Download What happens in a neuron

Formative Assessment: Intro to NeuroBio and the Nervous System
6.1 (Divisions of the Nervous System)
Simple Concepts:
1. The sympathetic division of the nervous system relates to:
a. Rest and Digest
b. Skeletal muscle moving
c. Fight of Flight
d. Internal organs sensing a change
2. A visceral sensory nerve would most likely control which of the following:
a. Sending a message to the brain that you have touched a hot stove.
b. Receiving a message from the brain to remove your arm from a stove.
c. The bladder telling the brain that it is full.
d. The brain telling the smooth muscles in the bladder to release the urine.
Complex Concepts
Use the divisions of the nervous system to answer the following case study questions. Answers can
be Somatic Sensory Nerve, Visceral Sensory Nerve, Somatic Motor Nerve, Autonomic Motor Nerve.
1. Fecal incontinence (or faecal incontinence, FI) is the loss of regular control of the bowels. Involuntary excretion
and leaking are common occurrences for those affected. Subjects relating to defecation are often socially
unacceptable, thus those affected may be beset by feelings of shame and humiliation. What type of nerve does
Fecal Incontinence affect? How do you know it was that division of the nervous system specifically?
Fecal incontinence affects the autonomic motor nerve because it involves the bowel which has smooth muscle and this
is an involuntary muscular movement.
2. Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound
(ringing in the ear). Tinnitus can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear
canal for even the briefest period, ear infections, foreign objects in the ear, nasal allergies that prevent (or induce)
fluid drain, or wax build-up. What type of nerve does Tinnitus affect? How do you know it was that specific
division of the nervous system?
Tinnitus affects the somatic sensory nerves because it affects the human ear and hearing, which
means it is one of the five senses and somatic sensory nerves are linked to the five senses.
6.2 The Three Types of Neurons
Simple Concepts
1. This type of neuron can be found only in the Central Nervous System
a. Motor Neuron
b. Sensory Neuron
c. Interneuron
2. This is the type of neuron pictured to the right
a. Motor Neuron
b. Sensory Neuron
c. Interneuron
Complex Concepts
1. David Blaine received a 3rd degree burn from trying to be the man who was caught on fire for the
longest. As a result of his burns, he had reduced feeling in his arm. Which type of neuron was most
dramatically affected by the burns? How do you know?
The sensory neuron would be affected because he is unable to send messages to the brain from his
arm when he touches something.
2. Split-brain is a lay term to describe the result when the corpus callosum connecting the two
hemispheres of the brain is severed to some degree. It is an association of symptoms produced
by disruption of or interference with the connection between the hemispheres of the brain.
Which type of neuron was most affected by the split brain injury? How do you know?
Split brain injury affects the interneuron because it said you can no longer communicate between
the two hemispheres of the brain and interneurons are found in the central nervous system.
6.3 Parts of the Neuron
Simple Concepts
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
1. Part of the neuron that releases
neurotransmitters into the
synaptic cleft.
Axon Terminal
4. The gaps in the myelin sheath.
Node of Ranvier
2. Fatty material that
surrounds some axons.
Myelin Sheath
3. Takes information away from the cell body.
Axon
5. Part of neuron that
contains the nucleus.
Cell Body
6. Takes information to the cell body.
Dendrite
7. Organelle in neuron that contains genetic material.
Nucleus
Match the following words to the above definitions:
Myelin, Axon, Dendrite, Node of Ranvier, Nucleus, Axon Terminal, Cell Body
Complex Concepts
Case Study and Diseases of the Neuron
1.Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated to MS, known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an
inflammatory disease in which parts of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to slow signals, scarring as well as a
broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. Disease onset usually occurs in young adults, and it is more common in women. MS
affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other effectively. Nerve cells
communicate by sending electrical signals called action potentials down long fibers called axons, which are contained within
an insulating substance. MS patients have very slow signals and start to lose control of their body. What part of the
neuron is being degraded in MS? How do you know (Justify)?
MS is degrading the myelin sheath because the signals are sending slowly and it also said that they
are losing the insulating substance of the neuron, myelin sheath, whose job is to send fast signals.
2. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is accompanied by a selective destruction of dopamine neurons in the
substantia nigra of the midbrain, which stops their brain from controlling movement. The disease shuts
down the part of the neuron which sends the chemical dopamine signal to other neurons, thereby stopping
the communication between the neurons and preventing the motor neuron from sending a movement
signal to the muscle later on. What part of the neuron is being degraded in Parkinson’s Disease? How do
you know (Justify)?
Parkinson’s disease affects the axon terminal because the description claimed that it shuts
down the part of the neuron that sends signals to other neurons.