Nervous Tissue
Action Potentials
Spinal Cord
Brain Anatomy
Cranial Nerves
Clinical Connections
100

These three universal properties enable neurons to receive, transmit, and communicate information throughout the nervous system.

What are excitability, conductivity, and secretion?

100

The resting membrane potential of most neurons is approximately this value.

What is –70 mV?

100

Which region of the spinal cord contains the cell bodies of somatic motor neurons?

What is the anterior (ventral) horn?

100

This lobe is primarily responsible for vision.

What is the occipital lobe?

100

Damage to this cranial nerve would prevent a person from detecting odors but would not affect taste.

What is the olfactory nerve (CN I)?

100

This autoimmune disease destroys myelin in the CNS.

What is multiple sclerosis?

200

Interneurons are primarily found in this part of the nervous system and serve this major function.

What is the central nervous system; integrating and processing information?

200

Once this value is reached, an action potential occurs according to the all-or-none law.

What is the threshold potential?

200

The spinal dura mater is separated from the vertebral bones by this fat-filled space.

What is the epidural space?

200

This brain region serves as the major relay station for sensory information.

What is the thalamus?

200

This cranial nerve carries visual information from the retina.

What is the optic nerve (CN II)?

200

Compression of this nerve commonly causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

What is the median nerve?

300

These glial cells form the myelin sheath around several CNS axons at the same time.

What are oligodendrocytes?

300

During depolarization, these channels open first.

What are voltage-gated sodium channels?

300

Cerebrospinal fluid cushions the spinal cord by circulating within this meningeal space.

What is the subarachnoid space?

300

This part of the diencephalon regulates body temperature, hunger, and hormone control.

What is the hypothalamus?

300

This mixed cranial nerve is the longest and provides parasympathetic innervation to many thoracic and abdominal organs.

What is the vagus nerve (CN X)?

300

Pain radiating down the posterior leg from compression of the sciatic nerve is called this.

What is sciatica?

400

This type of axonal transport moves worn-out organelles back to the cell body for recycling.

What is retrograde transport?

400

This period prevents another action potential from occurring regardless of stimulus strength.

What is the absolute refractory period?

400

These pathways carry sensory information toward the brain.

What are ascending tracts?

400

This hindbrain structure coordinates balance and fine motor movement.

What is the cerebellum?

400

Damage to this cranial nerve can produce Bell's palsy.

What is the facial nerve (CN VII)?

400

Paralysis of both lower limbs after spinal cord injury is called this.

What is paraplegia?

500

Myelin increases the speed of nerve impulses primarily because it does this to the axonal membrane.

What is electrically insulates the axon, allowing impulses to travel rapidly between nodes?

500

Conduction that appears to "jump" from node to node is called this.

What is saltatory conduction?

500

Withdrawal from a painful stimulus is an example of this type of reflex.

What is a flexor (withdrawal) reflex?

500

Damage to this area can result in an irreversible coma because it helps regulate consciousness.

What is the reticular formation?

500

This cranial nerve controls tongue movements used for speech and swallowing.

What is the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)?

500

This occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, causing loss of brain tissue.

What is a stroke?