NURS 5315 Module 7 Study Guide with Complete
Solutions 2024/2025
CNS made of - Correct Answer brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System made up of - Correct Answer 12 pairs of cranial nerves + 31 spinal nerves
Afferent Nerves - Correct Answer Sensory nerves that carry impulses from cells, tissues, and organs
to the CNS
Efferent Nerves - Correct Answer Carry impulses from the CNS to the cells, tissues, and organs.
Neuron - Correct Answer Basic functional unit of the nervous system; primary fuel source is glucose
Cell body - Correct Answer (1) Most are in the CNS.
(a) Nuclei: When cell bodies are densely grouped together
(b) Ganglia/Plexuses: Groups of cell nuclei in the PNS
Dendrite - Correct Answer Projections that collect info and direct it to the cell body
Salutatory conduction - Correct Answer Myeline sheath is responsible for allowing impulses to flow
between the nodes of Ranvier resulting in an increased velocity of impulses
Axon - Correct Answer (1) Conducts impulses to the next neuron
(a) Covered w/ a myelin sheath (lipid material) and are interrupted by nodes of Ranvier
(b) Nutrient exchange cannot occur through the myelin, but it can occur in the nodes of Ranvier.
Sensory Neurons - Correct Answer AFFERENT neurons that carry impulses TOWARD the CNS
Motor Neurons - Correct Answer EFFERENT neurons that carry impulses AWAY from the CNS
Associated Neurons - Correct Answer Transmit impulses from neuron to neuron (only in the CNS)
,Mature Neurons - Correct Answer Don't replicate. Injury to them in the CNS is permanent.
Axonal Reaction - Correct Answer Process of peripheral nerve can self-repair (slow)
Neuroglia types - Correct Answer astrocytes, oligodendroglia, microglia, and ependyma cells
Astrocytes - Correct Answer Fills the spaces between neurons & surround the blood vessels. Part of
the blood brain barrier, provide the rapid transport of nutrients & have a role in scar formation &
seizures.
Oligodendroglia - Correct Answer (1) Form the myelin sheath of the brain & spinal cord (CNS).
(a) White Matter: Myelin sheath is white aka "white matter".
(b) Grey Matter: Areas w/o myelin sheath, which is composed mainly of neurons.
Microglia - Correct Answer Tissue macrophages specific to the CNS
Ependymal Cells - Correct Answer Line the ventricles of the brain and the choroid plexuses & are
involved in the production of CSF.
Schwann Cells - Correct Answer Responsible for formation of the myelin sheath in the PNS and
provide metabolic support.
Synpases - Correct Answer i) Where signals are transmitted from one neuron to another.
(1) Consist of presynaptic and post synaptic membrane which are separated by the synaptic cleft.
Impulses are transmitted across the cleft via chemical or electrical means
Neurotransmitters function and types - Correct Answer i) Synthesized in the neuron & localized in the
presynaptic terminal.
(1) They're stored on one side of the synaptic cleft & their receptors are located on the opposite side
(2) Chemical synapses only work in one direction.
-acetylcholine, monoamines, amino acids
,Acetylcholine - Correct Answer (a) Is excitatory & inhibitory.
(i) Located in skeletal muscles (excitatory), brain and spinal cord.
(ii) Inhibitory effects are on the cardiac muscle.
(iii) Deactivated by acetylcholinesterase.
Monoamines - Correct Answer (a) synthesized from the amino acids (tyrosine & tryptophan)
(i) Includes histamine, serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, & norepinephrine
(ii) Found in various parts of the brain & effect learning, emotions, and motor control.
1. Dopamine deficiency=Parkinson's
2. Epinephrine & Norepinephrine: Motor control in the sympathetic pathways
Amino acids - Correct Answer (i) Glutamate (brain & spinal cord): Excitatory effects. Drugs that block
glutamate treat ALS
(ii) Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA, located in neurons of the CNS): Inhibitory at the post synaptic
membrane. Drugs that increase GABA treat seizures.
(iii) Glycine (Spinal cord): Inhibitory effects on the post synaptic membrane
Cerebrum - Correct Answer Right + Left hemispheres that are connected by the corpus callosum
(which maintains communication between the 2 hemispheres)
Cerebral cortex - Correct Answer 1) Gray matter that covers the cerebrum.
a) White matters lies beneath the cerebral cortex and is made up on the myelinated axons of the CNS
3 meninges that surround the CNS - Correct Answer subarachnoid, arachnoid, subdural space
(epidural space)
Subarachnoid space - Correct Answer a) Above the pia mater & below the arachnoid mater; houses
arteries & carries CSF.
i) Pia Mater: Covers the cerebrum directly and contains some arterial supply.
Arachnoid space - Correct Answer Middle meninge, avascular.
, Subdural space - Correct Answer a) Houses the venous circulation and is located between the
arachnoid meninge and the dura mater.
i) Dura mater: Outer most meninge and contains the venous system.
Epidural space - Correct Answer a) A potential space between the dura mater and the skull, houses
some of the intracranial arteries
CSF - Correct Answer 1) Supportive and protective cushion of the CNS
a) Found in the subarachnoid space & within cavities and canals of the brain.
b) There are 4 ventricles that are large fluid filled spaces w/in the brain.
c) CSF is made by the separation of the fluid from blood in the choroid plexus.
Choroid Plexus - Correct Answer A network of capillaries that project from the pia mater into the
ventricles, each is covered w/ a sheet of ependymal cells that secrete CSF into the fluid spaces.
Frontal lobe function - Correct Answer -Prefrontal: goal-oriented behavior, short-term or recall
memory, elaboration of thought, and inhibition on the limbic (emotional areas)
-Directs voluntary skeletal actions (contralaterally)
-Communication (talking, writing), emotions, intellect, reasoning, judgment, and behavior
Broca's Area - Correct Answer Responsible for speech, injury results in expressive dysphagia, frontal
lobe
Temporal lobe function - Correct Answer Interprets impulses from the ear.
-Wernicke's area: Interprets auditory stimuli, interprets speech
-Major areas for long-term memory and balance, taste, smell
Wernicke's area - Correct Answer Interprets auditory stimuli & speech, injury results in receptive
dysphagia, temporal lobe
Parietal lobe function - Correct Answer Interprets tactile sensation: touch, pain, temperature, shapes
& 2-point discrimination
