NSCI 175 Exam 2 Learning Objectives
Describe the gross organization of the mammalian nervous system in terms of the two divisions: the
central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Include a description of what
each part does in terms of function - Answer-CNS= brain and spinal cord
PNS= all other parts of the nervous system
PNS has 2 parts: somatic PNS and visceral PNS. Somatic PNS includes motor axons which command
muscle contractions. The cell bodies lie in the CNS in the spinal cord, but the axons are mostly in the
PNS.
PNS has cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and autonomic nervous system.
Cranial nerves are connected to the brain.
Spinal nerves are connected to the spinal cord.
Autonomic nervous system controls glands and internal organs,
Explain what kind of information is carried by the cranial nerves - Answer-Some parts are in the the
CNS, somatic PNS, or visceral PNS. Contain a complex mixture of axons that perform different functions.
They carry information to and from various parts of the body! There's an optic nerve, facial nerve,
olfactory nerve, etc.
Both sensory and motor information is conveyed in these nerves!
Describe the difference between 'efferent' and 'afferent' - Answer-efferent: exiting information (motor)
afferent: incoming information (sensory)
,Compare and contrast the role of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems - Answer-somatic:
conscious and subconscious control over skeletal muscles, skin, and joints. cell bodies lie in spinal cord
at dorsal root ganglia.
autonomic: control of viscera such as organs, smooth muscle, etc.
cell bodies are in the CNS and axons are in the PNS!
regulates digestion, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
Describe the functional differences between the dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord. - Answer-
dorsal root: sensory, afferent, body to spinal cord.
ventral root: motor, efferent, from spinal cord to muscles.
a ventral root and dorsal root make up a spinal nerve.
Compare and contrast the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems - Answer-
sympathetic nervous system: stress response! fight or flight, mostly ACh with some NE
parasympathetic nervous system: rest and digest, all ACh neurotransmitters
Sketch a brain and label: cerebrum, cerebellum, lobes, brain stem, thalamus, ventricles, spinal cord. -
Answer-temporal lobe is near temples, frontal lobe at forehead, parietal lobe is like a headband,
occipital lobe is back of head, insular lobe near the middle, cerebrum is wrinkled stuff, cerebellum is
little brain, brainstem is stem, spinal cord is under brainstem, thalamus is at top of brain stem in big
fissure, midbrain under that, pons under that, medulla under that.
ventricles:
spinal canal is near spinal cord, fourth ventricle next to spinal canal, cerebral aqueduct is thin little
steam of fluid, third ventricle is farther away from spinal canal, lateral ventricle is farthest away towards
forehead
Describe what each of these parts of the brain do in terms of function - Answer-temporal lobe: primary
auditory cortex, learning and memory
frontal lobe: primary motor cortex, language, executive function, attention, memory, impulsivity
, parietal lobe: primary somatic sensory areas, visual processing
occipital lobe: primary visual cortex, other visual areas
insular lobe: gustatory cortex
cerebrum: sensation, perception, cognition, motor control, etc.
cerebellum: movement control center
brainstem: midbrain and pons. midbrain helps conduct information passing from spinal cord to
forebrain, pons relays information about movement, massive switchboard!
medulla: sensory and motor functions
spinal cord: relays sensory information into brain and motor movement information out of brain
thalamus: sensory relay center
the ventricles are full of cerebrospinal fluid, which provides cushion for your brain, nutrients, and
removes wastes
Define the following key anatomical reference terms: dorsal, ventral, rostral, caudal, midsagittal,
horizontal, coronal, ipsilateral, contralateral, proximal, distal - Answer-dorsal: on top
ventral: on bottom
rostral: frontal
caudal: back
midsaggital: split down the middle, left-right
horizontal: split top and bottom
coronal: split front and back
ipsilateral: on the same side
contralateral: on opposite sides
proximal: close to a set point
distal: far from a set point
Describe the gross organization of the mammalian nervous system in terms of the two divisions: the
central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Include a description of what
each part does in terms of function - Answer-CNS= brain and spinal cord
PNS= all other parts of the nervous system
PNS has 2 parts: somatic PNS and visceral PNS. Somatic PNS includes motor axons which command
muscle contractions. The cell bodies lie in the CNS in the spinal cord, but the axons are mostly in the
PNS.
PNS has cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and autonomic nervous system.
Cranial nerves are connected to the brain.
Spinal nerves are connected to the spinal cord.
Autonomic nervous system controls glands and internal organs,
Explain what kind of information is carried by the cranial nerves - Answer-Some parts are in the the
CNS, somatic PNS, or visceral PNS. Contain a complex mixture of axons that perform different functions.
They carry information to and from various parts of the body! There's an optic nerve, facial nerve,
olfactory nerve, etc.
Both sensory and motor information is conveyed in these nerves!
Describe the difference between 'efferent' and 'afferent' - Answer-efferent: exiting information (motor)
afferent: incoming information (sensory)
,Compare and contrast the role of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems - Answer-somatic:
conscious and subconscious control over skeletal muscles, skin, and joints. cell bodies lie in spinal cord
at dorsal root ganglia.
autonomic: control of viscera such as organs, smooth muscle, etc.
cell bodies are in the CNS and axons are in the PNS!
regulates digestion, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
Describe the functional differences between the dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord. - Answer-
dorsal root: sensory, afferent, body to spinal cord.
ventral root: motor, efferent, from spinal cord to muscles.
a ventral root and dorsal root make up a spinal nerve.
Compare and contrast the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems - Answer-
sympathetic nervous system: stress response! fight or flight, mostly ACh with some NE
parasympathetic nervous system: rest and digest, all ACh neurotransmitters
Sketch a brain and label: cerebrum, cerebellum, lobes, brain stem, thalamus, ventricles, spinal cord. -
Answer-temporal lobe is near temples, frontal lobe at forehead, parietal lobe is like a headband,
occipital lobe is back of head, insular lobe near the middle, cerebrum is wrinkled stuff, cerebellum is
little brain, brainstem is stem, spinal cord is under brainstem, thalamus is at top of brain stem in big
fissure, midbrain under that, pons under that, medulla under that.
ventricles:
spinal canal is near spinal cord, fourth ventricle next to spinal canal, cerebral aqueduct is thin little
steam of fluid, third ventricle is farther away from spinal canal, lateral ventricle is farthest away towards
forehead
Describe what each of these parts of the brain do in terms of function - Answer-temporal lobe: primary
auditory cortex, learning and memory
frontal lobe: primary motor cortex, language, executive function, attention, memory, impulsivity
, parietal lobe: primary somatic sensory areas, visual processing
occipital lobe: primary visual cortex, other visual areas
insular lobe: gustatory cortex
cerebrum: sensation, perception, cognition, motor control, etc.
cerebellum: movement control center
brainstem: midbrain and pons. midbrain helps conduct information passing from spinal cord to
forebrain, pons relays information about movement, massive switchboard!
medulla: sensory and motor functions
spinal cord: relays sensory information into brain and motor movement information out of brain
thalamus: sensory relay center
the ventricles are full of cerebrospinal fluid, which provides cushion for your brain, nutrients, and
removes wastes
Define the following key anatomical reference terms: dorsal, ventral, rostral, caudal, midsagittal,
horizontal, coronal, ipsilateral, contralateral, proximal, distal - Answer-dorsal: on top
ventral: on bottom
rostral: frontal
caudal: back
midsaggital: split down the middle, left-right
horizontal: split top and bottom
coronal: split front and back
ipsilateral: on the same side
contralateral: on opposite sides
proximal: close to a set point
distal: far from a set point
