The Nervous System
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. What is the primary function of the nervous system?
The nervous system maintains homeostasis within the body; it serves as the master control and
communication center.
2. Why does the cerebral cortex contain so many folds?
The folds consist of deep grooves called sulci and raised areas called gyri. The folds add to the
surface area of your cerebral cortex, allowing large amounts of information to be processed by
more nerve cells.
3. What is a nerve impulse?
A nerve impulse is relaying a coded signal from a nerve cell to an effector cell (a muscle cell, a
gland cell, or another nerve cell) in response to a stimulus. It is how a nerve cell communicates
with other cells. The signal is relayed along the nerve cell's axon, bringing a message that
instructs the effector to act.
4. What are Schwann cells and what do they form?
Schwann cells are the main glial cells of the PNS which wrap around the axons of motor and
sensory neurons to form myelin sheath.
5. What is an all-or-nothing response?
The all-or-nothing response is a principle that states that the strength of a response of a nerve
cell or muscle fiber is not dependent upon the strength of the stimulus. If a stimulus is above a
certain threshold, a certain nerve or muscle fiber will fire; essentially, there will either be a full
response or none.
6. What two effects might neurotransmitters have?
Inhibition or excitation
©eScience Labs, 2016
, The Nervous System
EXPERIMENT 1: MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Post-Lab Questions
1. Identify the components in the slide image below.
A_________Axon__________
B________Cell bodies______
©eScience Labs, 2016
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. What is the primary function of the nervous system?
The nervous system maintains homeostasis within the body; it serves as the master control and
communication center.
2. Why does the cerebral cortex contain so many folds?
The folds consist of deep grooves called sulci and raised areas called gyri. The folds add to the
surface area of your cerebral cortex, allowing large amounts of information to be processed by
more nerve cells.
3. What is a nerve impulse?
A nerve impulse is relaying a coded signal from a nerve cell to an effector cell (a muscle cell, a
gland cell, or another nerve cell) in response to a stimulus. It is how a nerve cell communicates
with other cells. The signal is relayed along the nerve cell's axon, bringing a message that
instructs the effector to act.
4. What are Schwann cells and what do they form?
Schwann cells are the main glial cells of the PNS which wrap around the axons of motor and
sensory neurons to form myelin sheath.
5. What is an all-or-nothing response?
The all-or-nothing response is a principle that states that the strength of a response of a nerve
cell or muscle fiber is not dependent upon the strength of the stimulus. If a stimulus is above a
certain threshold, a certain nerve or muscle fiber will fire; essentially, there will either be a full
response or none.
6. What two effects might neurotransmitters have?
Inhibition or excitation
©eScience Labs, 2016
, The Nervous System
EXPERIMENT 1: MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Post-Lab Questions
1. Identify the components in the slide image below.
A_________Axon__________
B________Cell bodies______
©eScience Labs, 2016
