Nervous System

Front 1

Involuntary nerves that stimulate the body in times of stress and crisis are __________ nerves.

Back 1

There are two kinds of autonomic nerves: sympathetic, which stimulate the body in times of stress, and parasympathetic, which restore the body to its normal state. Spinal and cranial nerves contain sensory nerves, which carry messages toward the spinal cord and brain. Motor nerves carry messages from the spinal cord and brain to the muscles.

Front 2

The _____ nervous system consists of the cranial and spinal nerves.

Back 2

The peripheral nervous system is composed of bundles of impulse-carrying nerve cell fibers-12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves-that transmit information to and from the central nervous system.

Front 3

Which of the following nervous system cells do not transmit impulses throughout the body?

Back 3

Glial cells are the connective, supportive tissue cells that do not carry impulses. Neurons, or nerve cells, do carry impulses. Afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) are two kinds of nerve cells.

Front 4

The chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell that stimulates or inhibits another cell is called:

Back 4

A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that is released from the end of a nerve cell to stimulate or inhibit another cell (nerve, muscle, or gland cell). A receptor is an organ that receives nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves within the body.

Front 5

The main sensory relay center of the brain is the:

Back 5

he thalamus is the main relay center in the brain. The hypothalamus lies below (hypo-) the thalamus and regulates many things in the body, including temperature, sleep, and appetite. The brain stem is the lower part of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.

Front 6

The fluid-filled spaces within the brain are called:

Back 6

Ventricles are the fluid-filled spaces within the brain. The fluid that circulates within them, as well as around the brain and spinal cord, is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Front 7

A nerve cell is a

Back 7

Nerve cells are neurons.

Front 8

_____ nerves carry impulses to the brain and spinal cord.

Back 8

Afferent (sensory) nerves carry messages toward the brain and spinal cord.

Front 9

The microscopic space through which an impulse is transmitted is a(n)

Back 9

A synapse is the space through which a nervous impulse is transmitted.

Front 10

________ nerves carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord.

Back 10

Efferent (motor) nerves carry messages away (ef-) from the brain and spinal cord.

Front 11

This threadlike extension carries impulses along a nerve cell.

Back 11

An axon is a microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

Front 12

The "bridge" between the medulla and the midbrain is the:

Back 12

The structure in the brain stem that connects the medulla and the midbrain is the pons. You can remember this by associating pons with pond and imagining a bridge over the pond. Pons means bridge in Latin.

Front 13

This posterior portion of the brain coordinates voluntary muscle movements and maintains balance.

Back 13

The cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain and coordinates voluntary muscle movement and maintains balance. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, managing voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory. The cerebral cortex is the outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells.

Front 14

The lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum and spinal cord is the:

Back 14

The brain stem is the lower portion of the brain, just like the lower portion of a flower is called the stem. Because of its location, the brain stem connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. The pons and medulla oblongata are part of the brain stem.

Front 15

The __________ is the outer region of the cerebrum

Back 15

The cerebral cortex is the outer region of the cerebrum. A cortex is any outer layer of a body organ or other structure, as distinguished from the internal substance.

Front 16

The __________ activates and integrates the autonomic nervous system and controls pituitary secretions.

Back 16

The hypothalamus, which lies below (hypo-) the thalamus, controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland. The thalamus serves as a major sensory relay station, directing impulses to the cerebral cortex.

Front 17

White fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell is called

Back 17

The myelin sheath is white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.

Front 18

The pia mater is the:

Back 18

The pia mater is the delicate, inner membrane of the meninges that has a rich supply of blood vessels to nourish the nervous tissue.

Front 19

The peripheral nervous system includes _____ pairs of cranial nerves and _____ pairs of spinal nerves.

Back 19

The peripheral nervous system is composed of bundles of impulse-carrying nerve cell fibers-12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves-that transmit information to and from the central nervous system.

Front 20

Unlike other cranial nerves, the _____ nerve carries messages to and from the neck, chest, and abdomen.

Back 20

The vagus nerve (X) is the only cranial nerve to leave the head and neck region, branching out to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach.

Front 21

The purpose of the blood-brain barrier is to:

Back 21

The blood-brain barrier includes blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let substances enter brain tissue while keeping other substances out. This barrier helps to protect brain tissue from harmful drugs and disease-causing organisms that might be in the blood.

Front 22

The brain and spinal cord make up the ________ nervous system.

Back 22

The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system.

Front 23

"Star cells" called __________ are a type of glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries.

Back 23

Astrocytes, known as "star cells", attach to neurons and to capillaries in the brain, holding these structures in proximity to one another. Astrocytes transport water and salts from the capillaries and wrap around these capillaries to form, with the capillary wall, the blood-brain barrier.

Front 24

Where are the thalamus and hypothalamus housed?

Back 24

The diencephalon lies under the cerebrum and contains the thalamus and hypothalamus.