CHSO 404 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
What are parts of the CNS? - Answers - brain and spinal cord
What are parts of the PNS? - Answers - afferent sensory, efferent motor, somatic
voluntary, and autonomic involuntary
What are the two neural cells and what are their functions? - Answers - neurons-
functional cells of the nervous system that contain the cell body, dendrites, and axons
schwann cells- supporting cells in the PNS that produce myelin to facilitate rapid
conduction of an action potential
How do nerve cells communicate? - Answers - action potentials- ionic changes that
allow conduction of info along with length of the axon
synaptic transmission- process by which a neuron conveys info to another cell such as
a neuron, muscle cell, or gland
neurotransmitter- key to synaptic transmission; chemical signal released from the
presynaptic neuron that interacts with the post synaptic cell
What are the 5 parts of the cerebral hemisphere? (Cerebrum) - Answers - frontal lobe,
parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe limbic system
What does the frontal lobe control? - Answers - primary motor cortex for precise
movement of hands and feet, phonation (speech), premotor and motor association
cortex for planning of complex learned movement patterns
What does the parietal lobe do? - Answers - primary somatosensory cortex and
somatosensory association cortex for perceiving the meaningfulness of integrated
sensory inputs
What does the temporal lobe do? - Answers - primary auditory cortex important for
discrimination of sounds entering opposite ears, memory associated with certain sound
patterns, long term memory and recall
What does the occipital lobe do? - Answers - primary visual cortex, visual association
cortex to interpret meaning of visual experiences
What does the limbic system do? - Answers - within cerebrum, governs emotional
experiences and controls emotion-related behavior
What is the diencephalon? What two things compose of this area? - Answers - superior
to the brain stem and is enclosed by the cereal hemisphere (the thalamus and
hypothalamus)
,What does the thalamus do? - Answers - relay station for info to and from the cerebral
cortex, relays sensory info to the sensory cortex, relays critical info regarding motor
activities to and from regions of the motor cortex, allows for crud recognition of pleasant
and unpleasant, and some auditory experiences
What does the hypothalamus do? - Answers - master gland that controls most
homeostatic processes in the body- regulates water balance, hunger-satiety, water
balance, overall metabolism, and body temperature
also controls autonomic nervous system (involuntary) and regulates pituitary glands
What 2 things make up the brain stem? What does this part of the area control? -
Answers - contains pons and medulla
regulates basic and essential functions like respiratory control center, cardiovascular
control center, and vasomotor center
also controls swallowing, vomiting, micturition, salivation, pupillary diameter,
consciousness, sleep-wake cycle
What is the reticular formation or reticular activating system (RAS)? - Answers - parts of
the brain stem form this structure
it extends the length of the brain stem and governs these essential functions of the brain
stem (specifically consciousness)
What does the cerebellum do? What two hemispheres does it have? Where is it located
in regards to cerebrum/cerebral hemispheres? - Answers - governs skeletal muscle
activity- running, typing, talking, balance, and equilibrium
contains two hemispheres- outer region of gray matter and inner region of white matter
dorsally under the occipital lobe of the cerebrum
What are the 4 things that protect the CNS? Describe each. - Answers - bone- skull and
vertebral column
meninges- 3 connective tissue membranes
cerebrospinal fluid- water (plasma-like) broth in ventricles that provides a watery
cushion
the blood brain barrier- separation between blood and neurons; relatively impermeable
capillaries to prevent access to brain
What are the 3 connective tissues in the meninges? - Answers - dura mater- double
layer membrane surrounding the brain; outer most layer- closest to skull
arachnoid mater- threadlike extensions span subarachnoid space (filled with CSF); in
between dura and pia mater
pia mater- clings tightly to the surface of brain and spinal cord; inner most layer
What are the two layers in the dura mater? - Answers - periosteal layer- attached to
inner skull surface
meningeal layer- outer most covering and continues as dura mater of spinal cord
,T/F: the dura mater is fused in most areas except for 3 areas due to dural sinuses open
to collect venous blood - Answers - true
T/F: arachnoid villa protrude through dura mater - Answers - true
What are the 4 ventricles that contain CSF? - Answers - 2 lateral ventricles,
diencephalon ventricle, and ventricle in subarachnoid space and central cord of spinal
cord
How is CSF formed? What is it composed of? - Answers - formed from blood by the
choroid plexus, a set of capillary clusters originating from the pia mater that are found in
each ventricle
composed of less protein, more vitamin C, and different in content than plasma
(essentially ultrafiltrate of plasma)
T/F: CSF is constantly absorbed and produced - Answers - true
What substances does the blood brain barrier allow through? What does it not allow
through? - Answers - allows nutrients like water, glucose, and essential amino acids,
anything lipid soluble
does not allow metabolic waste or nonessential amino acids
