ACTIVITY 6: NERVOUS SYSTEM

Every thought, action, and sensation reflects its activity. Because of its complexity, the structures of the
nervous system are described in terms of two principal divisions—the central nervous system (CNS) and
the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, interprets
incoming sensory information and issues instructions based on past experience. The PNS consists of
cranial and spinal muscles, glands, and sensory receptors.
The Nervous System is also divided functionally in terms of motor activities into the somatic and
autonomic divisions. It is important however, to recognize that these classifications are made for the sake
of convenience and that the nervous system acts in an integrated manner both structurally and
functionally.

OBJECTIVES
1. Identify the parts of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
2. Describe the structural components of neurons and identify them on a model or chart.
3. Observe the structural properties of nervous tissues.
4. Demonstrate nerve reflexes in a human subject.
5. Make documentation like pictures and attach it at the last page of the laboratory report.

MATERIALS
Human brain model
Penlight
Prepared slides of cow’s nerve, cell smear, cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord, and motor end plate
Reflex hammer
HISTOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Search the internet for a prepared slide of a cow's nerve, cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord, and motor
end plate observed or seen under medium power objective (MPO). Choose the best resolution or image
and pasted it on the space provided in your laboratory report.

GROSS ANATOMY OF THE BRAIN

We will not perform a dissection of a cow’s brain which we usually do in a face to face class, but instead
you will study the parts of a brain using references or the internet. Search for a video of the anatomy and
physiology of a human brain; study the parts and its functions by answering the table in the laboratory
report.
REFLEXES
A. Patellar Reflex
1. Choose a partner to be a subject for this activity. Have the subject sit on the edge of the table with the
knees off the table or chair and the legs should be dangling and freely relaxed.
2. Touch the patella and palpate the tibial tuberosity. The patellar tendon is between these two structures.
To be sure you have found the tendon, have the subject isometrically flex the quadriceps muscles, but not
move the leg while you palpate the tendon.
3. Gently but firmly tap the patellar tendon with the tapered end of a reflex hammer or if reflex hammer is
not available, a wooden stick will do. I will be posting a video presentation on how to test human
reflexes.
4. Although the grading is subjective, grade the extension of the leg using the following scale and record
on your laboratory report.
0 = no response (hyporeflexive)
1 = little response (hyporeflexive)
2 = normal response
3 = above normal response
4 = exaggerated reflex (hyperflexive)
5. Now ask the subject to clasp both hands in front of the chest and isometrically pull in opposite
directions. Do the patellar reflex and record your observation in your laboratory report. This action leads
to an enhancement of spinal reflexes causing a reinforced patellar reflex.
6. After doing procedure 5, test the effect of fatigue on the stretch reflex response. The subject should
jog in position for 7 minutes. Test the patellar reflex again and record whether it is more or less vigorous
than the first response.

B. Biceps Reflex
1. Have the subject stand with an arm completely relaxed and hanging down at the side.
2. Ask the subject to isometrically contract the biceps brachii so you can palpate the tendon in the
antecubital fossa.
3. After locating the tendon, have the subject relax and place your thumb over the tendon.
4. Tap your thumb with the tapered end of the reflex hammer or a wooden stick.
5. Record your observation in your laboratory report.
6. If the reflex is absent, have the subject clench his or her teeth for a reinforced reflex and try the reflex
again.
7. Record the twitch or movement of the arm of the subject and write the response on the laboratory
report.
0 = no response (hyporeflexive)
1 = little response (hyporeflexive)
2 = normal response
3 = above normal response
4 = exaggerated reflex (hyperflexive)

C. Achilles Reflex
1. Have the subject keep one foot on the floor and place the knee of the other leg on a chair with the foot
dangling over the edge.
2. Ask the subject to slightly dorsiflex the foot to stretch the tendon a little, but remain relaxed.
3. Tap the calcaneal tendon with the tapered end reflex hammer or a wooden stick and observe the
response of the foot.
0 = no response (hyporeflexive)
1 = little response (hyporeflexive)
2 = normal response
3 = above normal response
4 = exaggerated reflex (hyperflexive)
4. Record your observation in the laboratory report.

D. Plantar Reflex
1. Using the metal end of the reflex hammer or any wooden stick, stroke the plantar surface of the foot
starting at the heel, extending up the lateral side of the foot, and crossing over to the great toe area.
0 = no response (hyporeflexive)
1 = little response (hyporeflexive)
2 = normal response
 3 = above normal response
4 = exaggerated reflex (hyperflexive)
2. Record your observation in the laboratory report.

