III.

The Nervous System — Exercises

Question 1

a. What is generated by the sensory cells in our sensory organs, such as cones and rods? An
impulse

b. What type of “information” can travel through the nervous system? Impulses.

c. Which two structures belong to the central nervous system? The brain and spinal cord.

d. Which part of the NS lies outside of the central nervous system? The peripheral nervous
system.

Question 2

Paraplegia is a condition in which a person cannot feel anything in a couple, or all, their limbs and
cannot move them. This can sometimes be caused by a major car accident. Neuronal tissue in
parts of the central nervous system can also become damaged severely. This damage can be
such that the tissue cannot be healed again.

a. A wound in skin tissue will heal on its own. Why would damaged tissue in the nervous system
be irreparable? Skin cells can undergo mitosis, but cells in neuronal tissue cannot undergo
mitosis. Because of this no new cells in the nervous system can be made to replace the damaged
tissue.

b. Which part of the central nervous system is affected when one suffers from paraplegia? Explain
your answer. The spinal cord, because to the spinal cord the parts of the PNS are attached ,that
go your the limbs.

c. Which type of neuronal tissue cannot send information to the CNS properly anymore when
being paraplegic: sensory neurons, motor neurons, or both? Explain your answer? You cannot feel
anything in limbs and move them. This means that both sensory neurons as motor neurons are
damaged.

Question 3

The Vagus Nervus, or cranial nerve X, is a major player in controlling bodily functions. It helps with
speech, sweating, peristalsis, and vomiting. It is called a cranial nerve, because it comes from
your brain (see figure below). The vagus
nerve is connected to a whole range of
organs, as seen in the image (called
vagus n., CN X). It can, for instance,
keep your heart rate in check by
slowing it down and stimulate sexual
arousal by relaxing blood vessels and
tissues.

a. Is this momentous nerve part of your

central or peripheral nervous system?
Explain your answer. Peripheral
nervous system, because it is a nerve
coming from the brain and is
connected to organs and glands.

b. The nervus vagus has thus many

functions. Is this nerve part of your
somatic of autonomic nervous system?
Explain your reasoning. Autonomic
nervous system, because it regulates
bodily functions that happen without
you having to thing about it.

c. What is the difference between the

sympathetic and parasympathetic
division of your NS? Parasympathetic
division often calms you and your
organs/ glands down, whilst the
sympathetic divisions makes you ready
for actions.

d. Has the CN X sympathetic or parasympathetic functions? Explain your answer.

Parasympathetic division, because is, for instance, CALMS down your heart rate.

Question 4 Which is which

Read the short texts and decide which division, sympathetic or parasympathetic, is active during
these described situations:

a. Insuline takes glucose from your bloodstream, storing it as glycogen in muscles and the liver.
Everything is good and there is nothing to worry about. (parasympathetic division)

b. During sudden stress an animal, such as a dog, will release urine and something faeces when it
is about to flee. (sympathetic division)

c. Vasodilation is the process in which your blood vessels become wider. Normally it is activated
to prime you for action. There are a couple of cases in which it relaxed parts of the body to
function properly, such as in saliva release and the swelling of sex organs during arousal.
(parasympathetic division)

d. Picking an apple is such a complex process: are your hungry enough? Which one is ripe? Is
the apple ridden with insects? You choose and lift the right apple towards your mouth to take a
bit. (somatic nervous system)

e. When in fight or flight modus, your pupils will dilate and become wider. More visual information
can be captured and send to the brain. This additional input of information may save your live.
(sympathetic division)

Question 5 (VWO) You are not you when you’re hungry!

A third division exist, called the enteric nervous system. It is part of the autonomic nervous
system. Read “A Deeper Dive: The Enteric Nervous System”.

a. Why would it be that if you eat a lot of sugary foods, you will crave more and more sweet item?
When you eat a lot of sweet food items, bacteria that use these sugars as well will divide more
than other bacteria. These bacteria can then communicate through the enteric division to your
brain to eat more of these food items.

b. In a state of fight or flight, your body has to “make choices” about where nutrients (energy) and
oxygen needs to go. Action requires muscles, your brain, and very active sensory organs. What
do you expect will happen to your enteric division? Will it be activated of dampened down? The
enteric division will be (partly) shut down to supply more blood to the muscles where oxygen and
nutrients are needed more at that time. 

V. The Brain — Exercises

Question 1 Use the image below and answer the questions

a. What is the name of the green part of this brain image? Temporal lobe

b. Which three parts make up the purple part of this brain image? Medulla oblongata

c. Which colour is given to the part where mostly visual information in processed? Light blue

d. What is the function of the medulla oblongata? Runs most of the autonomic nervous system.

e. Which colour is given to the part where speech and language is processed? Green

f. Which colour is given to the part where most thinking and reasoning happens? Red

g. Which colour is given to the oldest part of the brain? Purple

h. Where is the information from the sensory organs processed? Give one colour. Yellow

i. What is the name of the brain part which is involved with balance and coordination? Dark blue

j. In what colour is the part of question “i” depicted? Cerebellum 


VII. The Building Blocks of the Nervous System — Exercises

Question 1

a. What are the three types of neurons? Sensory, motor, and interneurons.

b. What is the difference between myelinated axons in the CNS and the PNS? Axons of
interneurons (CNS) are myelinated through oligodendrocytes; axons of motor and sensory
neurons (PNS) are myelinated through Schwann cells.

c. What is the function of an astrocyte? To support interneurons with their metabolism and help
them stay healthy.

