Nervous System and Sensory Receptors

A set of practice flashcards covering essential concepts regarding the nervous system and sensory receptors.

How many cervical spinal nerves are there?

8

How many total spinal nerves do humans have?

31

Which receptor detects chemicals?

Chemoreceptor

Which receptor detects pressure and stretch in blood vessels?

Baroreceptor

Which receptor detects pain?

Nociceptor

Which glial cell forms the blood-brain barrier?

Astrocytes

Which cell circulates CSF?

Ependymal cells

Which glial cell myelinates axons in the CNS?

Oligodendrocytes

Which glial cell acts as an immune defense?

Microglia

What is the resting membrane potential of a neuron?

-70 mV

Which receptor detects temperature changes?

Thermoreceptor

What do proprioceptors detect?

Body position / joint movement

What is the correct order of cranial meninges from superficial to deep?

Dura → Arachnoid → Pia

Where is the arbor vitae located?

Cerebellum

Which photoreceptor detects color?

Cones

Which part of the retina lacks photoreceptors?

Optic disc (blind spot)

Which part of the limbic system controls emotion?

Amygdala

Where is melatonin produced?

Pineal gland

What is the major commissure connecting right & left cerebral hemispheres?

Corpus callosum

The ventricle located between pons and cerebellum is the?

Fourth

What is the shallow groove between folds of cerebral tissue?

Sulcus

Which nerve innervates the diaphragm?

Phrenic nerve

Which spinal nerve does NOT form a plexus?

Thoracic (T1–T12)

Longest and largest nerve in the body?

Sciatic

'Rest and digest' refers to?

Parasympathetic NS

What sense bypasses the thalamus?

Olfaction (smell)

What is accommodation?

Changing lens shape for near/far vision

Function of the iris?

Control pupil diameter and light entry

Organ of hearing is the?

Organ of Corti

Function of the maculae?

Detect linear acceleration / head position

Function of superior colliculi?

Visual reflexes

Middle ear ossicles arranged lateral → medial?

Malleus → Incus → Stapes

Vitreous humor is found in the?

Posterior segment of eye

Vallate papillae detect?

Taste (especially bitter)

Group A nerve fibers have what conduction speed?

Fastest (~150 m/s)

EPSP stands for?

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential

Dual innervation means?

Organ receives both sympathetic and parasympathetic input

Crossing of pyramidal tracts in medulla is called?

Decussation of pyramids

Phantom limb pain is?

Pain perceived in an amputated limb

Inflammation of meninges is?

Meningitis

Loss of dopamine in the substantia nigra causes?

Parkinson's disease

Vestibular nystagmus affects?

Balance and involuntary eye movement

Cerebral edema is?

Brain swelling due to fluid accumulation

Poliomyelitis affects?

Motor neuron degeneration due to polio virus

What is a metabotropic receptor?

A receptor that uses a G-protein and second messenger system

The cerebrum is primarily responsible for?

Higher-order functions such as reasoning, memory, and voluntary movement

The somatic sensory division of the nervous system?

Receives sensory information from skin, joints, and skeletal muscles

The somatic motor division?

Transmits signals that activate skeletal muscle contraction

What is the main function of the neuron's cell body (soma)?

Houses the nucleus and performs metabolic processes essential for neuronal survival

A receptive field refers to?

The physical area where a stimulus activates a specific sensory neuron

The septum pellucidum is located?

Separating the lateral ventricles in the brain

What is the correct sequence of lacrimal fluid drainage?

Lacrimal sac → Canaliculi → Puncta → Nasolacrimal duct

The insula is located?

Deep to the frontal and temporal lobes

Nervous tissue consists of two primary cell types?

Neurons and neuroglia