Bio 121 Study Objectives for Chapter 11

  1. What are the functions of the nervous system?
  2. How is the nervous system organized?
  3. Know the meaning of the following: Central Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, Afferent division, Efferent division, Somatic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Sympathetic Nervous System, Parasympathetic Nervous System.
  4. What is neuroglia? What are the types of neuroglia cells and what do they do?
  5. What are characteristics of neurons?
  6. Know the following as it pertains to neurons: cell body, dendrites, axons, tracts, nerves, collaterals, ganglia, myelin sheath, node of Ranvier
  7. What is axonal transport?
  8. What is the difference between white matter and gray matter?
  9. What is multiple sclerosis?
  10. What is the difference between multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar neurons, and where are each type of neuron used?
  11. What is meant by afferent, efferent, and association neurons?
  12. What is an action potential, and how is it propagated along a neuron (include the role of the sodium/potassium pump, and sodium channels)?
  13. What is meant by the following: threshold stimulus, all-or-none phenomenon?
  14. What factors influence the perception of stimulus intensity?
  15. What drugs affect sodium channels and hence slow down neuron conduction?
  16. What is a chemical synapse? How does it work?
  17. What is the difference between an excitatory and inhibitory synapse?
  18. Describe the effects of the following neurotransmitters: acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, histamine, norepinephrine, endorphins, enkephalins.
  19. Describe how the following drugs effect neurotransmitters: amphetamines, cocaine, prozac
  20. Describe the difference between parallel processing and serial processing with regard to neurons?