Histology - The Nervous System Parts I, II, and III Exam With
complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
Anatomically (structurally), what are the divisions of the nervous system? - Central
Nervous System (brain and spinal cord)
Peripheral Nervous System (31 spinal nerves, 12 cranial nerves)
Functionally, what are the divisions of the nervous system? - Somatic Nervous System
(SNS)
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
What does the CNS do? - integrate, process, and coordinate incoming (sensory) and
outgoing (motor) signals; responsible for higher cognitive function
-regulates homeostatic mechanisms and executes reflexes in body and organs
What does the PNS do? - Conduct impulses to (sensory) and away from (motor) the
CNS
What does the somatic nervous system do? - Mainly conscious perception and
voluntary movement (except reflexes)
What does the autonomic nervous system do? - Involuntary motor control and visceral
sensory
Involves two other systems: sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous
system
What are the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system? - Sympathetic
nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
What do visceral sensory nerves accompany? - The ANS (pain accompanies
sympathetic, reflex accompanies parasympathetic)
What is the neural pathway? - Sensory nerves receive stimuli
CNS integrates, interprets and coordinates
Motor nerves execute response
What are the two principal cell types for nervous tissue? - Neurons and Neuroglial cells
(glial cells
What are neurons? - A structural and functional excitable cell that receive, process, and
transmit rapidly via electrochemical signals
What are the key features of neurons? - Comprised of cell body and axons
Communicates via synapses
, Cell body located in CNS or PNS
How are neurons classified? - By function, morphology, and location
What are neuroglial cells (glial cells)? - Supportive cells that provide structural integrity
and functional support to allow nerve functions
What are the key features of glial cells? - No synapses
Function is to maintain ionic environment, myelinate nerve fibers, and functional support
Located in PNS or CNS
What two structures are involved in the development of the neuroectoderm (after
inductive signaling occurs)? - Neural crest, neural tube
What do the cells in the neural tube give rise to? - Neurons of CNS (Static)
-motor neurons
-interneurons
Glia of CNS (Stable)
-astrocytes
-oligodendrocytes
-ependymal cells
What cells in the central nervous system do not derive from the neural tube? - Microglia
What are microglia derived from? - Mesodermal macrophage precursors (migrate to
CNS)
Why are the glia of the CNS most closely related with brain tumors? - They are stable
instead of static, so they are more mitotically active than neurons
What does the neural crest give rise to in the nervous system? - Most of the PNS and
ANS
Neurons (static)
-Pseudounipolar
-Postganglionic sympathetic
-Postganglionic parasympathetic
Glia (stable)
-Schwann Cells
-Satellite Cells
What is the typical flow of information within a neuron? - Dendrite -> cell body -> axon -
> next neuron or effector cell
What determines the morphological identification of dentrites? - number of branches
complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
Anatomically (structurally), what are the divisions of the nervous system? - Central
Nervous System (brain and spinal cord)
Peripheral Nervous System (31 spinal nerves, 12 cranial nerves)
Functionally, what are the divisions of the nervous system? - Somatic Nervous System
(SNS)
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
What does the CNS do? - integrate, process, and coordinate incoming (sensory) and
outgoing (motor) signals; responsible for higher cognitive function
-regulates homeostatic mechanisms and executes reflexes in body and organs
What does the PNS do? - Conduct impulses to (sensory) and away from (motor) the
CNS
What does the somatic nervous system do? - Mainly conscious perception and
voluntary movement (except reflexes)
What does the autonomic nervous system do? - Involuntary motor control and visceral
sensory
Involves two other systems: sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous
system
What are the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system? - Sympathetic
nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
What do visceral sensory nerves accompany? - The ANS (pain accompanies
sympathetic, reflex accompanies parasympathetic)
What is the neural pathway? - Sensory nerves receive stimuli
CNS integrates, interprets and coordinates
Motor nerves execute response
What are the two principal cell types for nervous tissue? - Neurons and Neuroglial cells
(glial cells
What are neurons? - A structural and functional excitable cell that receive, process, and
transmit rapidly via electrochemical signals
What are the key features of neurons? - Comprised of cell body and axons
Communicates via synapses
, Cell body located in CNS or PNS
How are neurons classified? - By function, morphology, and location
What are neuroglial cells (glial cells)? - Supportive cells that provide structural integrity
and functional support to allow nerve functions
What are the key features of glial cells? - No synapses
Function is to maintain ionic environment, myelinate nerve fibers, and functional support
Located in PNS or CNS
What two structures are involved in the development of the neuroectoderm (after
inductive signaling occurs)? - Neural crest, neural tube
What do the cells in the neural tube give rise to? - Neurons of CNS (Static)
-motor neurons
-interneurons
Glia of CNS (Stable)
-astrocytes
-oligodendrocytes
-ependymal cells
What cells in the central nervous system do not derive from the neural tube? - Microglia
What are microglia derived from? - Mesodermal macrophage precursors (migrate to
CNS)
Why are the glia of the CNS most closely related with brain tumors? - They are stable
instead of static, so they are more mitotically active than neurons
What does the neural crest give rise to in the nervous system? - Most of the PNS and
ANS
Neurons (static)
-Pseudounipolar
-Postganglionic sympathetic
-Postganglionic parasympathetic
Glia (stable)
-Schwann Cells
-Satellite Cells
What is the typical flow of information within a neuron? - Dendrite -> cell body -> axon -
> next neuron or effector cell
What determines the morphological identification of dentrites? - number of branches
