Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
WORKSHEET NERVOUS SYSTEM (variant B)
Nerve cells are called neurons and their structure reflects the functional characteristics of an individual
neuron. Information comes to the neuron largely via processes called axons, which terminate on the
neuron at specialized junctions called synapses. Synapses can occur on neuronal processes called
dendrites or on the neuronal cell body, called a soma or perikaryon
Task 1: The parts of neuron and glial cells – fill in correct numbers to the tables:
Glia are the cells that support neurons, both
within the CNS (the neuroglia) and within the
PNS. Glial cells far outnumber the neurons in the
nervous system and, along with myelination of
new axons, contribute to most of the postnatal
growth seen in the CNS.
Ependymal cells: line the ventricles of the
brain and the central canal of the spinal cord
that contain cerebrospinal fluid
No.
Astrocytes: the most numerous of the glial
cells, they provide physical and metabolic
support for CNS neurons, and contribute to
the formation of the blood-brain barrier
Oligodendrocytes: smaller glial cells that are
responsible for the formation and
maintenance of myelin in the CNS
Microglia: smallest and most rare of the CNS
glia, they are phagocytic cells and
participate in inflammatory reactions
Soma (perikaryon)
No.
Axon
Dendrites
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
Task 2: Synapses – read the text in the boxes next to the second picture and try to decide,
to which number of the box with the missing text in the picture they belong.
The major form of communication in the nervous system is by synapses, discrete sites where the axon, or
its extensive branching of axonal terminals, sometimes numbering in the thousands, abut another neuron
or target cell.
Neurotransmitter molecules
are stored in vesicles.
Released neurotransmitter
molecules bind to postsynaptic
receptors.
Action potentials cause vesicles
to fuse with the presynaptic
membrane and release their
neurotransmitter molecules
into the synapse.
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
Task 3: The main parts of human brain – colour with
different colors:
 Cerebrum (cerebral cortex)
 Diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, and pineal
gland)
 Midbrain (also called the mesencephalon, a part of
the brainstem)
 Pons (connects to the cerebellum and medulla and is
part of the brainstem)
 Medulla oblongata (connects to the spinal cord and is
part of the brainstem)
 Cerebellum
Task 4: The cerebrum is divided into two large hemispheres and is characterized by its convoluted
cerebral cortex, which significantly increases the surface area for neurons by folding the tissue into a
compact volume. The cerebral cortex is divided into four visible lobes and one lobe that lies deep to the
outer cortex. Regions of the cerebral cortex are associated with specific functional attributes. Many of
these areas overlap, and some may be more or less developed in individuals with specific talents or with
specific deficits, either from congenital anomalies (birth defects) or from pathology, such as a stroke.
Colour the five lobes of the cerebral cortex, using a different color for each lobe and the following
functional regions of the cerebral hemisphere, using a different color for each region:
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
1. Frontal lobe 6. Primary motor cortex
2. Parietal lobe 7. Primary somatosensory cortex
3. Occipital lobe 8. Primary visual cortex
4. Temporal lobe 9. Primary auditory cortex
5. Insula: a fifth, deep lobe lying medial to the temporal lobe
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
Task 5: PNS - Cranial nerves – 12 pairs. Components of the PNS include the:
Somatic nervous system: sensory and motor fibers to skin, skeletal muscle, and joints (illustrated in part B,
somatic components)
Autonomic nervous system (ANS): sensory and motor fibers to all smooth muscle (including viscera and
vasculature), cardiac muscle (heart), and glands (illustrated in part B, efferent components)
Enteric nervous system: plexuses and ganglia of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) that regulate bowel
secretion, absorption and motility (originally, considered part of the ANS); linked to the ANS for optimal
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
Task 6: PNS - Spinal nerves – 31 pairs. Fill in the texts into the tables.
The ANS is divided into the sympathetic and
parasympathetic divisions. The ANS is a visceral system
because many of the body’s organs are composed of smooth
muscle walls and/or contain secretory glandular tissue.
Sympathetic divison
Parasympathetic divison
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
STRUCTURE EFFECTS Sympathetic division of ANS: variant B
Dilates the pupil
Lacrimal glands
Increases heart rate and force of contraction
Coronary arteries
Assists in bronchodilation and reduced secretion
Digestive tract
Causes glycogen breakdown, glucose synthesis and release
Salivary glands
Causes ejaculation and orgasm, and remission of erection
Constricts male internal urethral sphincter muscle
Urinary system
STRUCTURE
EFFECTS Parasympathetic division of ANS
Constricts pupil
Lacrimal glands
Decreases heart rate and force of contraction
Coronary arteries
Causes bronchoconstriction and increased secretion
Digestive tract
Aids glycogen synthesis and storage
Salivary glands
Promotes engorgement of erectile tissues
Urinary system
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
Task 7: Interesting facts about nervous system – Find the partner with the
second correct part of your text.
