ch07 - The Nervous System
ch07 - The Nervous System
Short Answer
Figure 7.1
8) __________ cells form the myelin sheaths around nerve fibers in the PNS.
Answer: Schwann
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 232
9) That part of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) that is voluntary and conducts impulses
from the Central Nervous System (CNS) to the skeletal muscles is the __________ nervous
system.
Answer: somatic
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 230
10) Cells found in the CNS that cling to neurons and anchor them to blood vessels are called
__________.
Answer: astrocytes
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 230-231
11) The gaps between Schwann cells found at regular intervals in peripheral system neurons are
called __________.
Answer: nodes of Ranvier
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 232; 234
13) Bundles of nerve fibers (neuron processes) running through the CNS are called __________,
whereas in the PNS they are called __________.
Answer: tracts; nerves
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 234
14) The cell bodies of the __________ neurons are always located within the CNS.
Answer: motor
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 236
2
15) Neurons with two processes, an axon and a dendrite, are structurally classified as
__________ neurons.
Answer: bipolar
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 237
16) All motor and association neurons are classified structurally as __________ neurons.
Answer: multipolar
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 236-237
17) When there are fewer positive ions sitting on the inner face of the neuron's plasma
membrane than there are on the outer face of the tissue fluid that surrounds it, the
membrane is said to be __________.
Answer: polarized
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 237
18) A type of reflex that stimulates the skeletal muscles is called a __________ reflex.
Answer: somatic
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 240
19) The thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus collectively constitute the __________.
Answer: diencephalon (interbrain)
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 246
20) The brain dysfunction where blood supply to a region (or regions) of the brain is blocked
and vital brain tissue dies, as by a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel, is called __________.
Answer: cerebrovascular accident (CVA), commonly called a stroke
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 252; 254
21) The brain and spinal cord are protected and cushioned by three connective tissue
membranes that are collectively called __________.
Answer: meninges
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 249
22) The area in the center of the gray matter of the spinal cord that contains cerebrospinal
fluid fluid that continues down the fourth ventricle is called the __________.
Answer: central canal
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 256
23) The primary motor area of the brain allows us to consciously control our __________
muscles.
Answer: skeletal
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 243
24) Diminished effectiveness of the sympathetic nervous system that can cause a type of low
blood pressure during rapid changes in body position (such as when elderly persons stand
up quickly after sitting or lying down) is called __________.
Answer: orthostatic hypotension
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 273
3
25) The perineurium is a coarse connective wrapping that defines the boundary of a fiber bundle
called a(n) __________.
Answer: fascicle
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 258
26) The fissure in the brain that separates the two cerebral hemispheres is called the __________.
Answer: longitudinal fissure
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242
28) The large fiber tract that allows communication between the two cerebral hemispheres is
called the __________.
Answer: corpus callosum
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242
29) The progressive degenerative disease that results in dementia associated with a shortage of
acetylcholine and structural changes in brain areas involving cognition and memory is called
__________.
Answer: Alzheimer's disease
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 253
31) A __________ is a type of traumatic brain injury that results in marked tissue destruction.
Answer: contusion
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 252
32) The only major nerve out of the cervical plexus that supplies the diaphragm and muscles of
the shoulder and neck is the __________ nerve.
Answer: phrenic
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 264
33) __________ disease results from a degeneration of the dopamine-releasing neurons of the
substantia nigra.
Answer: Parkinson's
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 253-254
34) The __________ is a connective tissue wrapping around fasicles of neuron fibers.
Answer: perineurium
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 258
35) Sweat glands that produce perspiration when stimulated are innervated only by the
__________ fibers.
Answer: sympathetic
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 269
4
36) The only pair of cranial nerves to extend to the thoracic and abdominal cavities is the
__________ nerves.
Answer: vagus
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 260
38) The __________ division of the ANS activates when we are frightened or stressed.
Answer: sympathetic
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 266
39) One of the last areas of the CNS to mature is the __________, which regulates body
temperature.
