EXSS 380 Exam 1 Actual study set with
Questions and correct/verified Answers
What are the three functions of the nervous system? - ANSW-1. Sensory
2. Integrative
3. Motor
What is the sensory function of the NS? - ANSW-The NS senses changes in the internal and external
environment
What is the integrative function of the NS? - ANSW-The NS analyzes data, stores data, and decides which
stimuli are important
What is the motor function of the NS? - ANSW-The NS responds to stimuli through muscular
contractions or granular secretions
What are the two principle NS divisions? - ANSW-1. Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
2. Peripheral nervous system (cranial nerves and spinal nerves)
What are the two divisions of the PNS? - ANSW-1. Autonomic nervous system
2. Somatic nervous system
Describe the autonomic nervous system - ANSW-It's involuntary, its connections are to smooth muscle,
cardiac muscle and glands. There are two subdivisions of motor stimuli: excitatory (sympathetic division)
and inhibitory (parasympathetic division)
Describe the somatic nervous system - ANSW-It's voluntary and reflexive muscle activity. The output it to
only skeletal muscle and all motor stimuli are excitatory
What is the functional unit of the NS? - ANSW-The neuron
What part of the neuron receives input? - ANSW-The dendrite
What part of the neuron relays messages out via terminals? - ANSW-The axon
What's the function of a dendrite? - ANSW-To conduct nerve impulses toward the cell body and relay
information from the external environment
What's the function of an axon? - ANSW-To transmit nerve impulses away from the body to other
neurons, muscle fibers, or glands. It also communicates with other cells via the axon terminal
What is the synapse? - ANSW-The junction between neurons and other neurons or effectors (muscle or
gland)
What are the chemical messengers that enable neurotransmission? - ANSW-Neurotransmitters
What are the three categories of neurotransmitters? - ANSW-1. Amino acids
2. Neuropeptides
, 3. Biogenic Amines
What neurotransmitter is inhibitory and what category does it fall under? - ANSW-GABA which causes
hyper polarization and it's amino acids
Name a neuropeptide neurotransmitter - ANSW-Endorphins AKA natural "pain killers"
What are some examples of biogenic amine neurotransmitters? - ANSW-Acetylcholine (ACh) and
catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and serotonin)
Which neurotransmitter is involved with the production of smooth movement and Parkinson's disease? -
ANSW-Dopamine
Which neurotransmitter is linked with depression and Alzheimer's disease? - ANSW-Serotonin
What is the purpose of a myelin sheath? - ANSW-To increase nerve conduction velocity
What are the Nodes of Ranvier? - ANSW-Narrow gaps in the myelin sheath between Schwann cells.
Action potentials "jump" from node to node
What are the three functional classifications of neurons? - ANSW-1. Afferent (sensory) neurons
2. Efferent (motor) neurons
3. Interneurons (association) neurons
What do the afferent neurons do? - ANSW-Transmit impulses from peripheral receptors to the CNS
What do the efferent neurons do? - ANSW-Transmit impulses from the CNS to effectors
What to the interneurons do? - ANSW-They act as communication links. This makes up most neurons
What is a nerve fiber? - ANSW-A neuronal process such as a dendrite or axon
What is a nerve? - ANSW-A bundle of nerve fibers in the PNS
What is a track? - ANSW-A bundle of nerve fibers in the CNS
What is a nucleus? - ANSW-Clusters of nerve cell bodies in the CNS
What is a ganglion? - ANSW-Clusters of nerve cell bodies in the PNS
What is the transmission of information from a neuron affects another neuron or effector organ - ANSW-
Neurotransmitters alter the status of the post-synaptic membrane, the soma then generates an AP, the
AP potential travels away from the soma through the axon, the AP causes release of neurotransmitters
What is the neuronal information transfer based on? - ANSW-The movement of charged particles (ions)
What is the movement of charged particles governed by? - ANSW-Excitable membranes that surround
the cells
When a neuron is at resting membrane potential, meaning it is inactive, what is the electrical potential in
the nervous tissue and skeletal muscle? - ANSW--Nervous tissue -60 to -70 mV