Task 8: Human reflexes
Reflex is an involuntary response of the organism caused by receptor irritation.
The structural basis is a reflex
arc:
 Receptor
 Centering path /
afferent
 Centrum
 Centrifugal path /
efferent
 Executive organ
_________ irritation
information is directed via
the centripetal path directly
or through inserted neurons
to _____________- deposited in the spinal cord or brain stem. The response to irritation is a change
in the activity of motor neurons and corresponding muscle fibres. However, this largely unchanging
response is also under the influence of _____________________because, in addition to transmitting
information from the receptors within the _________, the neurons of the motor neurons are
simultaneously integrated with information from the higher CNS compartments. The resulting
motoneuron activity is then determined by the sum of _________ and inhibitory effects from the
involved structures of the nervous system. Therefore, it is the basis not only for reflective but also
free motor skills. Individual reflexes have precisely ______________defined reflex arcs (path and
centre). Their knowledge allows the examiner to characterize the reflex response to a certain
stimulus, to ____________________________= to determine the site of the nervous system. For a
complete clinical examination, ___________________________need to be examined to make the
picture of the nervous system as complete as possible.
Receptor motoneurons superior structures reflex excitatory
anatomically diagnose topically a number of reflexes
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
Task 9: Observation of human reflexes:
When examining unconditional reflexes, we observe:
Reflexibility - every reflex may be missing in a certain percentage of cases even in a healthy
individual.
Quantitative response changes - weakening (hyporeflexia) or strengthening (hyperreflexia) of the
response, or extension of the reflexogenic zone, i.e. increasing the area from which the reflex can be
induced.
Qualitative changes of the response - we receive a response of a different kind from the same
stimulus (pendular reflex, reflex irradiation, etc.)
It is always necessary to compare the answers of the same reflexes of the right and left sides of the
body to see if the quality and quantity of the response are the same on both sides. Unilateral
changes, even weak, are more severe than bilateral in some reflexes. In some disorders of the central
nervous system, other normally unrecoverable reflexes, called pathological reflexes, appear.
Procedure:
Most of the reflexes are equipped with a quick, flexible hammer stroke, or a pinky hand at the
appropriate receptors. The hit must be reasonably strong, painless, fast and accurate.
The limbs or muscle groups involved in the reflex response must be sufficiently relaxed, usually by
supporting the examined limb in semiflexion or semipronation, mostly by the examiner’s hand.
If we fail to trigger the reflex even with the right procedure, we will try to improve the ability of the
so-called amplification manoeuvres to increase the tension of antagonists. With Jendrassik
manoeuvre, the investigator locks his hands together and tries to stretch them hard. Sometimes we
have to take the attention of the examined person, for example, by performing a simple numerical
action during the examination (counting the number series backwards etc.).
1) Pupillary examination
We assess whether the pupil of the examined person is identical in shape and size and whether they
are round. Next, we examine the pupil's response to light, convergence, and divergence.
a) Photoreaction (pupil response to exposure, pupillary or pupil reflex)
Equipped with a flashlight, we illuminate one patient's eye. The response is a narrowing of the
enlightened pupil, in that case we are talking about a direct photoreaction. Likewise, we observe
pupil narrowing, unlit, indirect (consensual) photoreaction. For constriction of the pupil we use the
term myosis, for their dilation we use the term mydriasis.
b) Pupil's response to object movement in the anteroposterior direction (convergence and
divergence)
These are so-called disjunctive movements (vergence), when the eyeballs move symmetrically but in
the opposite direction. This is easily simulated by following the finger that is approaching or moving
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
away from the eyes. We ask the examiner to observe our finger. We either approach it from a
distance of about 1m towards its eyes, when the eyeballs converge and, at the same time, we
observe the myosis of both pupils. Moving the finger away from the immediate vicinity of the eyes
results in the divergence of the eyeballs accompanied by pupillary mydriasis.
Evaluation:
2) The cranial nerve VII., n. facialis
We start the n. facialis examination with a test of the facial abilities of the examined person. We tell
him/her to:
 to raise eyebrows
 to frown
 to bare teeth
 to close eyes
 to whistle
 to inflate cheeks
We notice symmetry, eventually the inability to execute the instruction.
Next, we investigate the acoustic-facial reflex when we observe the blink of an eye in response to
clapping
Nasopalpebral reflex: a stroke of a neurological hammer on the root of the nose, the response is
blinking
We induce a blinking reflex by rapidly moving the hand in front of the eyes
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
The reflexes induced from the median line are called axial, most of which are present only in infancy
and are related to the maturation of the brain tissue. In adulthood they are pathological. These
include the upper and lower labial reflexes, when the lips are lightly tapped the children purse the
lips, and sucking reflex followed by a light touch of the lips.
