Intro to Nervous System
1. The function of the nervous system is to integrate and control the other body systems.
Explain how the nervous system does this.
Nervous system processes information and sends out signals to the muscles and glands, which
causes a response.
2. List the 2 parts of the central nervous system.
Brain and the spinal cord
3. How are the parts of the central nervous system protected?
Brain is protected by the skull, and the spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae.
4. How do the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system interact?
CNS sends signals/impulses to & receives signal/impulses from PNS.
5. What is included in the peripheral nervous system?
All other nerves - spinal nerves that project from either side of the spinal cord, and cranial
nerves that connects to the brain.
6. What are the 2 divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
PNS can be divided into Sensory/Afferent division, and Motor/Efferent division.
7. Describe the movement of nerve impulses in the peripheral nervous system.
PNS receives nerve impulses from the sensory organs via afferent division, and relays signals
from CNS to muscles and glands via efferent division.
8. What are the 2 divisions of the efferent division of the peripheral nervous system?
Efferent division is further broken down into:
- Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary
- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Involuntary
9. What is controlled by the somatic and autonomic nervous systems?
Somatic nervous system controls the skeletal muscles, skin and joints.
Autonomic Nervous system controls the glands and the smooth muscles of the internal organs.
10. What are the 2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Autonomic Nervous System is broken down into:
- Sympathetic division (excitable)
- Parasympathetic division (relaxing)
11. What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
,Sympathetic Nervous System activates and prepares the body for strenuous muscle activity,
stress and emergency.
12. What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Parasympathetic Nervous System lowers activity, operates during normal situations, permits
digestion and conserve energy.
Neurons
13. Identify the parts of the neuron shown in the diagram below.
,a. Dendrites
b. Cell body
c. Nucleus
d. Axon
e. Myelin sheath
f. Schwann cells
g. Node of Ranvier
h. Axon Terminal
14. List 3 unusual characteristics of neurons.
Characteristics of neurons:
- They do not go through mitosis
- Can survive only a few minutes without oxygen
, - Can last an entire lifetime
- Requires an enormous amount of fuel
15. List the 3 parts of a neuron.
All neurons consists of a cell body, axon and dendrites.
16. Describe the structure and function of the neuron cell body.
Cell body contains nucleus and other organelles, but no centrioles.
One of cell body's main function is to manufacture neurotransmitters, which are the chemicals stored
in the secretory vesicles. Cell body also synthesizes all nerve products.
17. Describe the structure and function of the dendrite.
Dendrites are the receiving end of neurons, and are connected to the cell body. Dendrites are the
many extensions from the cell body, which receives information from other neurons, thus,
conducting nerve impulses towards the cell body.
18. Describe the axon, including the number in each neuron, function, structure and organelles.
Axons conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body, to its own axon terminals, where it's
transmitted to another neuron's dendrites. Axons can vary in length, from very short to as long as 3
feet (from the spine to the big toe). Axons are composed of cells like the cell body, but lack rough
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), depending on the cell body for necessary parts.
19. Describe the composition and function of Schwann cells.
Schwann cells exits only in the PNS, and they are mainly composed of a fatty white layer called the
myelin sheath, which are rolled around the axon of peripheral nerve. This myelin sheath protects and
insulates the axon, and helps increase the speed of nerve impulses along the axon.
20. Describe the location and function of the Nodes of Ranvier.
1. The function of the nervous system is to integrate and control the other body systems.
Explain how the nervous system does this.
Nervous system processes information and sends out signals to the muscles and glands, which
causes a response.
2. List the 2 parts of the central nervous system.
Brain and the spinal cord
3. How are the parts of the central nervous system protected?
Brain is protected by the skull, and the spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae.
4. How do the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system interact?
CNS sends signals/impulses to & receives signal/impulses from PNS.
5. What is included in the peripheral nervous system?
All other nerves - spinal nerves that project from either side of the spinal cord, and cranial
nerves that connects to the brain.
6. What are the 2 divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
PNS can be divided into Sensory/Afferent division, and Motor/Efferent division.
7. Describe the movement of nerve impulses in the peripheral nervous system.
PNS receives nerve impulses from the sensory organs via afferent division, and relays signals
from CNS to muscles and glands via efferent division.
8. What are the 2 divisions of the efferent division of the peripheral nervous system?
Efferent division is further broken down into:
- Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary
- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Involuntary
9. What is controlled by the somatic and autonomic nervous systems?
Somatic nervous system controls the skeletal muscles, skin and joints.
Autonomic Nervous system controls the glands and the smooth muscles of the internal organs.
10. What are the 2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Autonomic Nervous System is broken down into:
- Sympathetic division (excitable)
- Parasympathetic division (relaxing)
11. What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
,Sympathetic Nervous System activates and prepares the body for strenuous muscle activity,
stress and emergency.
12. What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Parasympathetic Nervous System lowers activity, operates during normal situations, permits
digestion and conserve energy.
Neurons
13. Identify the parts of the neuron shown in the diagram below.
,a. Dendrites
b. Cell body
c. Nucleus
d. Axon
e. Myelin sheath
f. Schwann cells
g. Node of Ranvier
h. Axon Terminal
14. List 3 unusual characteristics of neurons.
Characteristics of neurons:
- They do not go through mitosis
- Can survive only a few minutes without oxygen
, - Can last an entire lifetime
- Requires an enormous amount of fuel
15. List the 3 parts of a neuron.
All neurons consists of a cell body, axon and dendrites.
16. Describe the structure and function of the neuron cell body.
Cell body contains nucleus and other organelles, but no centrioles.
One of cell body's main function is to manufacture neurotransmitters, which are the chemicals stored
in the secretory vesicles. Cell body also synthesizes all nerve products.
17. Describe the structure and function of the dendrite.
Dendrites are the receiving end of neurons, and are connected to the cell body. Dendrites are the
many extensions from the cell body, which receives information from other neurons, thus,
conducting nerve impulses towards the cell body.
18. Describe the axon, including the number in each neuron, function, structure and organelles.
Axons conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body, to its own axon terminals, where it's
transmitted to another neuron's dendrites. Axons can vary in length, from very short to as long as 3
feet (from the spine to the big toe). Axons are composed of cells like the cell body, but lack rough
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), depending on the cell body for necessary parts.
19. Describe the composition and function of Schwann cells.
Schwann cells exits only in the PNS, and they are mainly composed of a fatty white layer called the
myelin sheath, which are rolled around the axon of peripheral nerve. This myelin sheath protects and
insulates the axon, and helps increase the speed of nerve impulses along the axon.
20. Describe the location and function of the Nodes of Ranvier.