-Skeletal muscle (sarcolemma) -80 mV
Questions and correct/verified Answers
What are the three functions of the nervous system? - ANSW-1. Sensory
2. Integrative
3. Motor
What is the sensory function of the NS? - ANSW-The NS senses changes in the internal and external
environment
What is the integrative function of the NS? - ANSW-The NS analyzes data, stores data, and decides which
stimuli are important
What is the motor function of the NS? - ANSW-The NS responds to stimuli through muscular
contractions or granular secretions
What are the two principle NS divisions? - ANSW-1. Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
2. Peripheral nervous system (cranial nerves and spinal nerves)
What are the two divisions of the PNS? - ANSW-1. Autonomic nervous system
2. Somatic nervous system
Describe the autonomic nervous system - ANSW-It's involuntary, its connections are to smooth muscle,
cardiac muscle and glands. There are two subdivisions of motor stimuli: excitatory (sympathetic division)
and inhibitory (parasympathetic division)
Describe the somatic nervous system - ANSW-It's voluntary and reflexive muscle activity. The output it to
only skeletal muscle and all motor stimuli are excitatory
What is the functional unit of the NS? - ANSW-The neuron
What part of the neuron receives input? - ANSW-The dendrite
What part of the neuron relays messages out via terminals? - ANSW-The axon
What's the function of a dendrite? - ANSW-To conduct nerve impulses toward the cell body and relay
information from the external environment
What's the function of an axon? - ANSW-To transmit nerve impulses away from the body to other
neurons, muscle fibers, or glands. It also communicates with other cells via the axon terminal
What is the synapse? - ANSW-The junction between neurons and other neurons or effectors (muscle or
gland)
What are the chemical messengers that enable neurotransmission? - ANSW-Neurotransmitters
What are the three categories of neurotransmitters? - ANSW-1. Amino acids
2. Neuropeptides
, 3. Biogenic Amines
What neurotransmitter is inhibitory and what category does it fall under? - ANSW-GABA which causes
hyper polarization and it's amino acids
Name a neuropeptide neurotransmitter - ANSW-Endorphins AKA natural "pain killers"
What are some examples of biogenic amine neurotransmitters? - ANSW-Acetylcholine (ACh) and
catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and serotonin)
Which neurotransmitter is involved with the production of smooth movement and Parkinson's disease? -
ANSW-Dopamine
Which neurotransmitter is linked with depression and Alzheimer's disease? - ANSW-Serotonin
What is the purpose of a myelin sheath? - ANSW-To increase nerve conduction velocity
What are the Nodes of Ranvier? - ANSW-Narrow gaps in the myelin sheath between Schwann cells.
Action potentials "jump" from node to node
What are the three functional classifications of neurons? - ANSW-1. Afferent (sensory) neurons
2. Efferent (motor) neurons
3. Interneurons (association) neurons
What do the afferent neurons do? - ANSW-Transmit impulses from peripheral receptors to the CNS
What do the efferent neurons do? - ANSW-Transmit impulses from the CNS to effectors
What to the interneurons do? - ANSW-They act as communication links. This makes up most neurons
What is a nerve fiber? - ANSW-A neuronal process such as a dendrite or axon
What is a nerve? - ANSW-A bundle of nerve fibers in the PNS
What is a track? - ANSW-A bundle of nerve fibers in the CNS
What is a nucleus? - ANSW-Clusters of nerve cell bodies in the CNS
What is a ganglion? - ANSW-Clusters of nerve cell bodies in the PNS
What is the transmission of information from a neuron affects another neuron or effector organ - ANSW-
Neurotransmitters alter the status of the post-synaptic membrane, the soma then generates an AP, the
AP potential travels away from the soma through the axon, the AP causes release of neurotransmitters
What is the neuronal information transfer based on? - ANSW-The movement of charged particles (ions)
What is the movement of charged particles governed by? - ANSW-Excitable membranes that surround
the cells
When a neuron is at resting membrane potential, meaning it is inactive, what is the electrical potential in
the nervous tissue and skeletal muscle? - ANSW--Nervous tissue -60 to -70 mV
-Skeletal muscle (sarcolemma) -80 mV