E. Pupillary Reflex
1. Conduct the reflex testing in an area where the lighting is relatively dim. Before beginning, obtain a
flashlight and a metric ruler.
2. Measure and record the size of the subject’s pupils as best you can and record your observation in your
laboratory report.
3. Stand to the left of the subject to conduct the testing. The subject should shield his or her right eye by
holding a hand vertically between the eye and the right side of the nose.
4. Using a quick right to left motion. Shine a flashlight in the subject’s left eye. Measure the size of the
pupil and record your observation in your laboratory report.

F. Corneal Reflex
1. Stand to one side of the subject; the subject should look away from you toward the opposite wall. Wait
a few seconds and then quickly, but gently, touch the subject’s cornea (on the side toward you) with a
wisp of absorbent cotton.
2. Record your observation in your laboratory report.

G. Gag Reflex
1. For this experiment, select a subject who does not have a queasy stomach, because vomiting is a
possibility. Stroke the oral mucosa on each side of the subject’s uvula with the tongue depressor or a
clean small spoon.
2. Record your observation in your laboratory report.

LABORATORY REPORT: NERVOUS SYSTEM

Name: Zachary Villanueva, Shawn Ada, Camille Balualua, Angel Kate Ningasca, Arra
Marquez, John Ruel Sanchez II

Lab Section: Thursday, 1:30PM - 6:30PM Score:

HISTOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Draw the different nervous tissues and label its parts

Specimen: Human Nerve Specimen: Human cerebrum

Total magnification: 400x Total magnification: 400x

Specimen: Cow spinal cord Specimen: Human cerebellum

Total magnification: 400x Total magnification: 40x

 Specimen: Human spinal cord Specimen: Human motor end plate

Total magnification: 400x Total magnification: 400x

REFLEXES
REFLEX RESPONSE FUNCTION OF REFLEX
(0,1,2,3,4)

2 To prevent the stretching of the quadriceps.

Patellar reflex

3 AKA - Jendrassik Maneuver: Purpose is to have

Patellar reflex after the clasping arms generates innervation to
clasping both hands
increase the reflexes of the lower extremities

Patellar reflex after 4 As stress (by exercise) is induced to the legs, the
jogging in place for 7 patellar reflex latency was less vigorous after
minutes
physical activity.

2 Contraction of the bicep tendon; stimulated by

Biceps reflex tapping on the brachioradialis tendon which
generates a twitch or a jerk if stimulated
properly.

1 When the achilles tendon is tapped while the

Achilles reflex foot is dorsiflexed; tests the gastrocnemius
muscle and the nerve in which it supplies it.
 2 Purpose is to elicit a reflex when the bottom of
Plantar reflex the foot is stimulated with an instrument;
observation of curling or frailing toes.

Pupillary Reflex
TEST RIGHT EYE LEFT EYE FUNCTION OF REFLEX
(size of pupil (size of pupil in
in mm) mm)

4 4 Function is to control the diameter of the

Before the test pupil by inducing a certain light amount.

2 2 The eye has been introduced to light,

After the test and has now gotten smaller to advocate
for the amount of light shown.

Corneal Reflex
OBSERVATION FUNCTION OF REFLEX

Once the cotton was applied to the surface of The orbicularis action (7th facial nerve) is
the eye, the eye blinked immediately in reaction responsible for this reflex.
to the cotton swab touching the eye.

Gag Reflex
OBSERVATION FUNCTION OF REFLEX

When the uvula is aggravated, the person begins Glossopharyngeal is responsible for this
to gag a little bit as a response to the contact reflex; (Cranial nerve 9 & 10).
with the probing tool.

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS:

1. Yko, a man in his 70s, was having problems chewing his food. He was asked to stick out his tongue.
He was asked to stick out his tongue. It deviated to the right, and its right side was wasted. What cranial
nerve is impaired?
 - The hypoglossal nerve; this is because the word part ‘glossal’ means tongue.

2. Yssy complained to his swim coach that “my bathing cap is so tight; it'll squeeze my brains out of my
ears!” Her coach is majoring in physical therapy and tells him that that's anatomically impossible. Explain
the coach's position.
- The coach’s explanation is valid since the student’s claim is overly exaggerated; the cranial
structure is designed by God to make sure that all the contents of the brain are kept within
the skull. The skull has 3 meninges and has cerebrospinal fluids that are coating it so that it
doesn’t fall loose.

3. Why does exposure to toxins have more devastating effects during early pregnancy than in late
pregnancy?
- Based on what I’ve read, since the specimen in the womb is still growing, it’s still very weak
and can easily succumb to any foreign substances that may impede it, versus when it has
already been fully developed, it will be stronger in contrast to when it was still developing.

ATTACHMENT PICTURES:
 F. Corneal Reflex Test Pupillary Reflex

7 minutes jogging in place A. Patellar Reflex

for The Patellar Reflex

E. Pupillary Reflex

B. Biceps Reflex