Answer: hypothalamus
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 273
40) The cranial nerve responsible for controlling tongue movements is the __________ nerve,
number __________.
Answer: hypoglossal; XII
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 260
41) Each spinal nerve divides into a dorsal and a ventral __________.
Answer: ramus
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 262
42) The __________ nerve, the largest nerve in the body, splits into the common fibular and tibial
nerves.
Answer: sciatic
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 264
Multiple Choice
1) The term central nervous system refers to the:
A) autonomic and peripheral nervous systems
B) brain, spinal cord, and cranial nerves
C) brain and cranial nerves
D) spinal cord and spinal nerves
E) brain and spinal cord
Answer: E
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 229
5
3) Which of these cells are not a type of neuroglia found in the CNS:
A) astrocytes
B) microglia
C) Schwann cells
D) ependymal cells
E) oligodendrocytes
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 230-232
5) The neuron processes that normally receive incoming stimuli are called:
A) axons
B) dendrites
C) neurolemmas
D) Schwann cells
E) satellite cells
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 232
7) Which one of the following best describes the waxy-appearing material called myelin:
A) an outer membrane on a neuroglial cell
B) a lipid-protein (lipoprotein) cell membrane on the outside of axons
C) a mass of white lipid material that surrounds the cell body of a neuron
D) a mass of white lipid material that insulates the axon of a neuron
E) a mass of white lipid material that surrounds the dendrites of a neuron
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 232
6
8) Which of the following sensory receptors is a touch receptor:
A) Golgi tendon organ
B) Meissner's corpuscle
C) Pacinian corpuscle
D) naked nerve endings
E) muscle spindles
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 235-236
9) A neuron with a cell body located in the CNS whose primary function is connecting other
neurons is called a(n):
A) efferent neuron
B) afferent neuron
C) association neuron
D) glial cell
E) satellite cell
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 236
7
13) An action potential:
A) is essential for nerve impulse propagation
B) involves the influx of negative ions to depolarize the membrane
C) involves the outflux of negative ions to depolarize the membrane
D) involves the outflux of positive ions to depolarize the membrane
E) is initiated by potassium ion movements
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 237-239
14) Immediately after an action potential is propagated, which one of the following ions rapidly
diffuses out of the cell into the tissue fluid:
A) sodium
B) chloride
C) calcium
D) potassium
E) magnesium
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 239
15) An action potential is caused by an influx of these ions into the cell:
A) potassium
B) sodium
C) calcium
D) magnesium
E) both potassium and sodium
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 237-239
8
18) Which one of the following is the correct sequence of events that follows a threshold
potential:
1. the membrane becomes depolarized
2. sodium channels open and sodium ions diffuse inward
3. the membrane becomes repolarized
4. potassium channels open and potassium ions diffuse outward while sodium is actively
transported out of the cell
A) 3, 2, 4, 1
B) 2, 1, 4, 3
C) 2, 1, 3, 4
D) 1, 2, 4, 3
E) 4, 1, 3, 2
Answer: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 237-239
21) The substance that is released at axonal endings to propagate a nervous impulse is called:
A) an ion
B) nerve glue
C) a neurotransmitter
D) the sodium-potassium pump
E) an action potential
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 239
22) Which of the following is the correct sequence in a typical reflex arc:
A) effector, afferent neuron, integration center, efferent neuron, receptor
B) receptor, afferent neuron, integration center, efferent neuron, effector
C) effector, efferent neuron, integration center, afferent neuron, receptor
D) receptor, efferent neuron, integration center, afferent neuron, effector
E) receptor, afferent neuron, efferent neuron, integration center, effector
Answer: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 240
9
23) Muscles and glands are:
A) receptors
B) effectors
C) myelinated
D) part of the peripheral nervous system
E) part of the central nervous system
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 240
24) The three major parts of the brain stem are the:
A) cerebrum, cerebellum, and diencephalon
B) thalamus, epithalamus, and hypothalamus
C) dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater
D) midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
E) basal nuclei, pineal body, and choroid plexus
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 247-248
25) The elevated ridges of tissue on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres are known as