T/F: Lipid soluble molecules like fats, respiratory gases, and other fat soluble molecules
can pass through the BBB freely - Answers - true
T/F: alcohol, nicotine, and heroin can pass through the BBB easily - Answers - true-
they are all fat soluble
T/F: permeability of the BBB changes throughout the life span; more permeable at birth
- Answers - true
ex: hyperbilirubinemia in infants can suffer brain damage, but is prevented in crossing in
adults
Where does the spinal cord start and end? - Answers - continuation from brain stem
starts from foramen magnum at base of skull and ends at the level of L1 or L2
What is the cauda equina? - Answers - collection of spinal nerves at the inferior end of
spinal cord; relays afferent sensory info to the brain and efferent somatic info from brain
What is the knee jerk response? - Answers - stretch of patellar tendon and extension of
the lower limb
What is the flexor-withdrawal response? - Answers - stimulation by painful stimuli to
cause removal of a limb from that stimulus; accompanied usually by activation of
muscles on the alternating side to prepare for shift in weight distribution
, What spinal reflexes control proprioception? - Answers - myotatic and stretch reflexes
proprioception- position of the body in space
What are spinal nerves? How many are there? - Answers - 32 or more pairs of spinal
nerve
8 pairs of cervical nerves
12 pairs of thoracic nerves
5 pairs of lumbar nerves
5 pairs of sacral nerves
2 or more coccygeal nerves
T/F: the newborn S.C. is different from the adult S.C. - Answers - true- newborn s.c
ends at L2/L3 while adult s.c. ends at L1
T/F: you would perform spinal taps at the level of L3/L4 for adults - Answers - true
Where are the four nerve networks/plexuses that stem into the PNS? - Answers -
cervical (C1-C5)
brachial (C5-TI)
lumbar (L1-L4)
sacral (L4-S5)
How does sensory inputs enter the S.C. and exit to the brain? - Answers - sensory
neurons enter the dorsal root/posterior horns and cell bodies are found in dorsal root
ganglion
How does motor inputs enter the S..C and exit to the brain? - Answers - motor neurons
enter the ventral root/anterior horns and cell bodies are found in the ventral root/anterior
horns
What do interneurons do? - Answers - connect sensory and motor neurons and carry
impulses between them
Where are the dorsal roots and ventral roots located? Where are the dorsal horns and
ventral horns located? - Answers - dorsal roots and ventral roots- gray matter
dorsal horns and ventral horns- white matter
T/F: central canal of S.C. carries the CSF - Answers - true
What is composed of the white matter? What are the 3 regions in the white matter? -
Answers - composed of myelinated fibers/tract
3 regions- posterior columns, lateral columns, anterior columns (sensory/afferent and
motor/efferent tracts travel up and down these columns)
ANSWERS
What are parts of the CNS? - Answers - brain and spinal cord
What are parts of the PNS? - Answers - afferent sensory, efferent motor, somatic
voluntary, and autonomic involuntary
What are the two neural cells and what are their functions? - Answers - neurons-
functional cells of the nervous system that contain the cell body, dendrites, and axons
schwann cells- supporting cells in the PNS that produce myelin to facilitate rapid
conduction of an action potential
How do nerve cells communicate? - Answers - action potentials- ionic changes that
allow conduction of info along with length of the axon
synaptic transmission- process by which a neuron conveys info to another cell such as
a neuron, muscle cell, or gland
neurotransmitter- key to synaptic transmission; chemical signal released from the
presynaptic neuron that interacts with the post synaptic cell
What are the 5 parts of the cerebral hemisphere? (Cerebrum) - Answers - frontal lobe,
parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe limbic system
What does the frontal lobe control? - Answers - primary motor cortex for precise
movement of hands and feet, phonation (speech), premotor and motor association
cortex for planning of complex learned movement patterns
What does the parietal lobe do? - Answers - primary somatosensory cortex and
somatosensory association cortex for perceiving the meaningfulness of integrated
sensory inputs
What does the temporal lobe do? - Answers - primary auditory cortex important for
discrimination of sounds entering opposite ears, memory associated with certain sound
patterns, long term memory and recall
What does the occipital lobe do? - Answers - primary visual cortex, visual association
cortex to interpret meaning of visual experiences
What does the limbic system do? - Answers - within cerebrum, governs emotional
experiences and controls emotion-related behavior
What is the diencephalon? What two things compose of this area? - Answers - superior
to the brain stem and is enclosed by the cereal hemisphere (the thalamus and
hypothalamus)
,What does the thalamus do? - Answers - relay station for info to and from the cerebral
cortex, relays sensory info to the sensory cortex, relays critical info regarding motor
activities to and from regions of the motor cortex, allows for crud recognition of pleasant
and unpleasant, and some auditory experiences
What does the hypothalamus do? - Answers - master gland that controls most
homeostatic processes in the body- regulates water balance, hunger-satiety, water
balance, overall metabolism, and body temperature
also controls autonomic nervous system (involuntary) and regulates pituitary glands
What 2 things make up the brain stem? What does this part of the area control? -
Answers - contains pons and medulla
