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Labs and Activities

Week 3 – the Nervous System

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this learning package, the student will be expected to recall the following.

Click the triangle drop-down to see specific objectives:

 

Divisions of the Nervous System
  • Define the following two main subdivisions of the nervous system:
    • Central nervous system
    • Peripheral nervous system
  • Using the diagram provided, identify the basic organizational divisions of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
  • State the general function(s) of the following divisions of the nervous system: (use Figure 3.1 Organization of the Nervous System below as an outline).
    • Brain
    • Spinal cord
    • Afferent (sensory) system
    • Efferent (motor) system
    • Somatic system (somatic sensory and somatic motor)
    • Autonomic system (autonomic sensory and autonomic motor)
    • Sympathetic nervous system
    • Parasympathetic nervous system
    • Enteric nervous system (enteric plexuses)

 

Description of Nerve Tissue
  • State a definition and its general function(s) in the nervous system
    • Neuron
    • Neuroglia
  • Define, locate in a diagram, and identify the function of each of the following parts of a multipolar neuron and associated structures: (Use The Neuron Structural Components Diagram)
    • Cell body
    • Nerve fibres
    • Dendrite
    • Axon (axon collaterals)
    • Synaptic end bulb and synaptic vesicle
    • Myelin sheath
    • Schwann cell
    • Neurolemma
  • Distinguish between a multipolar neuron, a bipolar neuron and a unipolar neuron. (based on structural classification of neurons)
  • State the function of the following types of neurons: (based on a functional classification of neurons)
    • Sensory (usually are unipolar or bipolar neurons)
    • Motor (usually are multipolar neurons)
    • Interneuron (association neuron) (usually are multipolar neurons)

 

Structural Components of the Nervous System
  • Define each of the following terms that are components of the nervous system:
    • Sensory receptor
    • Effector
    • Gray matter of the spinal cord
    • White matter of the spinal cord
    • Tract (sensory and motor) of the spinal cord
    • Nerves (sensory, motor and mixed)
    • Ganglia of PNS or nuclei of CNS
    • Reflex arc
  • State a definition and their location and function in the three neuron reflex arc, for each component (See Figure 3.2 The Reflex Arc)
    • Sensory receptor
    • Sensory neuron (location in spinal nerve, posterior root ganglion and posterior root)
    • Interneuron (location in spinal cord)
    • Motor neuron (location in spinal cord, anterior root and spinal nerve)
    • Synapses
    • Neuroeffector junction
    • Effector
  • Describe in writing the pathway that a nerve impulse follows from sensory receptor in the (3 neuron) reflex arc to effector. Clearly state the location of the dendrite, cell body and axon for each neuron in the pathway (See Figure 3.2 below).
Central Nervous System (Introduction to the Spinal Cord)
  • Identify, for the spinal cord:
    • the body cavity where it is located
    • the origin of the spinal cord
    • the level of the vertebral column at which the spinal cord ends in early childhood and in the adult.
    • gray matter and white matter
    • tract (sensory and motor)
  • State the two functions of the spinal cord as given below:
    • the spinal cord functions as a two-way conduction pathway between the brain and spinal nerves
    • the spinal cord is the control center for the spinal reflexes
  • State the following information about spinal nerves:
    • the names and numbers of the spinal nerves according to the level of the vertebral column from which they arise
    • the name of the root in which sensory fibres of spinal nerves enter the spinal cord
    • the name of the root from which motor fibres of spinal nerves leave the spinal cord
  • Identify on a cross section of the spinal cord the components of a sensory fibre of a spinal nerve including location of sensory neuron.
  • Identify on a cross section of the spinal cord the components of a motor fibre of a spinal nerve including the location of somatic and autonomic motor neurons.
  • Describe the organization of spinal nerves into plexuses, according to the following guidelines:
    • definition of term neural plexus
    • name of main spinal nerve branch from which plexuses are formed
    • name of four main plexuses out of which nerves emerge to run to somatic effectors
  • Identify the plexus from which the following spinal nerves arise and the somatic effector(s) receiving its impulses through the nerve
    • phrenic
    • radial
    • femoral
    • sciatic

 

3.1 Nervous System Diagram

 

3.2 The Neuron – Structural Components

Lab Part 1: Reflex Arc and Types of Neurons

The purpose of these activities are to understand the three basic types of neurons found in a reflex arc, to locate the parts of a reflex arc on a model of the spinal cord

Materials Required:

  • Part 1A
    • Activity Kit titled “Types of Neurons” which contains:
      • a schematic representation of a cross-section of the spinal cord
      • 3 strings. Each string consists of 2 pieces of yarn of different colours with a button attached. Each string represents a neuron.
  • Part 1B
    •  Model of the spinal cord in the fifth cervical vertebra
  • Part 1C
    • Percussion Hammer


Lab Part 2: Components of the Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves

In this lab activity, you will identify the parts of the spinal cord and a reflex arc on a diagram, and then on a model of a vertebra.

Materials Required:

  • Diagram of a cross-section of the spinal cord
  • Model of the fifth cervical vertebra


Lab Part 3: Spinal Nerves, Plexuses, and Effectors

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