__________ while the shallow grooves are termed __________.
A) sulci; gyri
B) gyri; sulci
C) ganglia; gyri
D) tracts; ganglia
E) receptors; effectors
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242
27) Sally has a brain injury; she knows what she wants to say but can't vocalize the words. The
part of her brain that deals with the ability to speak is the:
A) longitudinal fissure
B) gyrus
C) central sulcus
D) Broca's area
E) primary motor area
Answer: D
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 243
10
28) The midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata are housed in the:
A) diencephalon
B) hypothalamus
C) brain stem
D) pineal gland
E) cerebellum
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 247-248
29) Lobe that contains the primary motor area that enables voluntary control of skeletal muscle
movements:
A) parietal lobe
B) temporal lobe
C) occipital lobe
D) frontal lobe
E) diencephalon
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 243
32) The area of the brain stem that plays a role in consciousness and the awake/sleep cycles is
the:
A) thalamus
B) reticular activating system (RAS)
C) pineal gland
D) limbic system
E) cerebellum
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 248
11
33) Control of temperature, endocrine activity, metabolism, and thirst are functions associated
with the:
A) medulla oblongata
B) cerebellum
C) hypothalamus
D) thalamus
E) cerebrum
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 246-247
34) The vital centers for the control of visceral activities such as heart rate, breathing, blood
pressure, swallowing, and vomiting are located in the:
A) pons
B) medulla oblongata
C) midbrain
D) cerebrum
E) hypothalamus
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 248
36) Which one of the following represents the correct sequence from outermost to innermost
layers of the meninges:
A) pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid mater
B) pia mater, arachnoid mater, dura mater
C) arachnoid mater, dura mater, pia mater
D) dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater
E) dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 249-251
12
38) The cerebrospinal fluid:
A) is secreted by the arachnoid villi
B) enters the four ventricles after filling and circulating through the subarachnoid space
C) is secreted mostly by the ependymal cells lining the brain ventricles
D) is continually formed mostly by the choroid plexuses
E) is identical in composition to whole blood
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 251
42) Cell bodies of the sensory neurons of the spinal nerves are located in:
A) the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord
B) the ventral root ganglia of the spinal cord
C) the thalamus
D) the hypothalamus
E) sympathetic ganglia
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 256
13
43) Which one of the following is the correct sequence of nerves that exit the spinal cord, going
from superior to inferior:
A) thoracic spinal nerves, cervical spinal nerves, lumbar spinal nerves, sacral spinal nerves
B) cervical spinal nerves, lumbar spinal nerves, thoracic spinal nerves, sacral spinal nerves
C) thoracic spinal nerves, cervical spinal nerves, sacral spinal nerves, lumbar spinal nerves
D) cervical spinal nerves, thoracic spinal nerves, sacral spinal nerves, lumbar spinal nerves
E) cervical spinal nerves, thoracic spinal nerves, lumbar spinal nerves, sacral spinal nerves
Answer: E
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 255
44) Which one of the following is the correct sequence in connective tissue sheaths, going from
outermost to innermost layer:
A) epineurium, endoneurium, perineurium
B) epineurium, perineurium, endoneurium
C) perineurium, epineurium, endoneurium
D) perineurium, endoneurium, epineurium
E) endoneurium, epineurium, perineurium
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 258
45) Afferent nerves are called __________, and motor nerves are called __________.
