BMS 300 EXAM #2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
central canal - ANSWER-the canal running the length of the spinal cord that is an
extension of the ventricular stem in the brain
gray matter - ANSWER-a collection of cell bodies and unmyelinated axons
white matter - ANSWER-a collection of myelinated axons
dorsal horn - ANSWER-gray matter of the spinal cord that is composed of cell bodies
and dendrites of interneurons that process afferent information
ventral horn - ANSWER-gray matter of the spinal cord that is composed of cell
bodies and dendrites of lower motor neurons
ventral root - ANSWER-the path, composed of white matter, through which lower
motor neurons exit the spinal cord
lower motor neuron - ANSWER-neurons that innervate skeletal muscle
dorsal root - ANSWER-the path, composed of white matter, through which sensory
neurons enter the spinal cord
dorsal root ganglion - ANSWER-the location of cell bodies of all afferent neurons
entering the spinal cord through the dorsal horn
input region - ANSWER-1 of 3 major regions of a neuron where sensory signals are
transducted or synaptic signals are generated, also referred to as the dendrites or
cell body and plays a minor role in protein synthesis
conductile region - ANSWER-1 of 3 major regions of a neuron where all or nothing
action potentials are propagated, also referred to as an axon
output region - ANSWER-1 of 3 major regions of a neuron where neurons release
neurotransmitters and communicate between synapses, also referred to as the axon
terminal
action potential - ANSWER-if a membrane potential is reach, this all or nothing
response is electrical impulse is generated and then propagated along the conductile
region
trigger zone - ANSWER-the area just behind the cell body where graded potentials
summate to action potentials and Na+ channels are concentrated
diencephalon - ANSWER-1 of the 5 major parts of the CNS that lies costal to the
midbrain and contains the thalamus and hypothalamus
, thalamus - ANSWER-the relay site of the cerebral cortex
hypothalamus - ANSWER-control center of autonomic nervous system, endocrine
system, and visceral functions
cerebrum - ANSWER-1 of the 5 major parts of the CNS that has 4 lobes with 3 major
functional types: sensory, associative, and motor
cerebellum* - ANSWER-1 of the 5 major parts of the CNS
pia matter - ANSWER-most adjacent layer to the spinal cord of 3 layers surrounding
the spinal cord
arachnoid layer - ANSWER-middle layer of the 3 layers surrounding the spinal cord
dura matter - ANSWER-outer most layer of the 3 layers surrounding the spinal cord
cell body - ANSWER-the region of a neuron that contains the nucleus and the
majority of protein synthesis
Nissl system - ANSWER-a complex neuronal version of the rough endoplasmic
reticulum
innervation - ANSWER-a process in which nerves inter-synapse with other non-
nervous cells
axon terminal - ANSWER-the presynaptic portion of a neuron that secretes
neurotransmitters onto the post synaptic region of an adjacent cell
sensory neuron - ANSWER-1 of 3 types of neurons that is heavily myelinated and is
present in both the CNS and PNS and travels in the afferent direction about light
tough, pressure, proprioception, muscle stretch, heat, and pain
motor neuron - ANSWER-1 of 3 types of neurons that is present in both the CNS and
PNS and travels in the efferent direction
associative neuron - ANSWER-1 of 3 types of neurons, also known as interneurons,
that is confined to the CNS and modulates the activity of other neurons
neuroectodermal cells - ANSWER-the embryonic origin of all neural and glial cells
astrocytes - ANSWER-1 of the 3 types of glial cells that has multiple extending
processes that functions in the regulation of the concentration of ions, K+, and
neurotransmitters, as well as moves substances between the CNS and the blood
oligodendrocytes - ANSWER-1 of the 3 types of glial cells that has few branches and
functions in the formation of white matter by myelinating axons and prevents neural
regeneration in the CNS
amitotic - ANSWER-non-dividing adult cells
ANSWERS
central canal - ANSWER-the canal running the length of the spinal cord that is an
extension of the ventricular stem in the brain
gray matter - ANSWER-a collection of cell bodies and unmyelinated axons
white matter - ANSWER-a collection of myelinated axons
dorsal horn - ANSWER-gray matter of the spinal cord that is composed of cell bodies
and dendrites of interneurons that process afferent information
ventral horn - ANSWER-gray matter of the spinal cord that is composed of cell
bodies and dendrites of lower motor neurons
ventral root - ANSWER-the path, composed of white matter, through which lower
motor neurons exit the spinal cord
lower motor neuron - ANSWER-neurons that innervate skeletal muscle
dorsal root - ANSWER-the path, composed of white matter, through which sensory
neurons enter the spinal cord
dorsal root ganglion - ANSWER-the location of cell bodies of all afferent neurons
entering the spinal cord through the dorsal horn
input region - ANSWER-1 of 3 major regions of a neuron where sensory signals are
transducted or synaptic signals are generated, also referred to as the dendrites or
cell body and plays a minor role in protein synthesis
conductile region - ANSWER-1 of 3 major regions of a neuron where all or nothing
action potentials are propagated, also referred to as an axon
output region - ANSWER-1 of 3 major regions of a neuron where neurons release
neurotransmitters and communicate between synapses, also referred to as the axon
terminal
action potential - ANSWER-if a membrane potential is reach, this all or nothing
response is electrical impulse is generated and then propagated along the conductile
region
trigger zone - ANSWER-the area just behind the cell body where graded potentials
summate to action potentials and Na+ channels are concentrated
diencephalon - ANSWER-1 of the 5 major parts of the CNS that lies costal to the
midbrain and contains the thalamus and hypothalamus
, thalamus - ANSWER-the relay site of the cerebral cortex
hypothalamus - ANSWER-control center of autonomic nervous system, endocrine
system, and visceral functions
cerebrum - ANSWER-1 of the 5 major parts of the CNS that has 4 lobes with 3 major
functional types: sensory, associative, and motor
cerebellum* - ANSWER-1 of the 5 major parts of the CNS
pia matter - ANSWER-most adjacent layer to the spinal cord of 3 layers surrounding
the spinal cord
arachnoid layer - ANSWER-middle layer of the 3 layers surrounding the spinal cord
dura matter - ANSWER-outer most layer of the 3 layers surrounding the spinal cord
cell body - ANSWER-the region of a neuron that contains the nucleus and the
majority of protein synthesis
Nissl system - ANSWER-a complex neuronal version of the rough endoplasmic
reticulum
innervation - ANSWER-a process in which nerves inter-synapse with other non-
nervous cells
axon terminal - ANSWER-the presynaptic portion of a neuron that secretes
neurotransmitters onto the post synaptic region of an adjacent cell
sensory neuron - ANSWER-1 of 3 types of neurons that is heavily myelinated and is
present in both the CNS and PNS and travels in the afferent direction about light
tough, pressure, proprioception, muscle stretch, heat, and pain
motor neuron - ANSWER-1 of 3 types of neurons that is present in both the CNS and
PNS and travels in the efferent direction
associative neuron - ANSWER-1 of 3 types of neurons, also known as interneurons,
that is confined to the CNS and modulates the activity of other neurons
neuroectodermal cells - ANSWER-the embryonic origin of all neural and glial cells
astrocytes - ANSWER-1 of the 3 types of glial cells that has multiple extending
processes that functions in the regulation of the concentration of ions, K+, and
neurotransmitters, as well as moves substances between the CNS and the blood
oligodendrocytes - ANSWER-1 of the 3 types of glial cells that has few branches and
functions in the formation of white matter by myelinating axons and prevents neural
regeneration in the CNS
amitotic - ANSWER-non-dividing adult cells
