Daniella Hill

5th
Nervous System Lab Report
This lab report will contain a series of data and labeled photos over the Nervous system.
When the nervous system is met with neurotoxins the nervous system can be shut down. Every
animal has different toxins that can damage the nervous tissue and cause blockage. (Table 1). In
this lab report there are also labeled photos of a sheep brain with its functions. (see figure 1).The
brain was cut in half to identify the structures. Below the photo are a list of the functions of the
structures and how the brain process through the nervous system. The brain has many different
nerves as well (see figure 2). Each nerve has its own function that could be connected to the five
senses. The brain has many different functions (see table 2). The brain also has nerves as well
that allow it to signal information it is receiving. The student performed a series of test that
would test the nerves and would respond with a function. The lab report also contains a labeled
photo of the spinal cord of a mink (see figure 3). The students cut open the spinal cord to see the
inside and identify the different parts. While dissecting the mink the students cut into their
muscles to get to their minks nerves on both upper and lower parts. Figure 4 A,B and C show the
labeled nerves that can be seen in the photo. Table 3 shows the data that was collected when the
students performed tests in which a specific part of their body was hit by a rubber reflex hammer
which triggered a nerve to move the body a specific type of way. By hitting their reflex spot the
students were visually able to see how fast the nerve reacts. Lastly there are several nerves in
your eye that send messages to the brain. Figure 5 shows the way the light travels through a
sheep eye. The optic nerve is one of the major nerve in your eye, its job is to receive information
it receives from the retina to the brain.
Table 1. Neurotoxin Table. Neurotoxin action and effects listed below.
Action Potential Interrupter Effects

Maculotoxin Blocks sodium channels

Latrotoxin Enhances acetylcholine release

Bungrarotixin Blocks acetylcholine (nicotinic) receptor

Tetrotoxin Blocks sodium channels

Apamin Blocks potassium channels

Charybdotoxin Blocks potassium receptors

Conotoxin One type blocks voltage sensitive calcium

channels, one blocks voltage sensitive sodium
channels, and open blocks ACh receptors
Abnormality of the Sodium Protein Channel Produces channels that are nonfunctional

Synthetic toxin Destroys the myelin covering your optic

nerves and motor neurons

Batrachotoxin Causes voltage gated sodium channels to

open at a more negative membrane potential
and also prevents their inactivations

Dendrotoxin Blocks voltage gated potassium channels

General Anesthetic Opens more potassium channels in neurons of

the reticular formation in the brainstem

Potassium Causes irritation to the cell and causes

depolarization to glial cells

Abnormality of sodium Channel Alters voltage sensitivity of the sodium

channels so that it only opens at more positive
membrane potentials.
Medulla Oblongata- controls vital centers, Pons- relays sensory info between cerebellum and
cerebrum, lateral ventricle- creates Cerebrospinal fluid, 4th ventricle- holds csf and forms central
canal of spinal cord, cerebellum- balance, equilibrium, and quick response, superior colliculus-
response to visual stimulus, thalamus- emotional and memory functions, pineal gland-produces
serotonin and melatonin cerebrum- read, remember, judgment, sulci- divide the brain and
increase surface area, gyri- increases surface area of cerebrum, longitudinal fissure- groove that
separates the two hemispheres, corpus callosum-connects left and right hemispheres dura mater-
outermost tough fibrous layer protects the brain, arachnoid- middle layer holding csf, pia mater-
inner layer that adheres to the brain
Figure 1. Sheep brain labeled with structures and functions. The class dissected a sheep rain and
identified the structures. Photo by Author.
Figure 2. Sheep brain with cranial nerves labeled. Identified the nerves for the cranial nerves.
Photo by Author.

Table 2. Cranial nerve assessment results. This table was conducted to test the nerves and the
function responded.
Cranial Nerve Motor or Where does Test Performed Results Assessment
Sensory or the nerve of the of Nerve
Both innervate tests Function

Olfactory (I) Sensory Upper nasal Smelled coffee +,+ Normal

cavity with each nostril

Optic (II) Sensory Retina Light, + Normal

Reading chart 20,15 Astigmatism
15,20 in eyes

Oculomotor(III Motor Eyes Moved q-tip up + Normal

) down and inward

Trochlear (IV) Motor Extreme eye Moved q-tip + Normal

muscle inward,
downward

Trigeminal (V) Both Eye, Mouth, Touch area of + Normal

 Jaw face with cotton

Abducens (VI) Motor Orbit of eye Moved q-tip left +,+ Normal
to right, eyes
follow

Facial (VII) Both Side of the Able to smile and +,+ Normal
face close eyes tight

Vestibulocochl Sensory Inner ear Tuning fork +,+ Normal

ear (VIII) Walk in straight
line

Glossopharyng Both Pharynx, Say Ahh-hh + Normal

eal (IX) tonsils
posterior
third of
tongue to
brain

Vagus (X) Both Neck, chest Swallow + Normal

abdomen

Accessory (XI) Motor Soft palate, Shoulder shrug +,+ Normal

pharynx and Neck Movement
Larynx

Hypoglossal Motor tonge Sick tongue out + Normal

(XII)
Figure 3. Mink Spinal Nerve. The photo above is a labeled figure of the mink spinal nerve. Photo
by Tyler.
Figure 4 A. Mink Spinal nerves labeled. Anterior view of Mink nerves. Photo by Author.
Figure 4 B. Mink Spinal nerves labeled. Anterior view of Mink nerves. Photo by Author.
Figure 4 C. Mink Spinal Nerves Labeled. Anterior view of Mink nerves. Photo by Author.

Table 3. Reflex assessment results. This table was conducted by a series of test relating to the
nerves.
Test Left Right Results varying Tests for
condition

Biceps + + Slight C5 & C6

Triceps + + Slight C7 & C8

Brachioradialis + + Slight C5 & C6

Hoffmanns + - No Movement Pyramidal Tract

in right Lesions

Patellar + + Left stronger L2, L3 & L4

than right

Achilles + + Slightly Strong S1 & S2

Babinski - - Good, toes L4, L5 & S1, S2

 flared down

Crossed + + Left good C5 & C6

Extensor movement, right
slight

Glabellar + + Eyes flinched C1 &C2

Figure 5. Sheep eye labeled. The dissection of a sheep eye taken apart and placed in order
from the direction in which the light will travel through the eye. Photo by Author.

Citations
Figure 1- Photo by author
Figure 2- Photo by author
Figure 3- Photo by Tyler
Figure 4- Photo by author
Figure 5- Photo by author