Evolution and Structure of the Human Nervous System

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from BIOL1002 Module 1 on evolution and structure of the human nervous system.

What are the two main anatomical divisions of the human nervous system?

Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Which part of the nervous system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements and sensory input from skin, joints, and muscles?

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

True or False: The parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for stress and danger.

False — that's the sympathetic division.

Q: Which brain structure is primarily responsible for integrating emotion and memory?

Limbic system (especially the hippocampus and amygdala)

Q: Which four regions of the brain make up the cerebral cortex?

A: Frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes

Q: What is the function of the dorsal root of a spinal nerve?

A: It carries afferent (sensory) information into the spinal cord.

Q: What feature distinguishes the CNS from the PNS in terms of structure?

A: The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, whereas the PNS includes all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Q: Which type of matter in the brain contains myelinated axons and facilitates communication between brain areas?

A: White matter

Q: What does the term “neuroplasticity” refer to?

A: The brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize its structure and function in response to experience or damage.

Q: Which functional system of the nervous system regulates heart rate, digestion, and pupil dilation?

A: Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Parasympathetic Division

Autonomic branch that promotes rest-and-digest functions (↓ heart rate, ↑ digestion).

Afferent Pathway

Sensory information ARRIVING at the CNS from the body.

Efferent Pathway

Motor commands EXITING the CNS to muscles and glands.

Q1: What was the first evolutionary feature that allowed movement in early animals?

A: Neurons and muscles

Q2: What is a nerve net and which organism has it?

A: A diffuse network of neurons (no brain/spinal cord); found in jellyfish

Q3: What is bilateral symmetry in nervous system evolution?

A: NS is mirrored on both sides of the body

Q4: What is the main evolutionary advantage of ganglia?

A: Localised processing centers that resemble basic brains

Q5: Which phylum includes animals with a spinal cord and brain?

A: Chordates

Q6: What are the three major components of the nervous system?

A: CNS, somatic NS, autonomic NS

Q7: What does the CNS consist of and what is its function?

A: Brain and spinal cord; processes and integrates information

Q8: Which system controls involuntary actions like heart rate and digestion?

A: Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A: Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A: Sends motor commands and receives sensory input from body

Q10: Afferent neurons carry signals __________ the CNS; efferent neurons carry signals __________ the CNS.

A: Into; away from

Q11: What does “dorsal” refer to in brain anatomy?

A: The top side (like a dorsal fin)

Q12: What direction does “ventral” refer to?

A: Bottom of the brain (belly side)

Q13: Define anterior and posterior in brain orientation.

A: Anterior = front; Posterior = back

Q14: What does "medial" mean in brain anatomy?

A: Toward the midline

Q15: What are gyri and sulci?

A: Gyri = ridges; Sulci = grooves — increase surface area

Q16: What is the difference between grey and white matter?

A: Grey = neuron cell bodies (processing); White = myelinated axons (communication)

Q17: What are the three major cerebral arteries?

A: Anterior, Middle, Posterior

Q18: What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?

A: Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital

Q19: What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

A: Movement, planning, personality

Q20: Which lobe processes visual input?

A: Occipital lobe

Q21: Which lobe handles auditory input and language comprehension?

A: Temporal lobe

Q23: What does the basal ganglia control?

A: Voluntary movement, memory, decision making

Q24: What structures are part of the limbic system?

A: Hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens

Q25: What is the main function of the limbic system?

A: Emotion, memory, and motivation regulation

Q26: What are the 5 regions of spinal nerves (with numbers)?

A: Cervical (8), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral (5), Coccygeal (1)

Q27: What do dorsal and ventral roots of spinal nerves carry?

A: Dorsal = sensory (afferent); Ventral = motor (efferent)

Q28: How many pairs of cranial nerves are there and what do they do?

A: 12 pairs; control motor and sensory functions of face/head

Q29: What is the function of the olfactory nerve?

Smell

Q30: What is the mnemonic for cranial nerves?

A: “Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet, AH!”

Q31: What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?

A: Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Q32: What is the function of the sympathetic NS?

A: Prepares body for stress (fight or flight)

Q33: What is the function of the parasympathetic NS?

A: Calms body after stress (rest and digest)

Q34: What functions are regulated by the ANS?

A: Heart rate, breathing, digestion, pupil size

Q35: What is neuroplasticity?

A: The brain's ability to change structure/function with experience

Q36: What does “crossed wiring” mean in the nervous system?

A: Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body

Excitatory vs. Inhibitory Signals

Balanced neural signaling that either increases (excitatory) or decreases (inhibitory) activity.

Electrochemical Signaling

Neurons communicate via electrical impulses and chemical neurotransmitters.

Q37: What’s the difference between localised and distributed brain function?

A: Localised = specific functions in one area; Distributed = spread across multiple areas

What does gray matter primarily consist of?

Neuron cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated axons, glial cells, and capillaries.

Q: Where is gray matter mainly located in the brain?

A: In the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, and other brain nuclei.

Q: What is the main function of gray matter?

A: Processing and integrating information in the brain.

What does white matter primarily consist of?

Myelinated axons that form tracts connecting different brain areas.

Where is white matter mainly found in the brain?

Mostly in the deeper parts of the brain beneath the gray matter cortex.

What is the role of myelin in white matter?

It insulates axons and speeds up electrical signal transmission.

What disorders are associated with damage to white matter?

Multiple sclerosis and some psychiatric disorders.