A) motor nerves; sensory nerves
B) peripheral nerves; cranial nerves
C) mixed nerves; motor nerves
D) sensory nerves; efferent nerves
E) cranial nerves; peripheral nerves
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 258
47) The nerve that contains sensory fibers that are involved in hearing is:
A) cranial nerve II
B) cranial nerve III
C) cranial nerve V
D) cranial nerve VIII
E) cranial nerve IX
Answer: D
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 260
14
48) Spinal nerves exiting the cord from the level of L 4 to S4 form the:
A) lumbar plexus
B) femoral plexus
C) sacral plexus
D) thoracic plexus
E) obturator plexus
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 263-264
49) Damage to this nerve results in "wristdrop," the inability to extend the hand at the wrist:
A) phrenic
B) axillary
C) obturator
D) radial
E) femoral
Answer: D
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 264
50) Which of the nerves plexuses originates from ventral rami L1-L4:
A) sacral
B) spinal
C) lumbar
D) brachial
E) cervical
Answer: C
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 264
51) Which of the nerve plexuses serves the shoulder and arm:
A) sacral
B) phrenic
C) lumbar
D) brachial
E) cervical
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 264-265
52) The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body resulting from a combination of which two
nerves:
A) pudendal and femoral nerves
B) femoral and tibial nerves
C) pudendal and common peroneal nerves
D) common fibular and tibial nerves
E) pudendal and tibial nerves
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 264
15
53) The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are subdivisions of the:
A) central nervous system
B) voluntary nervous system
C) autonomic nervous system
D) somatic nervous system
E) peripheral nervous system
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 230; 266
54) In contrast to the somatic nervous system, the autonomic nervous system:
A) has two motor neurons
B) has two afferent neurons
C) stimulates its effector cells
D) has both afferent and efferent fibers
E) has centers in the brain and spinal cord
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 230; 262
55) Which one of these effectors is NOT directly controlled by the autonomic nervous system:
A) smooth muscle
B) cardiac muscle
C) skeletal muscle
D) most glands
E) abdominal organs
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 262
56) Preparing the body for the "fight-or-flight" response during threatening situations is the role
of the:
A) sympathetic nervous system
B) cerebrum
C) parasympathetic nervous system
D) somatic nervous system
E) afferent nervous system
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 270
57) Which of the following effects is characteristic of the parasympathetic nervous system:
A) decreases activity of the digestive system
B) stimulates sweat glands to produce perspiration
C) decreases urine output
D) increases metabolic rate
E) decreases heart rate
Answer: E
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 269
16
58) The effects of the sympathetic nervous system are essentially opposite of the:
A) central nervous system
B) parasympathetic nervous system
C) autonomic nervous system
D) motor division
E) sensory division
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 230; 270
61) Which one of the following statements about aging is most accurate:
A) the brain reaches its maximum weight around the seventh decade of life
B) synaptic connections are too fixed to permit a great deal of learning after the age of 35
C) despite some neuronal loss, an unlimited number of neural pathways are available and
ready to be developed; therefore, additional learning can occur throughout life
D) learning throughout the adult and aging years is supported primarily by glial
proliferation
E) increased efficiency of the sympathetic nervous system enhances the ability to learn
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 272-273
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True/False
1) Myelination of nerve fibers in the central nervous system is the job of the oligodendrocyte.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 230-232
3) The nodes of Ranvier are found at regular intervals only on myelinated, peripheral nerve
fibers.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 232-234
4) Cell bodies of sensory neurons are always located in ganglia lying outside the central
nervous system.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 234
5) An afferent sensory neuron carries stimuli from the central nervous system to the effector.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 235
8) The all-or-none phenomenon as applied to nerve conduction states that the whole nerve cell
must be stimulated for conduction to take place.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 239
10) Saltatory conduction occurs due to the presence of salt (NaCl) around the neuron.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 239
11) A polarized neuron has fewer positive ions inside in comparison to the outside of the
neuron.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 237
18
12) Difficulty in breathing may reflect damage to respiratory centers located in the cerebellum.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 248
13) One of the major functions of the pons is to produce releasing factors that control the
