Study guide questions

1) What is interaction function? Write a general scheme to show how it works.

The function of interaction allows the body to perceive

stimuli or changes in the environment and respond to them
appropriately through the effector organs.

Stimuli → Sensory receptor → Nervous system

→ Effector organs →
(Endocrine glands // muscles)
→ Response: secretion (hormones) // Movement
2) Draw a typical neuron and label its principal parts

3) What is the main difference between oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

 Oligodendrocytes wrap around the axons of several neurons
in the central nervous system simultaneously.
 Schwann cells wrap around part of the axon of a single
neuron in the peripheral nervous system.
4) What is synapsis? How does it happen?
Synapses is the process when the nerve impulse
passes from one neuron to the next via connections.
(= It´s the process of communication between 2
neurons).
The presynaptic terminal releases the neurotransmitters into the
synaptic cleft.

The neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft and bind to specific

receptors in the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron. This
generates a new nerve impulse.
5) Complete the following scheme about the components of human nervous system:
(similar to activity 10)

Central nervous system

 Brain (cerebrum + cerebelum + brain stem)

 spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

 Nerves (sensory nerves // motor nerves)

 Nerve ganglia

6) What is the difference between grey and white matter?

 rey matter: formed of neuron somas and

dendrites.
 White matter: formed of neuron axons covered
in the myelin sheath.
7) What are meninges?

The meninges are three protective membranes of

connective tissue that surround the brain and the
spinal cord.
8) What ś the functions of the following structures (almost 2 each)?
- Cerebral cortex:
 Receiving, interpreting and processing information from the
sense organs.
 Initiating voluntary motor responses based on the sensations
received.
 Responsible for intellectual and mental functions (intelligence,
memory, language and communication, learning, awareness,
knowledge or perception of a situation or fact, choices, etc.).
  Regulating the function of the rest of the nervous system.

- Limbic system
 It regulates the function of the endocrine system.
 It is responsible for emotions, feelings and basic
instincts, such as hunger, thirst (sed) and sexual
desire.

- Cerebellum

It is responsible for motor coordination and balance =

(equilibrio).
- Brain stem
It regulates the autonomic functions that keep us alive: heartbeat,
respiratory movements, blood pressure, etc.
- Spinal cod
 Conduit function. This takes information from the sense
organs to the corresponding areas of the brain, and takes the
brain’s responses to the effector organs.

 Reflex function. This initiates automatic involuntary motor

responses to possible danger.

- Peripheral nervous system

It connects the central nervous system to the peripheral organs,
receptors and effectors.

9) Complete the following sentences:

- The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves and nerve
ganglia
- There are two types of nerves: cranial nerves emerge in pairs from
the brain and
spinal nerves _ emerge in pairs from the spinal cord and branch off
all over the body .
- Nerves can be:
o Sensory: Transmit information from sensory organs_.
o Motor: Transmit information to the effector organs
o Mixed: Transmit both types of information.
10) Which is the main difference between somatic and autonomic
system? And between parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system?

Somatic nervous system: It controls voluntary acts and

reflexes.
Autonomic nervous system It regulates the involuntary
functions that keep us alive (heartbeat, secretion by
glands, respiratory function, digestion, etc.).

PARASYMPATHETIC NERVIOUS SYSTEM

This system is associated with situations of rest and
calm, so it decreases energy expenditure.
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
This system prepares the body for emergency
situations, so it increases energy expenditure.
11) Indicate the function of the following hormones and write which
organs produce them: vasopressin, oxytocin, ACTH, TSH, FSH, LH, GH, LTH,
thyroxin, calcitonin, insulin, glucagon, corticosteroids, adrenaline,
testosterone, melatonin, pituitary hormones, parathyroid hormone,
oestrogens, progesterone.

12) Label the diagram.

13) Choose 3 diseases related with nervous system and explain them.

14) Choose 3 diseases related with endocrine system and explain them
(pituitary gland, thyroid gland and pancreas).

15) Describe how drugs interfere with the nervous system and how
people become addicted to them. What is withdrawal syndrome?