Question 2

a. Why can be brain not just be one giant cell? That giant “braincell” will die because diffusion of
oxygen cannot happen on that scale. Moreover the brain has many different complex functions.

b. Why are axons so thin? Axons need to be quite long in samen cases. If the axon were thick, it
would not be able to be that long and impulses would not travel fast enough along this axon.

c. Are there more dendrites or axons per neuron? There are more dendrites than axons per
neuron.

d. Two which parts of another neuron can an axon connect? The dendrites or soma (cell body).

Question 3

The Vagus Nervus, or cranial nerve X, is a major player in controlling bodily functions. It helps with
speech, sweating, peristalsis, and vomiting. It is called a cranial nerve, because it comes from
your brain (see figure below). The vagus
nerve is connected to a whole range of
organs, as seen in the image (called
vagus n., CN X). It can, for instance,
keep your heart rate in check by
slowing it down and stimulate sexual
arousal by relaxing blood vessels and
tissues. It connects

a. Use the text above. What type of

nerve the vagus nerve is: a efferent,
afferent, or mixed nerve? Explain why.
(Invalid question)

b. The larynx, or voice box, is a

muscular organ which helps us to
produce speech. This organ is also
under the control of the vagus nerve.
What type of connection can be found
between the larynx and this nerve?
Explain your answer. They will be
“connected” through a neuromuscular
junction, because the larynx is a
muscle. Muscles and neurons are
always connected by a neuromuscular
junction.

Question 4 Nodes of Ranvier (VWO)

In certain types of diseases the

Schwann cells will become damaged and will not properly function anymore. What will happen to
the communication of the associated neurons? Explain your answer. Communication between
these neurons will slow down, because there are no proper nodes of Ranvier left between which
the action potential can “jump”.

IX. The Physiology of the Nervous System — Exercises

Question 1 Connect the Dots

a. How are neurons “connected” to one another? Through the synaptic cleft.

b. How are neurons “connected to muscles cells? Through the neuromuscular junction.

c. What is the part of a neuron that connects to other cells? The axon.

d. What are cell receptors in the plasma membrane made up of? Proteins/ amino acids

e. How could only one specific neurotransmitter only open up one type receptor on the other side
of the synaptic cleft? Each neurotransmitter has a specific shape that can only fit the receptor if it
has an opening with the corresponding shape (key-lock system)

f. These types of receptors have not been discussed in class. These sorts of receptors are
collectively called ligand-gated receptors. Another class of receptors that takes part in generating
an impulse are called voltage-gated receptors.

Name two other types of receptors. Tip: think back to the chapter on cell transport. (Pore)
channels and protein pumps.

g. What will start to flow into the neuron on the other side of the synaptic cleft once
neurotransmitters open up the cell receptors? Ions (mostly sodium ions).

h. At what point will a post-synaptic neuron depolarize? If enough neurotransmitters bind to

channels to open them up. If then enough ions enter the cell and the voltage threshold is reached
in this neuron, an action potential is generated.

i. What is the difference between a synaptic cleft and a neuromuscular junction? The synaptic
cleft is the gap between two neurons (axon and soma/dendrite); the neuromuscular junction is the
gap between a neuron (axon) and a muscle cell.

j. Describe the five steps of how an action potential is generated in a neuron. If enough channels
open up to let in enough ions in the cell in respons to a stimulus (pressure, light etc.), the voltage
threshold is reached. Because of this all the (sodium) channels open up and an action potential is
generated. After this these channels will one again close and pump proteins will get the
membrane back to its resting state.

XI. Hormonal, Neurotransmitters, and Behaviour — Exercises

Question 1 Which neurotransmitter am I?

a. I am produced by the medulla oblongata, as well as by the adrenal cortex. Adrenaline

b. I regulate your mood. Serotonin

c. I work on your sympathetic division. Adrenaline

d. I relief you of your pains. Endorphins

e. I am produced only by the hypothalamus. Dopamine

Question 2 Fill in the blanks

Neurotransmitters Produced by Function

Adrenaline medulla oblongata and adrenal Invokes a fight-or-flight reaction
cortex through the sympathetic division

Dopamine Hypothalamus Associated with pleasure, reward,

and motivation

Serotonin Raphe nuclei (N/A) Mostly associated with sleep and

mood

GABA N/A Calms down the CNS

Acetylcholine N/A Helps to contract your muscles

Endorphins Hypothalamus and pituitary gland Dampen down stress and pain