function of the anterior pituitary.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 246
15) Cerebrospinal fluid circulates within the ventricles of the brain and also in the subarachnoid
space outside the brain.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 251
16) The collection of spinal nerves at the inferior end of the spinal cord is called the cauda
equina.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 256
17) There is no possibility of damaging the spinal cord below the third lumbar vertebra.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 255
18) The glossopharyngeal nerve is the only cranial nerve pair that contains sensory fibers.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 259-260
19) Cranial nerve XI is the accessory nerve that controls tongue movement.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 259-260
20) There are 31 pairs of cranial nerves and 12 pairs of spinal nerves.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 258; 262
22) Sympathetic postganglionic fibers release norepinephrine and the preganglionic axon
releases acetyocholine.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 269
23) In contrast to the parasympathetic division, the sympathetic division has numerous
ganglionic neurons in the gray matter of the spinal cord.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 266-268
19
24) Most body organs are innervated by only the sympathetic division of the nervous system.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 266-270
Matching
Match the following:
1) Period when the interior of A) repolarization
the cell becomes less negative
due to an influx of sodium
ions
B) depolarization
1) B 2) A 3) C 4) D 5) E
20
Match the following:
6) Auditory area A) temporal lobe
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242-243 B) parietal lobe
7) Primary sensory cortex C) corticospinal tract
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242-243
8) Somatic motor cortex D) frontal lobe
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242-243 E) pyramidal tract
9) Motor speech area F) occipital lobe
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242-243
10) Premotor area G) basal nuclei
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 242-243 H) interbrain
6) A 7) B 8) D 9) D 10) D 11) F
21
Match the following:
18) Cranial nerve IV A) Optic
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 259-260 B) Vagus
19) Moves eyes laterally C) Trochlear
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 259-260
20) Cranial nerve II D) Facial
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 259-260 E) Abducens
21) Controls lens shape and F) Accessory
pupil size
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 259-260 G) Glossopharyngeal
22) Cranial nerve IX H) Oculomotor
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 259-260
23) Promotes digestive activity I) Trigeminal
and regulates heart activity
J) Hypoglossal
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 259-260 K) Vestibulocochlear
24) Cranial nerve VII L) Olfactory
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 259-260
Essay
1) List and explain the three general functions of the nervous system
Answer: 1. Sensory (input) function the nervous system uses millions of sensory receptors to
monitor changes (stimuli) inside and outside the body; the gathered information is
called the sensory function.
2. Integrative function the nervous system processes and interprets sensory input
and makes decisions about what should be done and the magnitude to which it
should be done at each moment.
3. Motor (output) function the process of reaction to stimuli; the body responds by
activating muscles that can produce motion or glands that can produce and secrete
hormones.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 228-229
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2) List and describe the two principal divisions of the peripheral nervous system and their
subdivisions.
Answer: 1. Sensory (afferent) division consists of nerve fibers that convey impulses to the
central nervous system from sensory receptors located in various parts of the body
(i.e., skin, skeletal muscle, visceral organs). This is further subdivided into:
a. Somatic sensory (afferent) fibers consist of nerve fibers that convey
impulses from the skin, skeletal muscle, and joints to the central nervous
system.
b. Visceral sensory (afferent) fibers consist of nerve fibers that convey
impulses from the visceral organs to the central nervous system.
2. Motor (efferent) division consists of nerve fibers that convey impulses from the
central nervous system to effected organs called effectors (i.e., muscles and glands).
This is further subdivided into:
a. Somatic (voluntary) nervous system carries impulses from the central
nervous system to effectors (skeletal muscles); allows for conscious control of
skeletal muscle.
b. Autonomic (involuntary) nervous system carries impulses from the central
nervous system to smooth and cardiac muscle and glands; has two
subdivisions the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 229-230
3) List and explain the four major events that take place during the conduction of a nerve
impulse beginning with the resting membrane.
Answer: 1. Electrical condition of a resting (polarized) membrane in a resting membrane, the
external face of the membrane is slightly positive; its internal face is slightly negative.