3) Masseter reflex
With the mouth open, we use a hammer to hit the wood spatula attached to the teeth of the lower
jaw or to the thumb resting against the chin of the examined person. The reflex response is the grip
(closing) of the mouth.
Evaluation:
4) Bicipital reflex
The hit on the thumb placed on the tendon of the m. biceps brachii in the semi-flectated forearm
causes flexion of the forearm.
Evaluation:
5)Styloradial reflex
The hit on the palmar area of the radius of processus styloideus with semi-flectated and
semipronated forearm causes pronation and flexion of the forearm.
Evaluation:
6)Tricipal reflex
Support with hands the flexed limb above the elbow and hit on the tendon m. triceps brachii over
the olecranon of the ulna which causes the extension of the forearm.
Evaluation:
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
7)Patellar reflex
Examined person folds one leg over the other, or he/she lifts it with a hand in the popliteal (below
knee). By hitting the tendon under the patella, we cause the leg extension.
Evaluation:
8) Achilles tendon reflex
The examined person kneels with one leg on his chair, or we hold his/her leg with our hand in flexion
and hit the on the Achilles tendon to cause plantar flexion.
Evaluation:
9) Medioplantar reflex
Tap into the centre of the foot sole to induce plantar flexion of the foot.
Evaluation:
10) Plantar reflex
With the tip of the hammer, we press the outer side of the sole of the foot with moderate pressure,
plantar flexion and finger adduction occurs. When the pyramidal pathways are damaged, we equip
the so-called Babinsky phenomenon in this way, dorsal flexion of the fingers with fan-shaped
stretching occurs.
Evaluation:
Task 9: Reaction time - sort the sentences into the correct order:
1. The longest is a response to optical stimuli, shorter to acoustic stimuli and quick respond to
tactile stimuli.
2. The reaction time depends on the type of stimulus used, its intensity, the state of the
organism and the motivation.
3. Reaction time is the time that elapses from the start of a stimulus (light, sound, etc.) to the
point when the person being examined responds with an agreed response.
4. Before running the executive (motor) response, other cognitive processes take place, such as
engaging work memory, selecting the right answer and preparing it, making a decision to
answer.
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
5. As a rule, the upper limb reacts after a shorter latency than the lower limb.
6. The reaction time includes a number of sub processes.
7. The selected motor region then activates the corresponding muscle groups by descending
pathways.
8. The stimulus must first be decoded in the corresponding sensory organ from where it is
conducted in the form of nerve impulses to the primary and other association cortex regions
where it is recognized.
9. It is prolonged when choosing the right stimulus from a series of similar stimuli to which the
examined person is not to respond, or if he/she is to respond to different stimuli with
different responses.
10. As the signal or response complexity increases, the probability of a greater number of errors
increases.
Procedure:
1) Check your reaction time on computer
a) Catching sheep ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf )
 who are you ? ……………………………………….
b) Light: ………………… Sound:………………………… Speed: …………………………………..
(http://flashgamesspot.com/cs/play/world-reaction-a-reaction-time-test-game-to-test/flash-game/)
Result: (compare with others in the group)
2) Check your reaction time on tablet - on hunting ladybugs
a) on the bug hunting without aliens: ……………………………………………
b) on the bug hunting with aliens: …………………………………………………
(http://clovekonline.cz/na-lovu-berusek/)
Compare the results:
3) Catching a falling object
Tools: long ruler
Name:
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology2 Mgr. Martina Jančová, Ph.D.
The examined person sits and puts his hand over the edge of the table, he/she grasps (stops the fall)
the ruler with the thumb and finger. The zero point of the scale is 5cm from the bottom edge. The
examiner verbally warns the examined person that he/she will release the ruler in the next 4
seconds. The task of the examined is to capture the ruler as soon as possible by grasping fingers and
thumb. The examined fixes the black mark on the scale, not looking at the examiner's hand. The
result is read at the top of the thumb. Repeat 5x to calculate the arithmetic mean.
The examined person sits against the wall and stops the falling ruler by pressing the toe of the foot
against the wall. The distance of ruler from the wall is about 2.5 cm. Repeat five times. Calculate the
arithmetic mean.
Compare the response speed of your hand and foot and compare your results with others in the
group.
4) One second shock
Over a slightly open hand of you classmate, hold a banknote and ask him to catch it when you drop
it.
Result:
Your classmate is not able to do it. When his/hers eye sees the banknote fall, he/she gives the brain a signal and it gives his
hand a command to catch the banknote. With this, however, is a precious tome lost. You will succeed because the
commands to release and catch the banknote are sent simultaneously by your brain.