Anatomy of the Neuron & Support
What are the three main types of neurons based on their structure?
Multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar
What structure connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
The corpus callosum.
What is the difference between a somatic sense and a special sense?
Somatic senses (touch/pain) are body-wide; special senses (sight/smell) are localized in the head.
What two ions are most necessary for a nerve impulse?
Sodium (NA+) and Potassium (K+)
Name the four lobes of the brain and describe how they relate to the senses.
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal (locations/functions vary by sense).
Name four types of neuroglia (supporting cells) found in the nervous system.
Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglial cells, and Schwann cells.
Name the three layers of the meninges from outermost to innermost.
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
Compare the functions of rods and cones in the eye.
Rods detect light/dark (night vision); cones detect color and detail.
What is the "threshold" in terms of a nerve impulse?
The minimum level of stimulus required to trigger an action potential.
What is the "Master Gland" of the endocrine system found attached to the base of the brain?
The Pituitary Gland.
What is the difference between white matter and gray matter?
White matter contains myelinated axons; gray matter contains unmyelinated structures and cell bodies.
Distinguish between a gyri, a sulcus, and a fissure.
Gyri are ridges, sulci are shallow grooves, and fissures are deep grooves.
What is "referred pain"?
Pain that feels like it is coming from a different part of the body than the actual source
What happens at the synapse of a neuron?
Neurotransmitters are released to carry the signal to the next cell.
Identify at least four structures found within the brain stem or diencephalon.
Thalamus, hypothalamus, pons, medulla oblongata, or pituitary gland.
On a neuron diagram, what are the gaps between myelin sheaths called?
Nodes of Ranvier
Where are the cervical and lumbar enlargements located, and what do they control?
Cervical (neck) controls arms; Lumbar (lower back) controls legs.
What are olfactory receptors, and where are they located?
They are smell receptors located in the upper nasal passages.
What is a reflex? Name two examples.
An automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus (e.g., knee-jerk or withdrawal reflex).
Which structure acts as a "relay station," directing sensory information to the correct part of the cortex?
The Thalamus.
What is the "chromatophilic substance" found within a neuron's cell body?
It is part of the neuron’s internal machinery for protein synthesis
Distinguish between ascending and descending tracts of the spinal cord.
Ascending tracts carry sensory info to the brain; descending tracts carry motor info to muscles.
Define sensory adaptation and give an example.
Decreased sensitivity to a constant stimulus (e.g., stopping noticing the smell of a candle after a while)
How is pain managed naturally versus pharmaceutically?
Naturally via endorphins/enkephalins; pharmaceutically via drugs like morphine or NSAIDs.
Which specific area of the brain is responsible for "higher-order" functions like decision-making and planning, and which area coordinates complex muscular movements?
The Frontal Lobe (Prefrontal Cortex) handles decision-making; the Cerebellum coordinates muscle movement.