Central Nervous System Quiz

Name the two major structures of the Central Nervous System.

• Brain

• Spinal Cord

Describe the three basic functional components of the nervous system with regards to the maintenance of homeostasis.

• Sensory Function: gathering of information about the internal & external environments of the body

• Integrative Function: analysis & interpretation of the sensory stimuli + determination of appropriate response

• Motor Function: actions performed to carry out response to integration

Describe the three anatomical classifications of a neuron.

• Multipolar: many dendrites + one axon

• Bipolar: one main dendrite + one axon

• Unipolar (Pseudo-unipolar): One axo-dendritic process that splits into one axon & one dendrite

Describe the three functional classifications of a neuron.

• Sensory (afferent): carries signals from the PNS into the CNS

• Motor (efferent): carries signals from the CNS to effectors (muscles/glands) in the PNS

• Interneuron: make decision based upon incoming signals from the afferent neurons & transmit response signal to the efferent neuron

Describe three ways in which neuroglia are different from neurons.

• Size: neuroglia are much smaller in size than neuron

• Mitosis: neuroglia are able to replicate & fill in the gaps when non-mitotic neurons die

• Excitability: neuroglia are not excitable cells while neurons function depends solely on their excitability

Describe the following neuroglial cells of the CNS & PNS: Astrocytes, Oligodendrocytes, Microglia, Ependymal Cells, Schwann Cells, Satellite Cells.

Compare & contrast Schwann Cells vs Oligodendrocytes.

Describe the purpose of myelin.

Describe how Myelination + Axon Diameter influence the conduction speed of an action potential down an axon.

Name the disease characterized primarily by the loss of myelin.