Neuroanatomy
Name 2 major organs that make up the CNS
brain and spinal chord
the 2 major types of nerve cells and their percentages
neurons 10%
neuroglia 90%
The 2 major divisions of the nervous system
central nervous system CNS
peripheral nervous system PNS
the three meninges that protect the brain and spinal cord (from outermost to innermost).
Dura mater, arachnoid membrane, pia mater
amount of spinal nerves that branch from the spinal chord
31 pairs of spinal nerves
the structure that connects the left and right hemispheres in the cerebrum and allows them to communicate
corpus callosum
Differentiate between dendrites and axons in function
Dendrites bring impulses toward the cell body;
axons send impulses away from the cell body.
difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Somatic - voluntary control of skeletal muscle
autonomic - involuntary control of smooth & cardiac muscle and glands; automatic body processes/functions
Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) located and what is one of its protective functions
CSF is in the subarachnoid space between arachnoid and pia mater;
it cushions the brain and prevents it from contacting the skull
In a cross section of the spinal cord, which color (gray or white) forms the central "butterfly" and which is the surrounding area?
Gray matter forms the central "butterfly"; white matter surrounds it
the 3 major regions of the brain stem
mid brain, pons, medulla oblongata
the names and descriptions of the 3 neuron types classified by number of processes
unipolar - 1 process
bipolar - 2 processes
multipolar - 3 or more
the divisions in the autonomic nervous system and the primary role of each
Sympathetic — "fight or flight," prepares/reacts body for emergencies;
Parasympathetic — "rest and digest," restores and conserves energy, calms the body
Amount of ventricles in the brain and what structure produces cerebrospinal fluid
4 ventricles: lateral (2), third, fourth
carachoid plexus produces CSF
the components of a reflex arc in order, starting with the receptor
Receptor → sensory neuron → integration center (often interneuron in the CNS) → motor neuron → effector
list the 4 lobes of the cerebrum and give one primary function for each
Frontal — voluntary movement, reasoning/decision-making, planning, Broca’s area for speech;
Parietal — sensations (touch, temperature, pain), spatial processing;
Occipital — visual processing;
Temporal — memory, hearing, smell, language comprehension, emotion.
the role of Schwann cells and the outer layer formed when they wrap around an axon
wrap around axons in the PNS to form myelin sheath
outer layers are neurilemma
Define sensory (afferent) division and motor (efferent) division in how they pass impulses
Sensory (afferent) division: sends impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS.
Motor (efferent) division: transmits impulses from the CNS to muscles and glands.
the flow lifecycle of CSF (production → circulation → reabsorption), naming one structure involved in reabsorption.
CSF is produced by choroid plexuses in ventricles →
circulates around ventricles and subarachnoid space →
reabsorbed into venous blood through arachnoid granulations.
difference between a somatic reflex and an autonomic reflex with an example of each.
somatic - involving skeletal muscle (voluntary) - knee jerk patellar tendon
autonomic - involving smooth muscle/glands (involuntary) - horomone secretion
Name the 3 parts of the diencephalon and one function of the hypothalamus
Diencephalon contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pineal gland. Hypothalamus functions include autonomic regulation (body temperature, thirst, hunger), controlling hormone release from the pituitary, and roles in emotion
Name of the 3 neuron types by their function and how they carry impulses
Afferent neurons carry impulses toward the CNS (sensory neurons);
Efferent neurons carry impulses away from the CNS to effectors (motor neurons);
Interneurons connect afferent and efferent neurons in the CNS.
name the three steps the nervous system uses to produce a response.
The nervous system senses stimuli (sensory input),
integrates and interprets the information (integration),
issues responses (motor output) that often involve hormonal changes coordinated with the endocrine system
how CSF helps maintain the blood-brain barrier and why that is important for brain homeostasis.
helps buffer and chemically regulate the environment
supports the blood-brain barrier which limits harmful substances and helps keep brain homeostasis
how dorsal and ventral roots differ in function and how they combine to form a spinal nerve.
Dorsal (posterior) roots carry sensory (afferent) fibers into the spinal cord;
ventral (anterior) roots carry motor (efferent) fibers out to effectors.
They join to form a mixed spinal nerve containing both sensory and motor fibers.