Nervous system

• Can you draw and label the “Organization of the Nervous System” diagram?

• What three types of senses transmit their information to the CNS via the afferent nerves? Give examples of each of these senses.

• What branch of the nervous system allows you to flex your bicep? What branch tells your brain that your bicep has been flexed?

• Can you name the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

• In just a few words, describe these terms: afferent, efferent, peripheral, somatic, and autonomic.

• What cells create myelin sheaths? In what part of the nervous system do they do this?

• Name each type of glial cell in the CNS and PNS and briefly describe its function.

• Describe basic neuron anatomy.

• What two things determine the speed at which neurons transmit impulses? What is saltatory conduction, and how does it relate?

• Name and describe the three structural types of neurons. What kind of information do they carry?

• Name and describe the three functional types of neurons. What are their structural types?

• What is the function of interneurons?

• Neurons form synapses. What three types of things do neurons synapse with?

• Explain what takes place at a vesicular synapse. How are non-vesicular different?

• Name the three areas in which we find “gray matter” in the CNS. Contrast that with the cluster of gray matter in the PNS: where are they found and what do we call them?

• Name the two areas in which we find “white matter” in the CNS. Contrast that with the white matter structures in the PNS: where are they found and what do we call them?

Brain and cranial nerves

• What are the four major divisions of the brain? Name the main structures found within each.

• Name the four ways in which our brain is protected and supported.

• What is the BBB and its function?

• Name and describe each of the meninges.

• CSF does not flow “in” the arachnoid mater, so where does it flow? How does old CSF drain away?

• What is CSF? What structures make it? Where? Name all the places that CSF flows.

• Describe the anatomy of the cerebrum and the function of each lobe.

• What are the PMC and PSC? What lobes are they found in?

• What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

• Describe the three types of white matter in the brain.

• What are the basal nuclei?

• Name the three parts of the diencephalon and the function of each.

• Name the three parts of the brainstem.

• What is the autonomic reflex center? Where is it found?

• Describe the anatomy of the cerebellum. What is its function?

• What are the RAS and the limbic system?

• For each of the cranial nerves, provide its name and number, function, the type of information the nerve carries, the origin and destination, and cranial passage it travels through to enter/exit the skull.

Spinal cord and Spinal nerves

• Describe spinal cord anatomy, including size and shape. Where does the spinal cord end (around which vertebra) and what do we call the pointy tip at the inferior end?

• What glorious structure emerges from the inferior end of the spinal cord? What does it have to do with spinal taps and epidural anesthesia?

• Describe a cross-section of the spinal cord. What are the names of the gray and white matter regions? Where do sensory and motor information enter/exit the cord?

• What is a dorsal root ganglion? Why are neuron structural types the key to understanding the presence of the DRG?

• What is the difference between a spinal reflex and cranial reflex? Name two spinal reflexes and one cranial reflex.

• Understand how to classify reflexes by development, response, complexity, and processing site.

• List the five steps of the reflex arc pathway.

• How many pairs of spinal nerves are there? How are they distributed?

• Name the three layers that surround and protect neurons and nerves.

• What is a nerve plexus? Name all four. Why are they advantageous?

• For each plexus, name the major nerve(s) and their function.

ANS

• Explain the two-neuron pathway present in most of the ANS.

• There are three branches of the ANS. Yes, three! Name them.

• What is another name for the sympathetic division of the ANS? Where do its nerves originate? What ganglia are present and what do they innervate?

• What organ is so important in dealing with stressors that it receives special attention from the sympathetic branch of the ANS?

• What is another name for the parasympathetic division of the ANS? Where do its nerves originate? What cranial nerves are involved? What ganglia are present and what do they innervate?

• Compare and contrast the effects of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Most importantly, understand why these effects occur (how does the body benefit from these effects)?

Senses

• Explain the three ways sensory receptors are classified by location.

• Explain the three ways sensory receptors are classified by their structure.

• Name five functional types of sensory receptors. What sensations does each sense?

• Explain the difference between a general sense and a special sense.

• Give the anatomical term for “taste” and explain the difference between papillae and taste buds. What are the five tastes and how does taste sensation get to your brain?

• Give the anatomical term for “smell” and explain the pathway of odor information from the olfactory epithelium into the brain.

• Name the four types of accessory structures of the eye. What are their functions?

• Use anatomical terms to explain why tears run out of your nose when you cry.

• What are the three layers of the eye? Name the structures found in each.

• Compare and contrast the humours of the eye, including their location and function.

• What pathologies relate to the humours?

• Describe the pathway of light as it travels through the eye, including all structures, substances, and spaces it travels through or past.

• Why do we have a “blind spot”?

• What regions of the eye give us our sharpest vision?

• Where are the intrinsic eye muscles found? What are their functions and how do they accomplish them?

• What are the extrinsic eye muscles? Relate these back to the cranial nerves.

• Describe the pathway of sound through the external, middle, and inner ear. What structures covert sound waves into mechanical waves? Into fluid waves?

• Describe the anatomy of the external ear. What are the functions of each component?

• Name the auditory ossicles and the order they are found in.

• What is the function of the auditory tube?

• What part of the ear is commonly infected? What does this have to do with the auditory tube?

• List the three parts of the inner ear and what senses each is involved with.

• Explain how the organ of Corti works, including the role of hair cells and stereocilia.

• What are the five feelings of balance and five structures of equilibrium?

• Describe the anatomy of the semicircular canals. What is the role of the cupula?

• Describe the anatomy of the utricle and saccule. What is the role of the statoconia?