Nervous System Physiology FINAL EXAM GUIDE
2025
|MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY A+
GRADED|GUARANTEED PASS
central nervous system - brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central
nervous system to the rest of the body
afferent neurons - Also called sensory nerves; nerves that carry information about the
external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.
efferent neurons - neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body
Neuron - a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuroglia - cells that support and protect neurons
Astrocytes - links the nutrient-supplying capillaries to neurons, and controls the chemical
environment to protect neurons from harmful substances, forms the blood brain barrier
Microglia - Act as phagocytes, eating damaged cells and bacteria, act as the brains
immune system
ependymal cells - produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid
Oligodendrocytes - Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.
Schwann cells - Supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the
formation of myelin.
sattelite cells - neuroglia in the PNS that are located around cell bodies to regulate
nutrients and wastes
,refractory period - the time following an action potential during which a new action
potential cannot be initiated
saltatory conduction - the jumping of action potentials from node to node
myelin sheath - covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
somatic reflexes - activate skeletal muscle
autonomic reflexes - regulate the activity of smooth muscles, the heart, and glands
frontal lobe - The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, and
impulsive behavior. Primary Motor Cortex
temporal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
parietal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing
information about touch. Primary Sensory Cortex.
occipital lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Cerebellum - Balance and coordination
Thalamus - the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs
messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum
and medulla
pineal gland - secretes melatonin
Hypothalamus - a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking,
body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to
emotion
pituitary gland - The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of
the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Brainstem - The oldest part and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic
survival functions.
Midbrain - Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing
and sight.
, Pons - A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the
brain
medulla oblongata - Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such
as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.
spinal nerves - 31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord that communicate with the
rest of the body
cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord
choroid plexus - produces CSF
blood-brain barrier - Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances
enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
CN I - Olfactory (smell)
CN II - Optic - vision
CN III - oculomotor
motor
- eye movement
CN IV - Trochlear - eye movement, peripheral vision
CN V - Trigeminal - face sensation and movement
CN VI - Abducens; abducts the eye
CN VII - -facial
-assess mouth for taste
-assess the face for symmetrical movement
CN VIII - Vestibulocochlear (hearing and balance)
CN IX - -glossopharyngeal
-taste
-movement of soft palate and the gag reflex
-swallowing and speech
2025
|MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY A+
GRADED|GUARANTEED PASS
central nervous system - brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central
nervous system to the rest of the body
afferent neurons - Also called sensory nerves; nerves that carry information about the
external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.
efferent neurons - neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body
Neuron - a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuroglia - cells that support and protect neurons
Astrocytes - links the nutrient-supplying capillaries to neurons, and controls the chemical
environment to protect neurons from harmful substances, forms the blood brain barrier
Microglia - Act as phagocytes, eating damaged cells and bacteria, act as the brains
immune system
ependymal cells - produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid
Oligodendrocytes - Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.
Schwann cells - Supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the
formation of myelin.
sattelite cells - neuroglia in the PNS that are located around cell bodies to regulate
nutrients and wastes
,refractory period - the time following an action potential during which a new action
potential cannot be initiated
saltatory conduction - the jumping of action potentials from node to node
myelin sheath - covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
somatic reflexes - activate skeletal muscle
autonomic reflexes - regulate the activity of smooth muscles, the heart, and glands
frontal lobe - The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, and
impulsive behavior. Primary Motor Cortex
temporal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
parietal lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing
information about touch. Primary Sensory Cortex.
occipital lobe - A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Cerebellum - Balance and coordination
Thalamus - the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs
messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum
and medulla
pineal gland - secretes melatonin
Hypothalamus - a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking,
body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to
emotion
pituitary gland - The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of
the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Brainstem - The oldest part and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic
survival functions.
Midbrain - Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing
and sight.
, Pons - A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the
brain
medulla oblongata - Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such
as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.
spinal nerves - 31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord that communicate with the
rest of the body
cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord
choroid plexus - produces CSF
blood-brain barrier - Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances
enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
CN I - Olfactory (smell)
CN II - Optic - vision
CN III - oculomotor
motor
- eye movement
CN IV - Trochlear - eye movement, peripheral vision
CN V - Trigeminal - face sensation and movement
CN VI - Abducens; abducts the eye
CN VII - -facial
-assess mouth for taste
-assess the face for symmetrical movement
CN VIII - Vestibulocochlear (hearing and balance)
CN IX - -glossopharyngeal
-taste
-movement of soft palate and the gag reflex
-swallowing and speech
