System Structure: Nervous - Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Mblex
- Which brain region is primarily responsible for coordination and balance?
- Cerebellum. The cerebellum fine-tunes motor activity by integrating sensory feedback for precise movements.
- What are nodes of Ranvier?
- Gaps between myelin segments where action potentials regenerate. These nodes enable rapid signal regeneration in myelinated axons via saltatory conduction.
- What is a reflex arc?
- Neural pathway that mediates a rapid, automatic response to a stimulus. Reflex arcs bypass higher brain centers for quick protective or adaptive reactions.
- What is the function of the axon in a neuron?
- Conducts impulses away from the cell body. The axon propagates action potentials to transmit signals to other neurons or effectors.
- Which part of the brainstem contains vital cardiac and respiratory centers?
- Medulla oblongata. The medulla regulates essential autonomic functions critical for survival.
- Which ANS branch is primarily associated with the "rest-and-digest" response?
- Parasympathetic division. It promotes conservation and restoration of energy during calm states.
- What is a neuron?
- A nerve cell specialized to conduct electrical impulses. Neurons are the fundamental units enabling rapid signal transmission in the nervous system.
- What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
- Protective fluid that cushions and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. CSF circulates to absorb shocks, remove waste, and deliver nutrients to neural tissues.
- What type of control is characteristic of the somatic nervous system?
- Voluntary control of skeletal muscle. It enables conscious movement by innervating skeletal muscles under deliberate control.
- Identify the correct term: impulses traveling away from the CNS are called what?
- Efferent (motor) impulses. Efferent impulses transmit motor commands from the CNS to peripheral effectors.
- What is the synapse?
- Junction where a neuron communicates with another cell. Synapses allow precise communication between neurons or from neurons to target cells via neurotransmitters.
- What are the two main branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
- Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. These branches provide opposing effects to maintain balance in autonomic functions.
- What is the primary function of the sensory (afferent) division of the PNS?
- Carries impulses from receptors to the CNS. This division detects environmental changes and relays information to the CNS for processing.
- Identify the correct term: impulses traveling toward the CNS are called what?
- Afferent (sensory) impulses. Afferent impulses convey sensory information from the periphery to central processing areas.
- What is a neurotransmitter?
- Chemical messenger released into a synapse to transmit a signal. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on postsynaptic cells to propagate or inhibit neural signals.
- What is the primary function of the motor (efferent) division of the PNS?
- Carries impulses from the CNS to effectors. This division executes commands from the CNS to muscles and glands, enabling responses to stimuli.
- What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?
- Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). This division organizes the nervous system into central processing units and peripheral connections for sensory input and motor output.
- Which ANS branch is primarily associated with the "fight-or-flight" response?
- Sympathetic division. It activates energy-expending responses during stress or danger to prepare the body for action.
- What structures make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
- Cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and peripheral ganglia. These components extend from the CNS to transmit sensory and motor signals throughout the body.
- What is the meninges?
- Three protective connective tissue membranes around the CNS. Meninges provide layered protection against mechanical injury and infection for CNS structures.
- What is the myelin sheath?
- Insulating covering around an axon that increases conduction speed. Myelin facilitates saltatory conduction, allowing faster nerve impulse transmission.
- What is the function of dendrites in a neuron?
- Receive incoming signals toward the cell body. Dendrites integrate synaptic inputs to initiate or modulate neuronal activity.
- What are the two major subdivisions of the motor (efferent) nervous system?
- Somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. These subdivisions differentiate between voluntary and involuntary motor controls in the efferent system.
- What structures make up the central nervous system (CNS)?
- Brain and spinal cord. These structures form the core of neural integration and control, protected within the skull and vertebral column.
- What type of control is characteristic of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
- Involuntary control of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands. It regulates internal homeostasis automatically without conscious effort.