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Chapter 13: Nervous System

13.1 The Importance of the Nervous System (p. 408 – 414)

  1. What are the two main parts of the nervous system?
  1. Use a diagram to illustrate how the nervous system is organized.
  1. How are neurons and glial cells different?
  1. Compare and contrast dendrites and axons.
  1. How many axons can fit in one strand of human hair?
  1. Labelthe diagram of the structure of a neuron.

  1. How does the myelin sheath affect the speed of the impulse?
  1. Does the diameter of the axon play a role in the speed of an impulse? How?
  1. Why is neurilemma important to nerve cells?
  1. Why is neurilemma not found on all nerve cells?
  1. What are afferent neurons and efferent neurons? How are they the same and how are they different?
  1. Can all neurons repair themselves? Why or why not?
  1. How do sensory neurons and sensory receptors function?
  1. Explain how neurons make a nerve.
  1. Where are interneurons found?
  1. How did Thomas Westburg regain 40% of the use in his arm after an accident?
  1. Explain, in your own words, how spore-like cells can repair nerve damage.
  1. Describe how a reflex arc works.
  1. What are the two types of reflex arcs that physicians test to determine how healthy the nervous system is? How do they test these reflexes?

13.2 Electrochemical Impulse (p. 415 – 425)

  1. Describe how an action potential is formed.
  1. What two ions are found in and out of the cell membrane?
  1. How does a gated ion channel work?
  1. Explain how a sodium-potassium pump works within the cell.
  1. Illustrate in a graph the phases of action potential. Describe each phase.
  1. How does the action potential move?
  1. Describe the experiment that can be done to show the threshold potential of a neuron.
  1. What is an all-or-none response?
  1. Explain how a synaptic transmission works.
  1. What is cholinesterase and how does it work?
  1. Complete the following chart.

Neurotransmitter / Action / Secretion sites / Major effects
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
Serotonin
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
  1. What are two diseases that are associated with neurotransmitters?

13.3 The Central Nervous System (p. 426 – 432)

  1. What is the meninges and why is it important?
  1. What are the three layers found in the meninges?
  1. Why is the cerebrospinal fluid important to the central nervous system?
  1. Label the following diagrams.

  1. What are the three distinct regions of the brain?
  1. What does the cerebrum do?
  1. What is the cerebral cortex made of and what does it do?
  1. Where are the four lobes located and outline the function of each.
  1. Does the number of nerves in a particular area determine the function of that body part? Give two examples.
  1. What skills and functions have been associated with each half of the brain?
  1. Label the following diagram.

  1. Complete the following table.

Area of the brain / Function
Corpus callosum
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Olfactory bulb
Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla oblongata
  1. What is Alzheimer’s disease and how can it be treated?

13.4 The Peripheral Nervous System (p. 433 – 435)

  1. What are the two divisions in the peripheral nervous system?
  1. What do the cranial nerves control?
  1. What do the spinal nerves control?
  1. What does the autonomic nervous system control?
  1. What are the two parts of the autonomic nervous system and how are they different?
  1. List four examples of how the autonomic nervous system works.
  1. Label the following diagram.

  1. Describe the differences in the structure of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves and where they are located in the body.
  1. Why is the vagus nerve important?