D312 Nervous System Lab Questions and Explanations

Name

Western Governors University

D312 Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab

Prof. Name

Date

D312: Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab

Lab Questions – Section 5: Nervous System

This section examines the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system through a series of questions designed to deepen understanding. Each question includes explanations for correct and incorrect options to enhance comprehension. Visual and matching questions are supplemented with detailed clarifications to aid learning and retention.

Which structures belong to the central nervous system?

The question asks to identify three structures that are part of the central nervous system (CNS).

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Somatic nerves	Incorrect – These nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), not the CNS.	Incorrect
b. Medulla oblongata	Correct – This brainstem structure regulates autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.	Correct
c. Pons	Correct – Another brainstem structure, the pons serves as a communication bridge within the CNS.	Correct
d. Spinal cord	Correct – A major component of the CNS that transmits signals between the brain and body.	Correct

Answer: The medulla oblongata, pons, and spinal cord are integral parts of the central nervous system.

Parts of a Neuron

This section involves matching labeled parts of a neuron to their correct names and functions.

Label	Neuron Part	Description
A	Terminal arborizations	These are branching ends of an axon that form synaptic connections with other neurons, muscles, or glands.
B	Axon	A single, long process that transmits electrical impulses away from the soma to other cells.
C	Soma	The cell body containing the nucleus and organelles necessary for neuron metabolism.
D	Dendrites	Short, branched projections that receive incoming signals and convey them toward the soma.

Which part of a neuron transmits information to other neurons, muscles, glands, or lymphatic tissue?

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Axon	Correct – The axon carries nerve impulses away from the soma to other cells, enabling communication.	Correct
b. Soma	Incorrect – Integrates signals but does not transmit them to other cells.	Incorrect
c. Cell body	Incorrect – Another name for soma, responsible for metabolic functions, not signal transmission.	Incorrect
d. Dendrites	Incorrect – Receive signals but do not send them outwards.	Incorrect

Answer: The axon is responsible for transmitting information to other neurons and effector tissues.

Cerebrum Labeling

(No explanation is required for this question.)

Area labeled	Brain Region
A	Broca’s area
B	Wernicke’s area

Lobes of the Cerebrum and Their Functions

Question	Function	Correct Lobe	Explanation
Which lobe controls motor speech production and planning?	Executive functions and speech motor control	Frontal lobe (C)	Contains Broca’s area; manages voluntary movement, reasoning, and planning.
Which lobe is responsible for sensory association and spatial awareness?	Sensory integration and body orientation	Parietal lobe (B)	Processes tactile inputs and spatial information in the postcentral gyrus.
Which lobe interprets visual information?	Visual processing	Occipital lobe (A)	Houses primary and associative visual areas for interpreting visual stimuli.
Which lobe manages hearing, smell, emotion, and memory?	Auditory and olfactory processing, memory	Temporal lobe (D)	Includes Wernicke’s area and hippocampus, essential for auditory comprehension and memory.

Which arteries supply blood to the brain?

The brain receives blood supply from the bilateral internal carotid arteries and bilateral vertebral arteries.

What is the brain’s sole energy source?

Glucose is the exclusive energy substrate utilized by the brain to maintain function.

Which substances are able to cross the blood-brain barrier?

Alcohol, anesthetics, and glucose can cross the selectively permeable blood-brain barrier.

What structure produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Dural sinuses	Incorrect – These structures drain venous blood but do not produce CSF.	Incorrect
b. Choroid plexus	Correct – Specialized vascular tissue in brain ventricles responsible for CSF production.	Correct
c. Meninges	Incorrect – Protective layers around CNS but do not generate CSF.	Incorrect
d. Pia mater	Incorrect – Innermost meningeal layer closely adherent to brain tissue, but not a CSF producer.	Incorrect

Answer: The choroid plexus is the site of cerebrospinal fluid production.

Where is gray matter located within the spinal cord?

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Dorsal horn	Correct – Region of gray matter processing incoming sensory signals from peripheral nerves.	Correct
b. Dorsal column	Incorrect – Composed of white matter tracts carrying sensory information to the brain.	Incorrect
c. Ventral column	Incorrect – White matter region related to motor outputs.	Incorrect
d. Central canal	Incorrect – Fluid-filled cavity, not gray matter.	Incorrect

Answer: Gray matter is found in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

Where are electrical synapses or gap junctions found?

Electrical synapses, also known as gap junctions, are present in cardiac and smooth muscle tissues, allowing rapid and coordinated cell communication.

What term describes a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system?

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Ganglion	Incorrect – A cluster of neuron cell bodies in the PNS.	Incorrect
b. Nerve	Correct – Bundles of axons in the PNS connecting to the CNS via cranial or spinal roots.	Correct
c. Tract	Incorrect – Bundles of axons within the CNS.	Incorrect
d. Nucleus	Incorrect – Groups of neuron cell bodies in the CNS.	Incorrect

Answer: A nerve is a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system.

Which glial cell acts as the macrophage within the central nervous system?

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Astrocyte	Incorrect – Supports neurons and regulates the blood-brain barrier but does not perform macrophage functions.	Incorrect
b. Schwann cell	Incorrect – Found in the PNS, not inside the blood-brain barrier.	Incorrect
c. Microglia	Correct – Immune cells that act as resident macrophages in the CNS, clearing debris and pathogens.	Correct
d. Satellite cell	Incorrect – Support cells in PNS ganglia, not macrophages.	Incorrect

Answer: Microglia serve as the CNS’s resident macrophages.

What is a neural synapse?

Option	Explanation	Correct/Incorrect
a. Ventricle	Incorrect – A brain cavity producing cerebrospinal fluid.	Incorrect
b. Ganglion	Incorrect – A cluster of neuron cell bodies in the periphery.	Incorrect
c. Synapse	Correct – A specialized junction for communication between neurons through electrical or chemical signals.	Correct
d. Tract	Incorrect – A bundle of axons within the CNS.	Incorrect

Answer: A neural synapse is a specialized junction that facilitates communication between neurons.

References

Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2022). Human anatomy & physiology (12th ed.). Pearson Education.

OpenStax. (2023). Anatomy and physiology. OpenStax, Rice University. https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-introduction

Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2023). Principles of anatomy and physiology (16th ed.). Wiley.