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VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026-2027!!
What are the two major divisions of the nervous system? - ANSWER Central
nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What structures make up the central nervous system (CNS)? - ANSWER Brain
and spinal cord
What is the primary role of the brain within the CNS? - ANSWER Receives and
processes sensory information, initiates responses, stores memories, and
generates thoughts and emotions
What is the primary role of the spinal cord? - ANSWER Conducts signals to and
from the brain and controls reflex activities
Can the central nervous system be excitatory or inhibitory and what determines
this? - ANSWER Yes; it can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on the stimulus
What are the two main components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)? -
ANSWER Motor neurons and sensory neurons
What is the function of sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system? -
ANSWER Transmit information from sensory organs to the CNS
What is the function of motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system? -
ANSWER Transmit signals from the CNS to muscles and glands
How does communication between the brain and body occur via the peripheral
nervous system? - ANSWER The brain sends motor signals to the body and
receives sensory information back from the periphery
Into what two systems do motor neurons further divide? - ANSWER Somatic
nervous system and autonomic nervous system
What is the function of the somatic nervous system? - ANSWER Controls
voluntary movements
What is the primary role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)? - ANSWER
Controls involuntary responses
What is the overall goal of the autonomic nervous system? - ANSWER Maintain
homeostasis
,What physiological functions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system? -
ANSWER Sweating, heart rate, blood pressure, GI motility, secretions, pupillary
responses, bladder function, and temperature regulation
What are the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system? - ANSWER
Sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems
What is the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Fight or flight
What is the primary function of the parasympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Rest and digest
What is unique about the enteric nervous system? - ANSWER Neurons are
primarily located in the gut wall
What part of the neuron is the cell body also called? - ANSWER Soma
Where are dendrites located on the neuron? - ANSWER On the soma (cell body)
What is the axon responsible for in neuron signaling? - ANSWER Carrying the
action potential from the presynaptic cell toward the synapse
What is the presynaptic cell? - ANSWER The sending neuron
What is the postsynaptic cell? - ANSWER The receiving neuron
What is a synapse? - ANSWER The site where the presynaptic and postsynaptic
neurons communicate
What triggers neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminal? - ANSWER
An action potential
How are neurotransmitters released from the presynaptic neuron? - ANSWER Via
calcium-dependent exocytosis
Where are neurotransmitters stored before release? - ANSWER In synaptic
vesicles
Where do neurotransmitters bind after release? - ANSWER Receptors on the
postsynaptic membrane
What happens when neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors? -
ANSWER They generate a postsynaptic response or action potential
,What is a ganglion? - ANSWER A cluster of neuronal cell bodies
What is another name for the sympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Thoracolumbar nervous system
From which spinal cord levels do sympathetic nerves arise? - ANSWER T1-L2
Where are sympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies located? - ANSWER
Intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord
Through which spinal root do sympathetic neurons leave the spinal cord? -
ANSWER Ventral root
Through which spinal root do sensory neurons return to the spinal cord? -
ANSWER Dorsal root
What structure is formed by paired sympathetic ganglia alongside the spine? -
ANSWER Paravertebral sympathetic chain
How many pairs of ganglia make up the paravertebral sympathetic chain? -
ANSWER 22 pairs
What neurotransmitter is released by sympathetic preganglionic neurons? -
ANSWER Acetylcholine
Which receptors do sympathetic preganglionic neurons activate? - ANSWER
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
What neurotransmitter is released by most sympathetic postganglionic neurons?
- ANSWER Norepinephrine
What is the major exception to norepinephrine release in the SNS? - ANSWER
Sweat glands
What neurotransmitter is released at sweat glands? - ANSWER Acetylcholine
What is another name for the parasympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Craniosacral system
Which cranial nerves carry parasympathetic fibers? - ANSWER CN III, V3, VII, IX,
and X
Which nerve contains ~75% of parasympathetic fibers? - ANSWER Vagus nerve
What is the fiber length pattern of the parasympathetic nervous system? -
ANSWER Long preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers
, What neurotransmitter is released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons? -
ANSWER Acetylcholine
Which receptors do parasympathetic postganglionic neurons activate? -
ANSWER Muscarinic receptors
What are the two main endogenous neurotransmitters of the ANS? - ANSWER
Acetylcholine and norepinephrine
Which additional catecholamines are endogenous? - ANSWER Dopamine and
epinephrine
Can neurotransmitters be excitatory or inhibitory? - ANSWER Yes, depending on
receptor type
What type of molecule is acetylcholine? - ANSWER Quaternary ammonium ester
Can acetylcholine cross the blood-brain barrier? - ANSWER No
Where is acetylcholine synthesized? - ANSWER In the mitochondria
What enzyme breaks down acetylcholine? - ANSWER Acetylcholinesterase
What are other names for acetylcholinesterase? - ANSWER True cholinesterase,
specific cholinesterase, type I cholinesterase
What happens to acetylcholine after breakdown? - ANSWER Acetic acid diffuses
away and choline is recycled
How does botulinum toxin cause paralysis? - ANSWER It blocks acetylcholine
release from synaptic vesicles
What is the main endogenous neurotransmitter at adrenergic receptors? -
ANSWER Norepinephrine
How is norepinephrine terminated? - ANSWER Primarily by reuptake
What transporter mediates norepinephrine reuptake? - ANSWER NET
(norepinephrine transporter)
What enzymes metabolize norepinephrine? - ANSWER MAO and COMT
What is the primary urinary metabolite of norepinephrine? - ANSWER
Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026-2027!!
