Exam #4 Possible Short Answer Questions

Describe the anatomical differences between the Somatic Motor Neuron System and the Visceral

(Autonomic) Motor Neuron System

Somatic Motor Neuron System

• Cell body location within spinal cord of peripheral neuron

• Number of peripheral neurons

• Voluntary or involuntary

• Neurotransmitter (s) released at effector

• Neurotransmitter(s) released at neuromuscular junction or varicosities

• Effectors innervated

• Ventral horn

• 1

• Voluntary

• Acetylcholine

• Acetylcholine released at neuromuscular junction

• Skeletal muscles

Describe the anatomical differences between the Somatic Motor Neuron System and the Visceral

(Autonomic) Motor Neuron System

Visceral (Autonomic) Motor Neuron System

• Cell body location within spinal cord of peripheral neuron

• Number of peripheral neurons

• Voluntary or involuntary

• Neurotransmitter (s) released at effector

• Neurotransmitter(s) released at neuromuscular junction or varicosities

• Effectors innervated

• Lateral Horn

• 2

• Involuntary

• Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine

• Varicosities

• Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands, adipose

Describe the anatomical (structural) & functional differences between the Sympathetic Division and

the Parasympathetic Division

Sympathetic Division

• Regional branches from the brain stem or spinal cord

• Synapse within the paravertebral chain ganglia

• length of pre-ganglionic fiber

• Length of post-ganglionic fiber

• Do the neurons synapse within the adrenal medulla

• Does the presynaptic neuron have great divergence (innervated large numbers of postsynaptic neurons)

• Neurotransmitter(s) released at effector

• General function

• CN 3-7, 9, 10 S2-S4

• No

• Long

• Short

• No

• No

• Acetylcholine

• Rest and digest

Describe the anatomical (structural) & functional differences between the Sympathetic Division and

the Parasympathetic Division

Parasympathetic Division

• Regional branches from the brain stem or spinal cord

• Synapse within the paravertebral chain ganglia

• length of pre-ganglionic fiber

• Length of post-ganglionic fiber

• Do the neurons synapse within the adrenal medulla

• Does the presynaptic neuron have great divergence (innervated large numbers of postsynaptic neurons)

• Neurotransmitter(s) released at effector

• General function

• T1 - L5, Spinal cord

• Yes

• Short

• Long

• Yes

• Yes

• Norepinephrine, epinephrine

• Fight or flight

Describe “Hydrocephalus”. Include structure that produces CSF and structures that reabsorb CSF

• Means water on brain

• The build up of cerebral spinal fluid around the brain

• Can be found in adults in children, more common in premature newborns

• Arachnoid villi that recirculates cerebral spinal fluid into the dural sinus may be either blocked or not developed

• In adults, maybe be due to tumors, strokes, or defects

• In newborns, the arachnoid villi is not developed, causing the skull to expand due to fontanells

• Adult skull cant expand, leading to pressure on brain that can cause neurological damage

• Treatment for adults is medication that can slow down how much cerebral spinal fluid is made

• For newborns, they are given a shunt. A catheter is placed into a brain ventricle where the CSF is building up, which is connected to another catheter that drains the CSF into the blood supply and recirculate

Outline brain development from neural tube to primary vesicles, to secondary vesicles and then

main brain structures.

• Begins to develop from a neural tube

• Forms three primary vesicles

  • Prosencephalon, mesencephalon, rhombencephalon

• Then forms the secondary brain vesicles

  • Telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, metencephalon, myelincephalon.

Explain the process of a lumbar puncture vs. epidural

Lumbar puncture

• Done between L3 & L4, or L4 & L5

• Pierces through the dura mater into the subarachnoid space where CSF is located

• Diagnostic testing, or measuring/lowering fluid pressure

Explain the process of a lumbar puncture vs. epidural

Epidural

• In epidural space

• Stops before the dura mater without puncturing it

• A thin catheter is inserted and is left inside for continuous medication

• For pain relief (childbirth, surgery, or chronic back pain)