Nervous System Overview

What this unit covers

The resources here work through the nervous system from its overall organisation to individual structures. The quiz Topic 2.0 Spinal Cord looks at where the spinal cord sits in the vertebral canal and where it ends in adults. Nerve and Nerve Root Review - Lumbar Plexus asks which nerve roots feed nerves such as the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal. Anatomy of the Brain uses drag-and-drop labelling for the main and deep parts of the brain.

Where to start

Begin with the big picture. The flashcard deck Anatomy of the Nervous System covers staining methods, tracing techniques and the axes of the vertebrate nervous system. Then try Anatomy: Nervous system overview and look through the mind maps called Nervous System and SUBDIVISION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

1. Skim an overview mind map or deck.
2. Move to the brain, using Anatomy of the Brain and the slide set BRAIN ANATOMY, which offers hints for dorsal, lateral and ventral views.
3. Continue to the spinal cord and spinal nerves.
4. Finish with cranial nerves.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then close it and take a quiz on the same topic. Wrong answers show you which branch to reread. For cranial nerves there are many choices: BIOL 2401 - Nervous System: Cranial Nerves asks which nerves are sensory and asks you to identify labelled structures, while Anatomy of Cranial Nerves: Clinical Testing and the deck Cranial Nerves I-XII give you more angles on the same material.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Nervous System and Special Senses strand of Anatomy. Related pages on the ear and special senses appear among the mind maps, such as EAR and special senses.

Make it your own

Teachers can pick a quiz or deck to share with a class. Students can start with one quiz today and see how far it takes them.