NSCI 175 Exam 2 Study Guide Questions
and Verified Correct Answers
Somatic Nervous System answer - A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls
conscious and subconscious actions through its control of skeletal muscles, skin, and joints
-The body's somatic motor neurons (somas in ventral spinal cord of CNS, axons in PNS)
command muscle contraction
-The cell bodies of somatosensory neurons (which collect info from skin, muscles, and joints) lie
in the dorsal root ganglia
-Signals originate from upper motor neurons in the primary motor cortex
Autonomic/ Visceral Nervous System answer - The branch of the nervous system that deals
with unconsciously controlled actions; further broken down into Parasympathetic and
Sympathetic
-Innervates internal organs, blood vessels, and glands
-Contract and relax smooth muscles using visceral muscle fibers
-Manages bodily responses that our "our of our control" such as blushing and butterflies in the
stomach
-Signals originate from the visceral motor nuclei in the hypothalamus
Dorsal vs Ventral Roots answer - Dorsal roots carry sensory information to the spinal cord from
the body and carry afferent sensory signals while the ventral roots carry motor information
from the spinal cord to the body and carry efferent signals
The Sympathetic Nervous System answer - The division of the autonomic nervous system that
arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
-Increased heart rate and blood pressure
,-Increased glucose production
-Decreased salivation and digestion
-Controls fight/flight response
-Norepinephrine is released from the adrenal glands
**** Everything speeds up/activity increases ****
Parasympathetic Nervous System answer - The division of the autonomic nervous system that
calms the body, conserving its energy
-Slows heart rate
-Stimulates digestion
-Constricts airways
-Stimulates salivation and digestion
-Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter
**** Slows everything down/activity decreases ****
Sketch a Brain answer - Label the cerebrum, cerebellum, lobes, brain stem, thalamus,
ventricles, spinal cord
Cerebrum answer - Wrinkly/folded area of the brain responsible for sensation, perception,
cognition, and motor control
Cerebellum answer - The "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing
sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
-movement control center
Temporal Lobe answer - Hearing, learning, memory
-Sides of the brain near ears
,Frontal Lobe answer - The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead.
Involved in decision making, motor movements, language, executive functioning, attention,
memory, impulsivity, planning/strategizing, and inhibition to obtain goals
-Seen as what makes humans unique
-Very high number of neurons
Parietal Lobe answer - Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward
the rear. Contains the primary somatic sensory areas, visual processing, and language
processing
Occipital Lobe answer - Region of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head that manages
sight
-Primary visual cortex
Insular Lobe answer - The lobe tucked away in the lateral sulcus (inside, side of the brain) that
serves as the gustatory cortex, controls emotion, empathy, compassion, and psychopathology
Brain Stem answer - Connection to the spinal cord. Filters information flow between the
peripheral nervous system and the rest of the brain.
-Made up of Thalamus, Pons, Medulla, and Spinal Cord
Thalamus answer - Sensory processing and gateway to the cortex
Pons answer - Relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain, primarily about
movment
Medulla answer - The base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat, breathing, and sensory
motor functions
, Ventricles answer - Canals inside the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. There are 5
Spinal Cord answer - Relays sensory information to the brain and motor information from the
brain
Dorsal answer - Up/ towards the top
Ventral answer - Down/ towards the bottom
Rostral answer - Towards the front (nose)
Caudal answer - Towards the back (tail)
Midsagittal Plane brain answer - The plane dividing the brain into equal right and left halves
Horizontal Plane answer - A plane dividing the brain into equal top and bottom halves
Coronal Plane answer - A plane that cuts the brain into front and back halves
Ipsilateral answer - On the same side of the body
Contralateral answer - On the opposite side of the body
Proximal answer - Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to
the body trunk
and Verified Correct Answers
Somatic Nervous System answer - A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls
conscious and subconscious actions through its control of skeletal muscles, skin, and joints
-The body's somatic motor neurons (somas in ventral spinal cord of CNS, axons in PNS)
command muscle contraction
-The cell bodies of somatosensory neurons (which collect info from skin, muscles, and joints) lie
in the dorsal root ganglia
-Signals originate from upper motor neurons in the primary motor cortex
Autonomic/ Visceral Nervous System answer - The branch of the nervous system that deals
with unconsciously controlled actions; further broken down into Parasympathetic and
Sympathetic
-Innervates internal organs, blood vessels, and glands
-Contract and relax smooth muscles using visceral muscle fibers
-Manages bodily responses that our "our of our control" such as blushing and butterflies in the
stomach
-Signals originate from the visceral motor nuclei in the hypothalamus
Dorsal vs Ventral Roots answer - Dorsal roots carry sensory information to the spinal cord from
the body and carry afferent sensory signals while the ventral roots carry motor information
from the spinal cord to the body and carry efferent signals
The Sympathetic Nervous System answer - The division of the autonomic nervous system that
arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
-Increased heart rate and blood pressure
,-Increased glucose production
-Decreased salivation and digestion
-Controls fight/flight response
-Norepinephrine is released from the adrenal glands
**** Everything speeds up/activity increases ****
Parasympathetic Nervous System answer - The division of the autonomic nervous system that
calms the body, conserving its energy
-Slows heart rate
-Stimulates digestion
-Constricts airways
-Stimulates salivation and digestion
-Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter
**** Slows everything down/activity decreases ****
Sketch a Brain answer - Label the cerebrum, cerebellum, lobes, brain stem, thalamus,
ventricles, spinal cord
Cerebrum answer - Wrinkly/folded area of the brain responsible for sensation, perception,
cognition, and motor control
Cerebellum answer - The "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing
sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
-movement control center
Temporal Lobe answer - Hearing, learning, memory
-Sides of the brain near ears
,Frontal Lobe answer - The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead.
Involved in decision making, motor movements, language, executive functioning, attention,
memory, impulsivity, planning/strategizing, and inhibition to obtain goals
-Seen as what makes humans unique
-Very high number of neurons
Parietal Lobe answer - Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward
the rear. Contains the primary somatic sensory areas, visual processing, and language
processing
Occipital Lobe answer - Region of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head that manages
sight
-Primary visual cortex
Insular Lobe answer - The lobe tucked away in the lateral sulcus (inside, side of the brain) that
serves as the gustatory cortex, controls emotion, empathy, compassion, and psychopathology
Brain Stem answer - Connection to the spinal cord. Filters information flow between the
peripheral nervous system and the rest of the brain.
-Made up of Thalamus, Pons, Medulla, and Spinal Cord
Thalamus answer - Sensory processing and gateway to the cortex
Pons answer - Relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain, primarily about
movment
Medulla answer - The base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat, breathing, and sensory
motor functions
, Ventricles answer - Canals inside the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. There are 5
Spinal Cord answer - Relays sensory information to the brain and motor information from the
brain
Dorsal answer - Up/ towards the top
Ventral answer - Down/ towards the bottom
Rostral answer - Towards the front (nose)
Caudal answer - Towards the back (tail)
Midsagittal Plane brain answer - The plane dividing the brain into equal right and left halves
Horizontal Plane answer - A plane dividing the brain into equal top and bottom halves
Coronal Plane answer - A plane that cuts the brain into front and back halves
Ipsilateral answer - On the same side of the body
Contralateral answer - On the opposite side of the body
Proximal answer - Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to
the body trunk
