Lab 8 The Nervous System BIO201L
Student Name: Monilola Anigala
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-I731J5
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Submissions without proper formatting, all required photos or sufficient responses will be rejected. Pre-
lab Questions
1. What is the primary function of the nervous system?
The nervous system oversees the coordination and regulation of various bodily
functions, encompassing activities like breathing, heartbeat, movement, and cognitive
processes. Additionally, it detects and reacts to stimuli originating both within and
outside the body.
2. Why does the cerebral cortex contain so many folds?
The convolutions in the cerebral cortex, known as gyri and sulci, enhance its surface
area, facilitating the accommodation of more neurons and supporting more intricate
cognitive functions.
3. What is a nerve impulse?
A nerve impulse is a brief electrical signal that travels through a nerve cell, conveying
information from one part of the body to another.
4. What are Schwann cells and what do they form?
Schwann cells, found in the peripheral nervous system, envelop nerve fibers to create a
myelin sheath—a fatty layer that provides insulation for nerve fibers and accelerates the
transmission of nerve impulses.
5. What is an all-or-none response?
An all-or-none response is a type of reaction in which a nerve or muscle fiber either fully
activates or does not activate at all.
6. What two effects might neurotransmitters have?
Neurotransmitters are substances that facilitate communication between nerve cells by
transmitting messages. They can exert either an excitatory or inhibitory effect on the
receiving nerve cell.
,Lab 8 The Nervous System BIO201L
EXPERIMENT 1: MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
Introduction Questions
1. What is the major function of the neuron?
Neurons serve as the fundamental components of the nervous system, responsible for
transmitting and processing information through electrical signals.
2. Define depolarization.
Depolarization refers to the condition where the interior of a neuron becomes less
negative, increasing the likelihood of the neuron firing an action potential.
3. What determines whether a neuron is unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar?
Neurons can be categorized into three types depending on the number of processes
extending from the cell body: unipolar (with one process), bipolar (with two processes), and
multipolar (with multiple processes). The majority of neurons in the human body fall into the
multipolar category.
Data and Observations
1. Label the arrows in the slide images below based on your observations from the
experiment.
A. Axon
B. Cell body
C. Myelinated axons
D. Myelin sheath
, Lab 8 The Nervous System BIO201L
Student Name: Monilola Anigala
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-I731J5
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Submissions without proper formatting, all required photos or sufficient responses will be rejected. Pre-
lab Questions
1. What is the primary function of the nervous system?
The nervous system oversees the coordination and regulation of various bodily
functions, encompassing activities like breathing, heartbeat, movement, and cognitive
processes. Additionally, it detects and reacts to stimuli originating both within and
outside the body.
2. Why does the cerebral cortex contain so many folds?
The convolutions in the cerebral cortex, known as gyri and sulci, enhance its surface
area, facilitating the accommodation of more neurons and supporting more intricate
cognitive functions.
3. What is a nerve impulse?
A nerve impulse is a brief electrical signal that travels through a nerve cell, conveying
information from one part of the body to another.
4. What are Schwann cells and what do they form?
Schwann cells, found in the peripheral nervous system, envelop nerve fibers to create a
myelin sheath—a fatty layer that provides insulation for nerve fibers and accelerates the
transmission of nerve impulses.
5. What is an all-or-none response?
An all-or-none response is a type of reaction in which a nerve or muscle fiber either fully
activates or does not activate at all.
6. What two effects might neurotransmitters have?
Neurotransmitters are substances that facilitate communication between nerve cells by
transmitting messages. They can exert either an excitatory or inhibitory effect on the
receiving nerve cell.
,Lab 8 The Nervous System BIO201L
EXPERIMENT 1: MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
Introduction Questions
1. What is the major function of the neuron?
Neurons serve as the fundamental components of the nervous system, responsible for
transmitting and processing information through electrical signals.
2. Define depolarization.
Depolarization refers to the condition where the interior of a neuron becomes less
negative, increasing the likelihood of the neuron firing an action potential.
3. What determines whether a neuron is unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar?
Neurons can be categorized into three types depending on the number of processes
extending from the cell body: unipolar (with one process), bipolar (with two processes), and
multipolar (with multiple processes). The majority of neurons in the human body fall into the
multipolar category.
Data and Observations
1. Label the arrows in the slide images below based on your observations from the
experiment.
A. Axon
B. Cell body
C. Myelinated axons
D. Myelin sheath
, Lab 8 The Nervous System BIO201L
