Nervous System Flashcards
6 cards from real Anatomy and Physiology practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Nervous System flashcards as text
Which cranial nerve is responsible for controlling most movements of the eyeball?
Answer: Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
The oculomotor nerve (CN III) controls four of the six extraocular muscles, pupil constriction, and eyelid elevation, making it responsible for most eye movements.
What is the name of the region in the spinal cord where sensory neurons synapse with interneurons?
Answer: Dorsal horn
The dorsal horn (posterior horn) of the spinal cord gray matter is where sensory afferent neurons synapse with interneurons and ascending tract neurons.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the reward pathway and is deficient in Parkinson's disease?
Answer: Dopamine
Dopamine is the key neurotransmitter of the mesolimbic reward pathway, and its deficiency in the substantia nigra causes the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
What structure in the brainstem controls vital functions like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure?
Answer: Medulla oblongata
The medulla oblongata contains cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers that regulate the vital autonomic functions necessary for survival.
What type of synapse directly passes electrical current between neurons through gap junctions?
Answer: Electrical synapse
Electrical synapses use connexin gap junction proteins to allow ions and electrical current to pass directly between adjacent neurons for rapid, synchronized signaling.
Which part of a neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
Answer: Dendrites
Dendrites are the branched extensions of a neuron that receive incoming electrical and chemical signals from other neurons and sensory stimuli.