Basic Nervous System Anatomy Worksheet

1. What does CNS and PNS stand for? Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System.

2. What are the parts of the CNS? The brain and spinal chord.

3. Describe something that you do on a regular basis that your PNS controls. Digest food.

4. What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system and what does each control?

Sympathetic Nervous System - controls the body in times of stress, worry, fear, and emergency.
Parasympathetic Nervous System - brings the body to a normal state and allows for rest and relaxation.


5. What are the three main types of neurons? What is the function of each?

Sensory Neuron - conducts impulses from the body to the CNS

Motor Neuron - conducts impulses from CNS to effector organ

Interneuron - conducts impulses within the CNS


6. What is the function of the axon of a nerve cell? Sends out the impulses. The dendrite? Recieves the impulses.

7. What is a synapse? The transfer of impulses from the dendrite of one neuron to the axon of another neuron over the synaptic gap.

8. Sketch a neuron and label the axon and the dendrite.