TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

363 P. Casal St., Quiapo, Manila

ASSIGNMENT #1

MARVIN BRIAN J. PARAS

December 7, 2018
1. Describe neurons and their functions.
Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system. These specialized
cells are the information-processing units of the brain responsible for receiving and
transmitting information. Each part of the neuron plays a role in the communication of
information throughout the body. These are the cell body, the dendrites, the axon, and the
axon terminals.
 Cell body or soma contains the nucleus and is the site of synthesis of virtually all
neuronal proteins and membranes. It is where the signals from the dendrites are
joined and passed on. The soma and the nucleus do not play an active role in the
transmission of the neural signal. Instead, these two structures serve to maintain
the cell and keep the neuron functional.
 Dendrites serve as the input region of the neuron and receive information from
other cells. These are treelike extensions at the beginning of a neuron that help
increase the surface area of the cell body. These tiny protrusions receive
information from other neurons and transmit electrical stimulation to the soma.
Dendrites are also covered with synapses
 Axon transmits information away from the cell body. It is the elongated fiber that
extends from the cell body to the terminal endings and transmits the neural signal.
The larger the axon, the faster it transmits information. Some axons are covered
with a fatty substance called myelin that acts as an insulator. These myelinated
axons transmit information much faster than other neurons.
 Terminal axon or axon hillock is located at the end of the soma and controls the
firing of the neuron. If the total strength of the signal exceeds the threshold limit
of the axon hillock, the structure will fire a signal (known as an action potential)
down the axon. The axon hillock acts as something of a manager, summing the
total inhibitory and excitatory signals. If the sum of these signals exceeds a certain
threshold, the action potential will be triggered and an electrical signal will then
be transmitted down the axon away from the cell body. This action potential is
caused by changes in ion channels which are affected by changes in polarization.

2. What are the functions of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is a complex cylinder of nerves that starts at the base of your
brain and runs down the vertebral canal to the backbone. It is part of the body’s collection
of nerves, called the central nervous system, along with the brain. In each of the spinal
cord’s many segments lives a pair of roots that are made up of nerve fibers. These roots
are referred to as the dorsal (which is towards the back) and the ventral (which is away
from the back) roots.
 The spinal cord’s major functions include:
 Electrical communication
Electrical currents travel up and down the spinal cord, sending
signals which allow different segments of the body to communicate with
the brain.
 Walking
While a person walks, a collection of muscle groups in the legs are
constantly contracting. The action of taking step after step may seem
incredibly simple to us since we have been doing it all of our lives, but
there are actually a lot of factors that have to be coordinated properly to
allow this motion to occur. This central pattern generators in the spinal
cord are made up of neurons which send signals to the muscles in the legs,
making them extend or contract, and produce the alternating movements
which occur when a person walks.
 Reflexes
Reflexes are involuntary responses resulting from stimuli
involving the brain, spinal cord, and nerves of the peripheral nervous
system.

3. What are the functions of the reflex arc?

The reflex arc is a special type of neural circuit that begins with a sensory neuron
at a receptor (e.g., a pain receptor in the fingertip) and ends with a motor neuron at an
effector (e.g., a skeletal muscle).
As an example, in a knee-jerk reflex arc the sensory neuron directly connects to
the motor neuron in the spinal cord. This is called a simple reflex arc. Follow the sensory
neuron from the spindle (receptor) to where it connects with the motor neuron in the
spinal cord. Follow the motor neuron to the muscle (effector).

4. What are the functions of the brain?

The brain is an amazing three-pound organ that controls all functions of the body,
interprets information from the outside world, and embodies the essence of the mind and
soul. Intelligence, creativity, emotion, and memory are a few of the many things
governed by the brain. Protected within the skull, the brain is composed of the cerebrum,
cerebellum, and brainstem.
There are six functions of the Brain — Thinking or Cognition, Perception or
Sensing, Emotion or Feeling, Behaviour, Physical or Somatic, Signaling (being
responsive and reacting to the environment).
 Thinking (or cognition) includes all of our internal mental processes and
functions. This includes communicating, arithmetic, insight, planning,
 judgement, comprehension, processing, reading, focusing, attending,
memory and contemplation.
 Perception is the ability to use our five senses to see, hear, smell, taste and
touch.
 Emotion is the ability to experience feelings and to express those feelings
to others. We can also call our emotions and feelings “moods”. Mood is
the ongoing inner feeling experienced by an individual.
 Signaling is the ability to translate perception and internal signals to
initiate physiologic cascade such as alertness and tension.
 Many physical functions are under the control of the brain. This includes
Respiratory System, Circulatory System, Nervous System, Genitourinary
System, Digestive System and Musculoskeletal System.
 Behavior includes sitting, running, walking, talking, listening, working,
joking, playing, and reading.