What are the two major divisions of the nervous system? - ANSWER Central
nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What structures make up the central nervous system (CNS)? - ANSWER Brain
and spinal cord
What is the primary role of the brain within the CNS? - ANSWER Receives and
processes sensory information, initiates responses, stores memories, and
generates thoughts and emotions
What is the primary role of the spinal cord? - ANSWER Conducts signals to and
from the brain and controls reflex activities
Can the central nervous system be excitatory or inhibitory and what determines
this? - ANSWER Yes; it can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on the stimulus
What are the two main components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)? -
ANSWER Motor neurons and sensory neurons
What is the function of sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system? -
ANSWER Transmit information from sensory organs to the CNS
What is the function of motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system? -
ANSWER Transmit signals from the CNS to muscles and glands
How does communication between the brain and body occur via the peripheral
nervous system? - ANSWER The brain sends motor signals to the body and
receives sensory information back from the periphery
Into what two systems do motor neurons further divide? - ANSWER Somatic
nervous system and autonomic nervous system
What is the function of the somatic nervous system? - ANSWER Controls
voluntary movements
What is the primary role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)? - ANSWER
Controls involuntary responses
What is the overall goal of the autonomic nervous system? - ANSWER Maintain
homeostasis
,What physiological functions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system? -
ANSWER Sweating, heart rate, blood pressure, GI motility, secretions, pupillary
responses, bladder function, and temperature regulation
What are the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system? - ANSWER
Sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems
What is the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Fight or flight
What is the primary function of the parasympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Rest and digest
What is unique about the enteric nervous system? - ANSWER Neurons are
primarily located in the gut wall
What part of the neuron is the cell body also called? - ANSWER Soma
Where are dendrites located on the neuron? - ANSWER On the soma (cell body)
What is the axon responsible for in neuron signaling? - ANSWER Carrying the
action potential from the presynaptic cell toward the synapse
What is the presynaptic cell? - ANSWER The sending neuron
What is the postsynaptic cell? - ANSWER The receiving neuron
What is a synapse? - ANSWER The site where the presynaptic and postsynaptic
neurons communicate
What triggers neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminal? - ANSWER
An action potential
How are neurotransmitters released from the presynaptic neuron? - ANSWER Via
calcium-dependent exocytosis
Where are neurotransmitters stored before release? - ANSWER In synaptic
vesicles
Where do neurotransmitters bind after release? - ANSWER Receptors on the
postsynaptic membrane
What happens when neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors? -
ANSWER They generate a postsynaptic response or action potential
,What is a ganglion? - ANSWER A cluster of neuronal cell bodies
What is another name for the sympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Thoracolumbar nervous system
From which spinal cord levels do sympathetic nerves arise? - ANSWER T1-L2
Where are sympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies located? - ANSWER
Intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord
Through which spinal root do sympathetic neurons leave the spinal cord? -
ANSWER Ventral root
Through which spinal root do sensory neurons return to the spinal cord? -
ANSWER Dorsal root
What structure is formed by paired sympathetic ganglia alongside the spine? -
ANSWER Paravertebral sympathetic chain
How many pairs of ganglia make up the paravertebral sympathetic chain? -
ANSWER 22 pairs
What neurotransmitter is released by sympathetic preganglionic neurons? -
ANSWER Acetylcholine
Which receptors do sympathetic preganglionic neurons activate? - ANSWER
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
What neurotransmitter is released by most sympathetic postganglionic neurons?
- ANSWER Norepinephrine
What is the major exception to norepinephrine release in the SNS? - ANSWER
Sweat glands
What neurotransmitter is released at sweat glands? - ANSWER Acetylcholine
What is another name for the parasympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER
Craniosacral system
Which cranial nerves carry parasympathetic fibers? - ANSWER CN III, V3, VII, IX,
and X
Which nerve contains ~75% of parasympathetic fibers? - ANSWER Vagus nerve
What is the fiber length pattern of the parasympathetic nervous system? -
ANSWER Long preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers
, What neurotransmitter is released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons? -
ANSWER Acetylcholine
Which receptors do parasympathetic postganglionic neurons activate? -
ANSWER Muscarinic receptors
What are the two main endogenous neurotransmitters of the ANS? - ANSWER
Acetylcholine and norepinephrine
Which additional catecholamines are endogenous? - ANSWER Dopamine and
epinephrine
Can neurotransmitters be excitatory or inhibitory? - ANSWER Yes, depending on
receptor type
What type of molecule is acetylcholine? - ANSWER Quaternary ammonium ester
Can acetylcholine cross the blood-brain barrier? - ANSWER No
Where is acetylcholine synthesized? - ANSWER In the mitochondria
What enzyme breaks down acetylcholine? - ANSWER Acetylcholinesterase
What are other names for acetylcholinesterase? - ANSWER True cholinesterase,
specific cholinesterase, type I cholinesterase
What happens to acetylcholine after breakdown? - ANSWER Acetic acid diffuses
away and choline is recycled
How does botulinum toxin cause paralysis? - ANSWER It blocks acetylcholine
release from synaptic vesicles
What is the main endogenous neurotransmitter at adrenergic receptors? -
ANSWER Norepinephrine
How is norepinephrine terminated? - ANSWER Primarily by reuptake
What transporter mediates norepinephrine reuptake? - ANSWER NET
(norepinephrine transporter)
What enzymes metabolize norepinephrine? - ANSWER MAO and COMT
What is the primary urinary metabolite of norepinephrine? - ANSWER
Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)