regulates basic and essential functions like respiratory control center, cardiovascular
control center, and vasomotor center
also controls swallowing, vomiting, micturition, salivation, pupillary diameter,
consciousness, sleep-wake cycle
What is the reticular formation or reticular activating system (RAS)? - Answers - parts of
the brain stem form this structure
it extends the length of the brain stem and governs these essential functions of the brain
stem (specifically consciousness)
What does the cerebellum do? What two hemispheres does it have? Where is it located
in regards to cerebrum/cerebral hemispheres? - Answers - governs skeletal muscle
activity- running, typing, talking, balance, and equilibrium
contains two hemispheres- outer region of gray matter and inner region of white matter
dorsally under the occipital lobe of the cerebrum
What are the 4 things that protect the CNS? Describe each. - Answers - bone- skull and
vertebral column
meninges- 3 connective tissue membranes
cerebrospinal fluid- water (plasma-like) broth in ventricles that provides a watery
cushion
the blood brain barrier- separation between blood and neurons; relatively impermeable
capillaries to prevent access to brain
What are the 3 connective tissues in the meninges? - Answers - dura mater- double
layer membrane surrounding the brain; outer most layer- closest to skull
arachnoid mater- threadlike extensions span subarachnoid space (filled with CSF); in
between dura and pia mater
pia mater- clings tightly to the surface of brain and spinal cord; inner most layer
What are the two layers in the dura mater? - Answers - periosteal layer- attached to
inner skull surface
meningeal layer- outer most covering and continues as dura mater of spinal cord
,T/F: the dura mater is fused in most areas except for 3 areas due to dural sinuses open
to collect venous blood - Answers - true
T/F: arachnoid villa protrude through dura mater - Answers - true
What are the 4 ventricles that contain CSF? - Answers - 2 lateral ventricles,
diencephalon ventricle, and ventricle in subarachnoid space and central cord of spinal
cord
How is CSF formed? What is it composed of? - Answers - formed from blood by the
choroid plexus, a set of capillary clusters originating from the pia mater that are found in
each ventricle
composed of less protein, more vitamin C, and different in content than plasma
(essentially ultrafiltrate of plasma)
T/F: CSF is constantly absorbed and produced - Answers - true
What substances does the blood brain barrier allow through? What does it not allow
through? - Answers - allows nutrients like water, glucose, and essential amino acids,
anything lipid soluble
does not allow metabolic waste or nonessential amino acids
T/F: Lipid soluble molecules like fats, respiratory gases, and other fat soluble molecules
can pass through the BBB freely - Answers - true
T/F: alcohol, nicotine, and heroin can pass through the BBB easily - Answers - true-
they are all fat soluble
T/F: permeability of the BBB changes throughout the life span; more permeable at birth
- Answers - true
ex: hyperbilirubinemia in infants can suffer brain damage, but is prevented in crossing in
adults
Where does the spinal cord start and end? - Answers - continuation from brain stem
starts from foramen magnum at base of skull and ends at the level of L1 or L2
What is the cauda equina? - Answers - collection of spinal nerves at the inferior end of
spinal cord; relays afferent sensory info to the brain and efferent somatic info from brain
What is the knee jerk response? - Answers - stretch of patellar tendon and extension of
the lower limb
What is the flexor-withdrawal response? - Answers - stimulation by painful stimuli to
cause removal of a limb from that stimulus; accompanied usually by activation of
muscles on the alternating side to prepare for shift in weight distribution
, What spinal reflexes control proprioception? - Answers - myotatic and stretch reflexes
proprioception- position of the body in space
What are spinal nerves? How many are there? - Answers - 32 or more pairs of spinal
nerve
8 pairs of cervical nerves
12 pairs of thoracic nerves
5 pairs of lumbar nerves
5 pairs of sacral nerves
2 or more coccygeal nerves
T/F: the newborn S.C. is different from the adult S.C. - Answers - true- newborn s.c
ends at L2/L3 while adult s.c. ends at L1
T/F: you would perform spinal taps at the level of L3/L4 for adults - Answers - true
Where are the four nerve networks/plexuses that stem into the PNS? - Answers -
cervical (C1-C5)
brachial (C5-TI)
lumbar (L1-L4)
sacral (L4-S5)
How does sensory inputs enter the S.C. and exit to the brain? - Answers - sensory
neurons enter the dorsal root/posterior horns and cell bodies are found in dorsal root
ganglion
How does motor inputs enter the S..C and exit to the brain? - Answers - motor neurons
enter the ventral root/anterior horns and cell bodies are found in the ventral root/anterior
horns
What do interneurons do? - Answers - connect sensory and motor neurons and carry
impulses between them
Where are the dorsal roots and ventral roots located? Where are the dorsal horns and
ventral horns located? - Answers - dorsal roots and ventral roots- gray matter
dorsal horns and ventral horns- white matter
T/F: central canal of S.C. carries the CSF - Answers - true
What is composed of the white matter? What are the 3 regions in the white matter? -
Answers - composed of myelinated fibers/tract
3 regions- posterior columns, lateral columns, anterior columns (sensory/afferent and
motor/efferent tracts travel up and down these columns)
