D312 Nervous System Lab Questions and Explanations
Student 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
These lab questions focus on the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. Each question includes not only the correct answer but also a detailed explanation of why it is correct and why other options are incorrect. For visual and matching questions, explanations are also provided to enhance conceptual understanding and retention.
1. Which structures are part of the central nervous system?
Question: Select three answers.
| Options | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. Somatic nerves | Incorrect – Somatic nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), not the central nervous system (CNS). |
| b. Medulla oblongata | Correct – The medulla oblongata is located in the brainstem and is part of the CNS, responsible for autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate. |
| c. Pons | Correct – The pons is another brainstem structure within the CNS that acts as a communication bridge between different regions of the brain. |
| d. Spinal cord | Correct – The spinal cord is a major CNS component, transmitting signals between the brain and the body. |
Answer: Medulla oblongata, pons, and spinal cord are part of the central nervous system.
2–5. Parts of a Neuron
Directions: Match each labeled part of the neuron with its correct name.
| Label | Neuron Part | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | Terminal arborizations | The terminal arborizations are the branching ends of an axon, which form synaptic connections with other neurons, muscles, or glands through synaptic knobs. |
| B | Axon | The axon is a single, elongated process that carries electrical impulses away from the soma to other cells. |
| C | Soma | Also known as the cell body, the soma contains the nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles essential for neuron metabolism. |
| D | Dendrites | Dendrites are short, branching projections that receive incoming signals from other neurons and transmit them toward the soma. |
6. Which part of a neuron carries information to other neurons, muscles, glands, or lymphatic tissue?
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. Axon | Correct – The axon transmits nerve impulses away from the soma to other neurons or effectors, functioning as the communication line of the neuron. |
| b. Soma | Incorrect – Although the soma integrates incoming signals, it does not transmit information to other cells. |
| c. Cell body | Incorrect – Another term for the soma, which performs metabolic activities but does not send signals outward. |
| d. Dendrites | Incorrect – Dendrites receive signals but do not carry them to other neurons or tissues. |
Answer: Axon
7–8. Cerebrum Labeling
(No explanation required)
- Area labeled A → Broca’s area
- Area labeled B → Wernicke’s area
9–12. Lobes of the Cerebrum and Their Roles
| Question | Function | Correct Lobe | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9. Which lobe is responsible for motor speech production, cognitive thought, and planning? | Executive functions, speech motor control | Frontal lobe (C) | The frontal lobe houses Broca’s area and governs voluntary movement, reasoning, and planning. |
| 10. Which lobe contains sensory association and body orientation? | Sensory integration, spatial awareness | Parietal lobe (B) | The parietal lobe processes tactile input and spatial information via the postcentral gyrus. |
| 11. Which lobe interprets visual information? | Visual processing | Occipital lobe (A) | Contains the primary and associative visual areas for interpreting visual stimuli. |
| 12. Which lobe manages hearing, smell, emotion, learning, and memory? | Auditory and olfactory processing, memory | Temporal lobe (D) | Includes Wernicke’s area and hippocampal regions vital for auditory comprehension and memory. |
13. Which arteries supply the brain?
Answer: Bilateral internal carotid arteries and bilateral vertebral arteries.
(No explanation needed)
14. What is the only source of energy for the brain?
Answer: Glucose
(No explanation needed)
15. Which substances can pass through the blood-brain barrier?
Answer: Alcohol, anesthetics, and glucose
(No explanation needed)
16. Which structure produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. Dural sinuses | Incorrect – Drain venous blood but do not secrete CSF. |
| b. Choroid plexus | Correct – A specialized vascular structure located in brain ventricles that produces and secretes cerebrospinal fluid. |
| c. Meninges | Incorrect – Protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord, but not responsible for CSF production. |
| d. Pia mater | Incorrect – The delicate inner meningeal layer; it closely adheres to brain tissue but does not produce CSF. |
Answer: Choroid plexus
17. Where is gray matter located in the spinal cord?
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. Dorsal horn | Correct – The dorsal horn is a region of gray matter that processes incoming sensory signals from peripheral nerves. |
| b. Dorsal column | Incorrect – Refers to white matter tracts carrying sensory input to the brain. |
| c. Ventral column | Incorrect – A region of gray matter involved in motor output, not primarily sensory processing. |
| d. Central canal | Incorrect – A fluid-filled space, not part of gray matter. |
Answer: Dorsal horn
18. Electrical Synapses or Gap Junctions
Answer: Cardiac muscle and smooth muscle (No explanation needed)
19. Which term describes a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system?
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. Ganglion | Incorrect – Refers to a group of neuron cell bodies in the PNS. |
| b. Nerve | Correct – Nerves are bundles of axons in the PNS that connect to the CNS via cranial or spinal roots. |
| c. Tract | Incorrect – Refers to a similar structure but within the CNS. |
| d. Nucleus | Incorrect – A collection of neuron cell bodies within the CNS. |
Answer: Nerve
20. Which type of glial cell acts as the resident macrophage behind the blood-brain barrier?
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. Astrocyte | Incorrect – Supports neurons and regulates the blood-brain barrier but is not a macrophage. |
| b. Schwann cell | Incorrect – Found in the PNS, not within the BBB. |
| c. Microglia | Correct – These are immune cells that act as macrophages within the CNS, clearing debris and pathogens. |
| d. Satellite cell | Incorrect – Found in PNS ganglia, supporting neuron cell bodies. |
Answer: Microglia
21. What is a neural synapse?
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| a. A central cavity within the brain where CSF is produced | Incorrect – This describes a ventricle. |
| b. A group of neuron cell bodies in the periphery | Incorrect – This refers to a ganglion. |
| c. A specialized junction mediating communication between neurons | Correct – The synapse transmits electrical or chemical signals between neurons, enabling neural communication. |
| d. A bundle of axons in the CNS | Incorrect – This describes a neural tract. |
Answer: A specialized junction mediating the transfer of information 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.