This part of the autonomic system increases digestion. - ANSWER Parasympathetic
This is a collection of cell bodies found in the peripheral nervous system. - ANSWER Gan-
glia
This part of a neuron conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body. - ANSWER Axon
An interneuron inside the spinal cord is part of the: - ANSWER Central nervous system
Describe the synthesis and storage of neurotransmitters. - ANSWER The neuron cell body
manufactures neurotransmitters, which are stored in secretory vesicles at the end of axon
terminals.
An afferent neuron carries information: - ANSWER From the peripheral to the central
nervous system
What is the location and function of Astrocytes? - ANSWER Astrocytes form the
blood/brain barrier, are found in the brain, and are part of the CNS
A patient's left thumb was severed in a cooking accident and then reattached during surgery.
Would the patient be expected to regrow axons in their thumb? Why or why not? - AN-
SWER Yes; Peripheral nerves can regenerate the length of the axon through axonal regen-
eration because of the growth of Schwann cells ahead of the axon.
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,Name and describe what is occurring in the neuron cell membrane in section 2 of the dia-
gram. Include the charge of the membrane during this phase. - ANSWER Depolarization:
The sodium gates open and sodium rushes into the axon during the depolarization phase of
the action potential.
Voltage travels past zero and then on up to +40 mV.
At rest, a neuron plasma membrane is: - ANSWER -70mV
Which of the following is false concerning the sodium-potassium pump? - ANSWER The
overall effect is a negative charge on the outside of the membrane.
True or false: A sensory neuron is signaling the body of a light touch. This means that the
strength of the action potential is weaker than usual. Explain your reasoning. - ANSWER
False. The action potential is always the same. The frequency and number of nuerons acti-
vated change the increase in intensity.
Which of the following statements is false concerning the neuromuscular junction? - AN-
SWER Ach is released from the presynaptic motor neuron to cause an action potential in
the muscle fiber.
How is a message sent from one neuron to another? - ANSWER A signal travels from the
cell body through the axon and releases neurotransmitters into the synapse. These
nuerotransmitters bind with receptor that carry the message to the dendrite of the next
neuron, and the process begins again.
What neurotransmitter helps regulate emotional responses and muscle tone? - ANSWER
Dopamine
In a reflex, the ____________ neuron conducts nerve impulses along a pathway towards the
central nervous system. - ANSWER Sensory (afferent)
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, This part of a reflex is inside the CNS, made up of one or more synapses. - ANSWER The
integration center
What is true about the stretch reflex? - ANSWER The muscle spindle detects stretch
within the muscle.
What is true about the flexor withdrawal reflex? - ANSWER It involves excitatory inter-
neurons.
It involves inhibitory interneurons.
Your doctor taps on your patellar tendon. List out the steps, in detail, of the nervous path-
way of the reflex he is testing. Include any sensory organs involved and the action of the re-
flex. - ANSWER Stretch on patellar tendon (tapping patellar tendon)
Muscle spindle detects stretch
Afferent (sensory) neuron through DRG
Spinal cord
Synapses directly on a motor neuron (efferent)
Action: To muscle fiber to contract quadriceps (kicking foot)
Botulism is a disease caused by a neurotoxin that interferes with the release of Acetylcho-
line. Patients with this disease experience flaccid paralysis, or the inability to contract their
muscles. Explain why this would occur. - ANSWER Acetylcholine triggers the release of so-
dium ions. The sodium ions reach the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which in turn release calcium
ions that begin muscle contraction. If acetylcholine is not able to be released, the muscle
contraction would not be possible.
This layer of the meninges is tightly attached to the brain. - ANSWER Pia Mater
The _______ fissure separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres. - ANSWER trans-
verse median
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