Download learning objectives for nervous tissue and nervous system

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR
NERVOUS TISSUE AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
Stephen G. Davenport
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Identify the three overlapping functions of the nervous system.
2. What structures are included in the central nervous system (CNS)? Give the general function of the CNS.
3. What structures are included in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)? What is the function of the sensory
(afferent) division? What is included in this? What is the function of the motor (efferent) division? What is
included in this?
Histology of the Nervous System
4. What are the two principal types of cells in the nervous system?
5. Describe the functions of supporting cells. Specifically, describe primary function and location of neuroglia,
astrocytes, microglia, ependymal, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells.
6. List and briefly discuss three characteristics of neurons.
7. What is the function of a neuron? Distinguish between cell body (perikaryon), dendrites, axon. What is the
function and location of: chromatophilic substance (Nissl bodies), neurofibrils, axon hillock, axon collaterals,
axon terminals (synaptic end bulbs), and neurotransmitters.
8. What organelle is not found in the axon? What is moved toward the axon terminal? What is kinesin and what
does it do?
9. What is the difference between the myelin sheath and the neurolemma (sheath of Schwann)? What is the
function of the myelin sheath? What produces the myelin sheath of the peripheral nervous system? What are
nodes of Ranvier?
10. Using structural classification, describe the structure and give a location of multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar
cells.
11. Using functional classification, describe afferent (sensory), efferent (motor), and association (interneuron) neurons.
Neurophysiology
12. As to basic principles of electricity define: voltage, potential (potential difference), current, resistance.
13. How do electrical events occur in the body? What two types of channels allow ions to cross the plasma membrane? What are chemically-gated channels and voltage-gated channels? What are chemical and electrical
gradients?
14. What is the resting membrane potential? How do the concentrations of sodium ions, potassium ions, and protein anions differ across the membrane? What are two reasons these ionic differences exists across the membrane? What is the function of the sodium-potassium pump?
15. What are two ways the membrane potential can be changed? What is polarization, depolarization, and hyperpolarization?
16. Describe a graded potential. What triggers them? Do they always trigger an action potential?
17. List in sequence and discuss the three major events involved in the generation of an action potential (nerve
impulse).
18. What are the three events in the generation of an action potential (nerve impulse)? What restores the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium ions?
19. How is an action potential propagated? What is its direction of movement? Why is the phrase "propagation of a nerve impulse" more correct than the phrase "conduction of a nerve impusle"?
19. Define threshold and the all-or-none phenomenon.
20. How is the intensity of a stimulus coded?
21. What are the absolute and relative refractory periods?
22. Describe two factors which influence the conduction velocity of axons. Describe saltatory conduction..
23. What is a synapse? Describe presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons as to location and direction of transmission.
24. Describe electrical synapses as to location, structure, and function.
25. Describe chemical synapses as to location, structure, and function. Briefly describe the sequence of events (4)
involved in a chemical synapse.
26. What are three ways that terminate the effect of the neurotransmitter?
27. What are EPSPs? How and where do they occur? What is their function?
28. What are IPSPs? How and where do they occur?
29. Define: summation. What is the difference between temporal and spatial summation.
30. What are three criteria a chemical must meet to be classified as a neurotransmitter?
THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Describe the four (4) the principal subdivisions of the brain. Where is gray matter and white matter usually located and of what does it consist? What are brain nuclei?
2. What are the ventricles? How many are there and where is each located? Locate the septum pellucidum and
the cerebral aqueduct.
3. Give the location of the cerebral hemispheres. What is their percent of brain weight?
4. Describe gyri, sulci, and longitudinal and transverse fissures.
5. Where is the cerebral cortex located? What is in the cerebral cortex.
6. What divides the cerebrum into two hemispheres? Where are the central sulcus, precentral gyrus, postcentral
gyrus?
7. Give the names of the lobes of the cerebrum. Identify the names for the divisions which separate the lobes.
8. What are four generalizations that can be made about cerebral cortex functions?
9. Where are the cortical areas controlling motor functions? Describe basic function of primary (somatic) motor
area, premotor cortex, and Broca's area.
10. Where are the general areas controlling sensation? Describe the location and give a basic function of primary
somatosensory cortex and somatosensory association area, visual cortex, auditory cortex, olfactory cortex.
