Nervous System Basics
The nervous system helps the body maintain a stable internal environment.
What is homeostasis??
The basic unit of the nervous system
What is a neuron?
What is the main job of the peripheral nervous system?
What is carrying messages between the CNS and the rest of the body?
A rapid, automatic response to a stimulus.
What is a reflex?
A condition caused by damage to the myelin sheath, leading to muscle weakness and vision problems.
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
The brain and spinal cord make up this part of the nervous system.
What is the central nervous system?
The part of a neuron that transmits signals away from the cell body.
What is an axon?
Which part of the nervous system includes cranial nerves and spinal nerves?
What is the Peripheral Nervous System?
The fight-or-flight response is controlled by this part of the nervous system.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
A disorder where dopamine-producing neurons degenerate, causing tremors and movement difficulties.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
The autonomic nervous system is divided into these two opposing divisions.
What are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
The insulating layer around some neurons that speeds up electrical impulses.
What is myelin?
The peripheral nervous system is divided into these two parts, which control voluntary and involuntary functions.
What are the somatic and autonomic nervous systems?
Explain the difference between a reflex and a reaction.
What is a reflex (automatic, involuntary response) vs. a reaction (voluntary response requiring brain processing)?
What happens in the brain during a stroke?
What is a lack of blood supply (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke), leading to tissue damage?
This part of the brainstem controls involuntary functions like heart rate and breathing.
What is the medulla oblongata?
What are the three main types of neurons and their functions?
What are sensory neurons (carry signals to CNS), motor neurons (carry signals from CNS), and interneurons (connect neurons within CNS)?
This part of the nervous system helps the body return to a calm state after stress.
What is the Parasymphathetic Nervous System
Describe the steps of the reflex arc in order.
What is sensory receptor → sensory neuron → interneuron (spinal cord) → motor neuron → effector (muscle/gland)?
Damage to this part of the brain can cause problems with memory, understanding language, and recognizing sounds. Which lobe is affected?
What is the temporal lobe?
The cerebrum is divided into four lobes. Name all four and their primary functions.
What are the frontal (thinking/movement), parietal (sensory processing), temporal (hearing/memory), and occipital (vision) lobes?
Explain how an action potential works in a neuron.
What is the process where a neuron depolarizes, sodium ions enter, potassium ions exit, and the impulse travels down the axon?
The spinal cord is a key part of the CNS because it connects the brain to the PNS. How does the spinal cord help protect the body from danger without needing the brain’s input?
What is controlling reflexes by quickly processing signals in the spinal cord without waiting for the brain?
How does the nervous system interact with the endocrine system in response to stress?
What is the hypothalamus signaling the adrenal glands via the autonomic nervous system to release adrenaline and cortisol?
Alzheimer’s disease mainly affects this part of the brain first, causing memory loss and confusion. Which lobe is it?
What is the temporal lobe?