The chief extracellular ion is sodium, whereas the chief intracellular ion is potassium.
A polarized membrane is relatively impermeable to both ions.
2. Depolarization and generation of an action potential a stimulus changes the
permeability of a "patch" of the membrane, and sodium ions diffuse rapidly into the
cell. This changes the polarity of the membrane (the outside becomes more negative).
If the stimulus is strong enough, an action potential is initiated.
3. Propagation of an action potential depolarization of the first membrane patch
causes permeability changes in the adjacent membrane and the events described in "2"
(above) are repeated. Thus the action potential propagates rapidly along the entire
length of the membrane.
4. Repolarization potassium ions diffuse out of the cell as membrane permeability
changes again, restoring the negative charge on the inside of the membrane and the
positive charge on the outside surface. Repolarization occurs in the same direction as
depolarization. The ionic conditions of the resting state are later restored by the
activity of the sodium-potassium pump.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 237-239
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4) List the four events that lead to transmission of an impulse across a synapse.
Answer: 1. The impulse arrives at the synaptic knob of the presynaptic neuron.
2. The synaptic vesicle fuses with the presynaptic neuron membrane and the
chemical neurotransmitter is released via exocytosis.
3. The neurotransmitter is released, travels across the synaptic cleft, and binds to
receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron. If sufficient neurotransmitter is released, the
entire series of events involved in the conduction of a nerve impulse will occur in the
postsynaptic neuron.
4. The electrical changes prompted by neurotransmitter binding are very brief
because the neurotransmitter is quickly removed from the synapse either by re-uptake
into the axonal terminal or by enzymatic breakdown.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 239-240
5) Compare the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system
with respect to the location of the centers, location of the ganglia, neurotransmitters, and
their specific effects.
Answer: 1. Location of the Centers
Sympathetic Nervous System centers are located in the gray matter of the spinal cord
from T1 to L2 (therefore it is also called the thoracolumbar nervous system).
Parasympathetic Nervous System centers are located in the brain (in nuclei of several
of the cranial nerves) and in the sacral region of the spinal cord (S2 to S4).
2. Location of Ganglia
Sympathetic Nervous System ganglia are located in a sympathetic chain or trunks
located just outside the spinal cord on each side. Accordingly, preganglionic neurons
have short axons and postganglionic neurons have long axons.
Parasympathetic Nervous System ganglia are located in terminal ganglia, a short
distance from the organs served. Accordingly, preganglionic neurons have long axons
and postganglionic neurons have short axons.
3. Neurotransmitters
Sympathetic Nervous System preganglionic axons are cholinergic fibers (produce
acetylcholine) and postganglionic axons are adrenergic fibers (produce
norepinephrine).
Parasympathetic Nervous System both preganglionic and postganglionic axons are
cholinergic fibers (produce acetylcholine).
4. General Effects generally speaking, the sympathetic and parasympathetic
branches of the autonomic nervous system are antagonistic: on any one organ, these
two branches have opposite and counter-balancing effects.
Sympathetic Nervous System often referred to as the "fight or flight" nervous system;
it is active when in an emergency or a threatening situation.
Parasympathetic Nervous System often referred to as the "rest and digest" nervous
system; it is most active when the body is not threatened in any way and is
functioning to conserve body energy and promote normal digestion and elmination.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 230;262; 266-270
24
6) Explain how multiple sclerosis affects nerve functioning.
Answer: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience destruction of their myelin sheaths. As
destruction progresses, the electrical current is short-circuited. The person affected
with MS may experience visual and speech disturbances and lose muscle control.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 234
8) Describe the cells that form myelin sheaths in the CNS and PNS.
Answer: 1. In the CNS, oligodendrocytes wrap their extensions around nerve fibers
producing myelin sheaths. Oligodendrocytes can wrap as many as 60 different nerve
fibers at the same time.
2. In the PNS, Schwann cells wrap around the axons of nerve fibers.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 232
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