Chapter 6: Problem 5

Put your pen or pencil down and then pick it up again. Identify and describe the parts of the nervous system that caused those movements to happen.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The key parts of the nervous system involved here are the brain (more specifically, the motor cortex), motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system, the spinal cord, the somatic portion of the peripheral nervous system controlling voluntary movements, and the hand and finger muscles that respond to the impulse by contracting to allow the grabbing and lifting.

Step by step solution

Identify the Starting Point

Recognize that this procedure begins with the brain. The decision to pick up a pen or pencil initiates in the brain, specifically, in the motor cortex, which sends an impulse to motor neurons.

Understand the Role of Motor Neurons

The motor neurons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), receives the signal from the brain. These neurons transmit impulses from the central nervous system (CNS, which includes the brain) to the muscles.

Relation between Neuron Impulses and Actual Movement

These impulses are sent down the spinal cord, from where they enter the parts of the peripheral nervous system which controls voluntary actions - the somatic nervous system. This nervous impulse arrives at the specific muscles (hand and finger muscles in this case) which are commanded to contract.

Muscle Contraction

The end result of this series of neural impulses, transformations and synapses is muscle contraction in the hand and fingers, enabling one to pick up the pencil.

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Put your pen or pencil down and then pick it up again. Identify and describe the parts of the nervous system that caused those movements to happen.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Identify the Starting Point

Understand the Role of Motor Neurons

Relation between Neuron Impulses and Actual Movement

Muscle Contraction

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