BIO201L Lab 8 The Nervous System Latest Update

Pre-Lab Questions:
”1. What is the primary function of the nervous system?”
 Controlling the body information center is the nervous system main job.
”2. Why does the cerebral cortex contain so many folds? ”
The cerebral cortex contains so many folds because it helps to increase the surface area.
”3. What is a nerve impulse? ”
The term action potential also refers to the nerve impulse. It speaks of the electrical signal
that an activated neuron sends out. The synapses, or connections between the cells, then
send this signal.
”4. What are Schwann cells and what do they form? ”
Schwann cells are glial cells that support the survival of the nerve outer fibers. This creates
the myelin sheath.
”5. What is an all-or-none response? ”
It is a strength response for either the fiber or nerve cell, the strenght of the stimuli is not
related to it. A certain threshold must be reached in order for the nerve cell or muscle fiber to
react.
”6. What two effects might neurotransmitters have? ”
Two effects that neurotransmitters have are excite nerve cells and inhibit nerve cells.
Experiment 1: Microscopic Anatomy of the Nervous System
Post-Lab Questions
”1. Label the arrows in the slide images below based on your observations from the
experiment. ”
A- Axon
B- cell body
C- myelinated axon
D- myelin sheath.