Chapter 7 Objectives

#5. Describe the general scructure of a neuron and name its important anatomical regions.
A neuron has a cell body, which contains the nucleus and is the metabolic center of the cell, and one or more slender processes extending from the cell body. These processes vary in length from microscopic to 3-4 feet. The processes that convey incoming messages toward the cell body are dendrites, whereas those that generate nerve impulses and typically conduct them away from the cell body are axons.

#22. Discuss the distribution of the dorsal and ventral rami of spinal nerves.
After being formed each spinal nerve divides into dorsal and ventral rami, making each spinal nerve about 1/2 inch long. The rami contain both sensory and motor fibers therefore damage to either rami results in loss of sensation and flaccid paralysis of the area of the body served. The dorsal rami are smaller and serve the skin and muscles of the posterior trunk. The ventral rami of the spinal nerves T1 through T12 form the intercostal nerves, which suppy the muscles between the ribs and the skin and muscles of the anterior and lateral trunk. The ventral rami of all other spinal nerves form complex networks of nerves called plexuses.