11. Describe the general location and structure of cerebral white matter. Describe commissures, association fibers,
and projection fibers. What is the corpus callosum.
12. List the three divisions of the diencephalon.
13. Give the location and function of the thalamus. What is the intermediate mass and what is its function? Which
ventricle is located between the two masses of the thalamus?
14. Give the location and describe the structure of the hypothalamus. Briefly describe seven of its chief functions.
15. Give the location and describe the structure of the epithalamus. What is the function of the pineal gland?
16. Give the three major parts of the brain stem. What part is continuous with the spinal cord?
17. Where is the midbrain? What is the function of the cerebral peduncles and the corpora quadrigemina?
18. Give the location and general functions of the pons. What vital centers does it contain?
19. What tracts does the medulla contain? What are its three vital reflex centers?
20. Give the location and general function of the cerebellum. What are four events in cerebellar processing
21. Discuss the function of the limbic center.
22. Discuss the function of the reticular formation.
23. What are four (4) general functions of the meninges?
24. List in sequence (from outside inward) the meninges and their respective spaces. Which meninx anchors the
brain to the skull? In which "space" is cerebrospinal fluid located? Describe the location and function of
arachnoid villi. Which meninx tightly adheres to the brain.
25. What are the two major functions of the cerebrospinal fluid? Where is it produced and how is it reabsorbed?
26. Briefly discuss the importance of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Spinal Cord
27. What are two major functions of the spinal cord? Describe the basic structure of the spinal cord; where does it
end (what vertebra)? What is the cauda equina?
28. How is the spinal cord protected? What is the spinal dural sheath?
29. Describe the structure and location of the three meninges and the `spaces' around them. What is contained in
each `space'?
30. Describe the gross anatomical features of the spinal cord. Include: gray commissure, anterior (ventral) horns,
posterior (dorsal) horns, lateral horns, white columns (anterior, posterior and lateral funiculi), ascending and descending tracts, central canal, anterior (ventral) roots, posterior (dorsal) roots, dorsal root ganglia.
THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND REFLEXES
1. What does the peripheral nervous system include? What are the two divisions of the system? What is located
in ganglia of the PNS?
2. Describe the functions of sensory receptors.
3. According to location, describe the three classes of receptors.
4. According to the type of stimulus detected, describe five types of receptors.
5. Describe the location, structure and function of free dendritic endings, Meissner's corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, muscle spindles, and Golgi tendon organs.
6. What is a receptor potential? What is a generator potential.
7. What is a nerve? Describe its structural organization. Describe mixed, sensory (afferent), and motor (efferent)
nerves. Give the four groups of nerve fibers for somatic and visceral classification.
8. Briefly discuss nerve regeneration. Why is nerve tissue damage so serious? What is the role of Schwann cells?
Why don't CNS fibers regenerate?
9. What are neuromuscular junctions? What are the series of events that occur when a nerve impulse reaches the
axon terminal?
Cranial Nerves
10. Identify each of the cranial nerves by name. Give their general function.
Spinal Nerves
11. What are primary functions of the ventral and the dorsal roots that form the spinal nerve?
12. What are plexuses? Where are they located? Briefly describe the cervical and brachial plexuses. Where does
the phrenic nerve arise and terminate?
13. What is a dermatome?
Reflex Activity
14. Define reflex. Describe 5 basic components of a reflex arc.
15. Discuss the function of the spinal cord as a reflex center.
16. Briefly discuss and give an example of the stretch, tendon, flexor, and crossed extensor reflexes. What are muscle spindles and Golgi organs?
THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Compare three structural and functional differences between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
2. Distinguish between the role of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous
system.
3. Where are the outflow neurons located for the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions?
Physiology of the Autonomic System
4. Distinguish between adrenergic and cholinergic fibers and receptors.
5. Discuss nicotinic, muscarinic, alpha, and beta receptors.
6. Give the general effects of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.
7. What is meant by fight-or-flight response? How is it mediated by the two divisions?
LABORATORY
Complete Laboratory exercise #20.
Complete all of laboratory exercise #20 at internet -www.linkpublishing.com/interactive%20exams.htm