Nervous System
Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs act on the nervous system to change mood, thinking, behaviour and sensation, and how those drugs are used to treat psychiatric disorders.
What our notes say
- Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs act on the nervous system to change mood, thinking, behaviour and sensation, and how those drugs are used to treat psychiatric disorders. (Introduction to Psychopharmacology)
- Rheumatic fever is inflammation of the joints, heart, skin and nervous system that occurs in children as a complication of untreated streptococcal throat infection. (Junior Clerkship in Internal Medicine (MBIM4100) main exam, Paper One: 31 Januar)
- Development is the progressive acquisition of skills and function as the nervous system and other body systems mature. (Growth and Development in Children)
- • Continuous capillaries found in muscles, lungs, adipose tissue and central nervous system (CNS) have their adjacent endothelial cells are closely joined together. (Cardiovascular system examination revised 2012 — Past Paper Questions & Answers)
- Study of how sensory stimuli are transduced and processed by the nervous system. (Medical Physiology Assorted SAQs — With Answers (Past Paper Study Guide))
- Peristalsis: a wave of contraction preceded by relaxation that propels contents onward, controlled by the enteric nervous system (Auerbach's plexus) and hormones (motilin, gastrin, CCK). (General Surgery CAT 2 (MBSG 4600): 4 October 2021)
Study material on Nervous System
- Nervous System Examination — Source Paper Awaiting Edit
- cat 2 2014 — Source Paper Awaiting Edit
- Secretions of the Small Intestine and Their Control
- Medical Physiology Year Two – Paper Two MCQs
- MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY II ESsays
- GIT Physiology Exam Questions
- Medical Physiology II (Paper 2)
- Physio Y1 EOY 2021
- Medical Physiology Assorted SAQs — With Answers (Past Paper Study Guide)
- Medical Physiology Pp2 Year 2
- Medical Physiology Mid-Semester Exam — November 2019 (Past Paper)
- Medical Physiology CAT 2 — 2014 (Past Paper)
- Weekly Year 1: Physiology Exam - August 7, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
- Medical Physiology Mid-Semester Exam — 2020 (Past Paper)
- Weekly Pharmacology Exam - April 17, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
- Weekly Year 2: GIT Physiology Exam - March 27, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
Practice questions on Nervous System
Cells from the dorsolateral portion of a somite form a ventral hypomere with myotomes. Which of the following portions of the nervous system form nerves that migrate with the myotomes during development?
- Dorsal primary ramus
- Ventral primary ramus
- Dorsal root ganglion
- Sympathetic ganglion
- Grey communicating ramus F. White communicating ramus
Answer: B. The ventral primary ramus has nerve fibers that innervate the hypomeres. ---
A feature of the sympathetic (not parasympathetic) nervous system:
- Ganglia in effector organs.
- Long preganglionic neurons.
- Preganglionic neurons release norepinephrine.
- Preganglionic neurons originate in thoracolumbar spinal cord. ✅ Answer: D. Preganglionic neurons originate in thoracolumbar spinal cord.
Answer: A. Preganglionic neurons originate in thoracolumbar spinal cord. is the physiologically correct answer per standard MBChB-level teaching on this topic. ---
Concerning the parasympathetic nervous system:
- Its postganglionic cell bodies are in the CNS.
- Its stimulation increases salivary secretion.
- Its stimulation inhibits intestinal motility.
- Its postganglionic cell bodies are located on skeletal muscles.
- Its stimulation causes bronchodilation. ✅ Answer: B
Answer: A. Parasympathetic stimulation generally increases the secretion of watery saliva from salivary glands.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the nervous system?
- Processing sensory information
- Coordinating bodily activities
- Regulating movement
- Digesting food
Answer: D. While the nervous system influences digestion through the autonomic nervous system, the primary function of digestion lies within the gastrointestinal system. The nervous system's core functions involve sensory input, motor output, integration, and cognitive processes.
What is the primary barrier between the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
- The meninges
- The blood-brain barrier
- The dura mater
- The vertebral column
Answer: D. The CNS and PNS are functionally and anatomically distinct divisions of the nervous system. While protective layers like meninges and the blood-brain barrier are crucial for CNS protection, there isn't a single 'barrier' separating the CNS from the PNS in the way the question implies. Instead, it's a matter of organizational and anatomical demarcation.
How many major divisions does the nervous system have?
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
Answer: B. The nervous system is broadly divided into two main divisions: the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).