Back to notes
Describe the function of microglial cells in the CNS.
Press to flip
Microglial cells provide immune defense within the CNS.
How do Schwann cells differ in function from satellite cells in the PNS?
Schwann cells produce the myelin sheath for insulation, while satellite cells support neuron cell bodies.
What are the three principal functions of the nervous system?
Sensory Input, Integration, and Motor Output.
What function does the somatic nervous system perform?
The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.
Which part of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for 'fight or flight'?
The Sympathetic Division.
Through which part of the neuron do electrical impulses travel away from the cell body?
The Axon.
What type of neurons are involved in transmitting impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS?
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons.
What is the primary role of astrocytes in the CNS?
Astrocytes connect neurons to their blood supply.
Explain the structural differences between multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar neurons.
Multipolar neurons have many processes (one axon, many dendrites), bipolar neurons have one axon and one dendrite, and unipolar neurons have a single process.
Outline the response of the nervous system to a spider landing on your skin.
Sensory input involves unipolar sensory neurons detecting the spider. Integration occurs as the signal is processed in the spinal cord and brain by multipolar interneurons. Motor output involves multipolar motor neurons causing the muscle to react, such as swatting the spider.
Name two types of neuroglia in the PNS and their functions.
Satellite cells support neuron cell bodies and Schwann cells produce the myelin sheath for insulation.
Differentiate between the sensory and motor divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
The sensory (afferent) division picks up sensory stimuli and sends it to the brain, while the motor (efferent) division sends instructions from the brain to muscles and glands.
What are the characteristics of neurons that make them unique?
Neurons are long-lived, irreplaceable, and have a high metabolic rate.
What specific role do oligodendrocytes play in the CNS?
Oligodendrocytes create the myelin sheath, which insulates axons to facilitate faster signal transmission.
What kind of neurons would be responsible for processing a signal in the spinal cord and brain?
Interneurons, typically multipolar, process signals within the CNS.
Which part of the nervous system acts as the main control center?
The Central Nervous System (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord.
Previous
Next