -sensory (afferent) neuron
3
Page
Verified Answers
What structures make up the nervous system? - Ans -the brain, spinal cord, nerves,
neural support cells, and certain sensory organs (eye, ear)
What is the functional unit of the nervous system? - Ans -neuron
What are the major structures of the neuron? - Ans -several dendrites, a single
branched axon, and cell body (soma)
What describes the regenerative capabilities of neurons? - Ans -they cannot divide
What substances are neurons highly dependent upon for chemical energy? - Ans -
glucose
neurons use what process to move glucose from the blood into the cell? - Ans -
facilitated transport
(Note: not uniquely dependent on insulin for this transport)
What describes how neurons store nutrients? - Ans -contain low stores of glycogen
and oxygen
(Note: depend on blood mostly for these nutrients)
1
Page
,What is the structure where the soma connects to the axon called? - Ans -axon
hillock
(Note: action potentials are generated here)
What structure receives information and transfers it to the cell body in the neuron? -
Ans -dendrites
What structure transfers impulses away from the cell body in the neuron? - Ans -axon
What distinguishes gray and white matter? - Ans -- white: myelinated axons
- gray: neuronal cell bodies (no myelin)
What category of nervous tissue cells are capable of cell division? - Ans -glial cells
Which glial cells produce myelin in the central nervous system (CNS)? - Ans -
oligodendrocytes
Which glial cells produce myelin in
the peripheral nervous system (PNS) - Ans -Schwann cells
What are the fatty sheaths that act as insulators in the nervous system? - Ans -myelin
sheaths
Myelin sheaths are separated by what divisions? - Ans -nodes of Ranvier
2
Page
, The nodes of Ranvier allow the action potential to do what? - Ans -travel continuously
down the axon jumping from node to node
(Note: this process is called saltatory conduction, which speeds up the impulse)
What is the only type of animal that has myelinated axons? - Ans -vertibrates
What are the phagocytes of the CNS? - Ans -microglia
What cells use cilia to circulate cerebrospinal fluid - Ans -ependymal cells
What are groups of cell bodies in the PNS that serve as support cells? - Ans -satellite
cells
What is a kind of satellite cell that provides physical
support to neurons of the CNS and maintains the mineral and nutrient balance? -
Ans -astrocytes
What are the three types of neurons important to the DAT? - Ans -1. sensory (afferent)
neurons
2. association (interneuron) neurons
3. motor (efferent) neurons
What kind of neuron receives the initial stimulus from the brain (ex: neurons in the skin)? -
Ans -sensory (afferent) neuron
3
Page
