Skip to main content
Back

BIO 231 Nervous System Exam 4 Study Guide – Step-by-Step Guidance

NotesPracticeVideo lessons

Study Guide - Smart Notes

Tailored notes based on your materials, expanded with key definitions, examples, and context.

Q1. What are the subdivisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) in relation to motor and sensory systems?

Background

Topic: Organization of the Nervous System

This question tests your understanding of how the PNS is divided based on function, specifically regarding sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) pathways.

Key Terms:

  • PNS (Peripheral Nervous System): The part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord.

  • Sensory (Afferent) Division: Carries information from sensory receptors to the CNS.

  • Motor (Efferent) Division: Transmits commands from the CNS to effector organs (muscles and glands).

  • Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

  • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary functions (e.g., heart rate, digestion).

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Start by recalling the two main functional divisions of the PNS: sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent).

  2. Think about what each division does: the sensory division brings information to the CNS, while the motor division carries commands from the CNS.

  3. Within the motor division, identify its two main subdivisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

  4. Consider how the autonomic nervous system is further subdivided (hint: sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions).

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2. Which part(s) of the nervous system are responsible for impulse transmission that leads to increased heart rate?

Background

Topic: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Function

This question focuses on the neural pathways that regulate involuntary functions, specifically those that increase heart rate.

Key Terms:

  • Sympathetic Nervous System: Division of the ANS that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

  • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Division of the ANS that promotes 'rest and digest' activities.

  • Impulse Transmission: The movement of action potentials along neurons.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Recall which division of the ANS is responsible for increasing heart rate.

  2. Think about the pathway: which neurons (preganglionic and postganglionic) are involved in transmitting the signal?

  3. Consider the neurotransmitters released at each synapse in this pathway.

  4. Identify the target organ (the heart) and the effect of sympathetic stimulation on it.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. Which type of neuroglia controls the extracellular fluid environment around neuron cell bodies in the CNS and PNS?

Background

Topic: Neuroglia (Glial Cells)

This question tests your knowledge of the different types of glial cells and their functions in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Key Terms:

  • Neuroglia (Glial Cells): Support cells in the nervous system.

  • CNS (Central Nervous System): Brain and spinal cord.

  • PNS (Peripheral Nervous System): All neural tissue outside the CNS.

  • Extracellular Fluid: Fluid outside cells, important for nutrient and ion balance.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Recall the main types of neuroglia in the CNS (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells) and in the PNS (satellite cells, Schwann cells).

  2. Think about which glial cell type surrounds neuron cell bodies in the CNS and which does so in the PNS.

  3. Consider the function of these cells in regulating the chemical environment around neurons.

  4. Match the correct glial cell to its location and function.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q4. Which type of neuroglia forms myelin sheaths in the CNS and the PNS?

Background

Topic: Myelination and Neuroglia

This question tests your understanding of which glial cells are responsible for myelinating axons in the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Key Terms:

  • Myelin Sheath: Insulating layer around axons that increases the speed of nerve impulse conduction.

  • Oligodendrocytes: Glial cells in the CNS that form myelin sheaths.

  • Schwann Cells: Glial cells in the PNS that form myelin sheaths.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Recall which glial cell forms myelin in the CNS and which in the PNS.

  2. Think about the structural differences between oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells.

  3. Consider how each cell type wraps around axons to form the myelin sheath.

  4. Match each cell type to its respective nervous system division.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q5. Which type of neuroglia lines the central cavities of the CNS?

Background

Topic: Neuroglia and CNS Structure

This question focuses on the glial cells that form the lining of the brain's ventricles and the central canal of the spinal cord.

Key Terms:

  • Ependymal Cells: Glial cells that line the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord.

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Fluid produced and circulated by ependymal cells.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Recall the four main types of neuroglia in the CNS.

  2. Think about which type forms a barrier between the CSF and nervous tissue.

  3. Consider the role of cilia on these cells in circulating CSF.

  4. Identify the cell type that lines the central cavities.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Pearson Logo

Study Prep