Download Chapter 10: Hormonal Control Systems

Chapter 6 Section D: Structure of the Nervous System
Revised 4 October 2011
What is the difference between a nerve, a tract, and pathway, and a commissure?
What are clusters of neuronal cell bodies called in the CNS? in the PNS?
What are the four major subdivisions of the brain?
What comprises gray matter? White matter?
What are the four visible lobes of the cerebral cortex?
What is a gyrus? What is a sulcus? Which part of the brain has these features?
What brain region provides abundant afferents to the cerebral cortex and is an important relay nucleus?
What is the major role of that portion of the subcortical nuclei known as the basal ganglia?
What are the two major parts of the diencephalon? Of these, which is especially important for many
homeostatic roles”
What is the role of the cerebellum?
Why is the reticular formation (located in the brainstem) essential for life?
How do cranial nerves differ from spinal nerves?
Where is gray matter in the spinal cord?
Where is gray matter in the cerebral cortex?
In what structure are the cell bodies of sensory neurons located?
Via what structure do afferent axons enter the spinal cord? What would be the consequences of severing
one of these structures?
Via what structure to efferent axons leave the spinal cord? What would be the consequences of severing
one of these structures?
In what structure do axons of somatic and autonomic motorneurons exit the spinal cord?
What types of axons (afferent/efferent) comprise a spinal nerve?
What is the distinction between the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system? (Hint:
consider what types of cells are the synaptic targets of each system, how many neurons comprise the
efferent pathway, and the effect on target cells.)
Can somatic motoneurons inhibit their skeletal muscle target cells?
Where is the enteric nervous system found? What is its function?
The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is also referred to as the thoraco-lumbar
division. Why so?
The parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is also referred to as the cranio-sacral
division. Why so?
Where are the cell bodies of each of the following located?
Somatic motoneuron
Parasympathetic preganglionic axon
Parasympathetic postganglionic axon
Sympathetic preganglionic axon
Sympathetic postganglionic axon
What are collateral ganglia? Where are they located, and to what division of the nervous system do they
belong?
Name the neurotransmitter released at each of the following synapses and the type of receptor located on
the post-synaptic cell along with its antagonist and antagonist:
Somatic motoneuron
Parasympathetic preganglionic axon
Parasympathetic postganglionic axon
Sympathetic preganglionic axon
Sympathetic postganglionic axon (usually)
The adrenal medulla gland is considered part of the sympathetic nervous system. What is unusual about
the cells that comprise the adrenal medulla? Are they neurons?
What is the benefit of dual innervation by the autonomic nervous system?
Describe the autonomic innervation of the iris. (This will be clear after we cover the material on vision.)
Explain how the diameter of the pupil is partially controlled by neurons in the thoracic spinal cord.
What is unusual about the sympathetic innervation of sweat glands and the smooth muscles in the walls
of arterioles serving skeletal muscles? (Not mentioned in this chapter but an important exception to the
general rule.)
Explain how lipid-soluble substances have greater access to the CNS and water-soluble substances.