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Summary
The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the
brain and spinal cord, and to the different parts of the body. To understand the physiology of the
nerve, five experiments were done under this exercise. The isolated nerve was subjected to
mechanical, thermal, osmotic, chemical, and electrical stimuli. In all conditions, nerve
contraction was observed. Applying anesthesia and blocking of pressure increased the threshold
voltage needed to elicit response as compared to no anesthesia. Pithing the frog had effects on
the reflexes of the frog showing minimal to no response as compared to a non-pithed frog. For
the reflex action in the frog, 10% HCl concentration gave the fastest reflex time, with the
duration of 7.95 seconds. Testing for the sensory systems, somatic senses showed that the
subject’s hands were the most accurate in tactile localization with an average error of 4.3 mm.
In terms of touch receptor adaptation, initial perception lasted for 6.11 seconds and increased
minimally to 7.16 seconds after adding another coin, then decreased to 6.14 seconds after
adding the third coin. Under the test for hearing, it was revealed that the auditory acuity of the
subject was not same for both ears. In auditory adaptation there was a tingling sensation in both
ears when the rubber tubing was not pressed, and a tingling sensation on the other where it was
pressed. Under binocular vision and test perception, it was revealed that the two eyes see images
at slightly different positions, but images fuse when both are open. Lastly in visual acuity, two
members with poor eyesight were able to read only up to line 7 while the one member with 20/20
vision was able to read up to line 9 of the chart.
Introduction
The central nervous system (CNS) is the nervous system. These cells send and
main processing center for the nervous receive electrical as well as chemical signals
system. This is composed of the brain and to and from other neurons throughout the
spinal cord. The brain is responsible for the body.
control in most functions in the body. This
includes awareness, movements, sensations, The objectives of this experiment are to
thoughts, speech, and memory. The spinal determine the effect of mechanical, thermal,
cord is the one responsible in carrying osmotic, chemical, electrical stimuli, signal
signals (messages) back and forth between blocking and anesthetics on nerve
the brain and the peripheral nerves. The conduction; and to determine the effect of
fundamental unit of the central nervous single pithing and double pithing on
system is the neuron. It is responsible for different reflexes of a frog.
most special functions attributed to the
Methods was touched with a stimulating electrode.
Double-Pithing Then the minimum stimulus that will elicit a
The frog was grasped using the left hand, response on the gastrocnemius muscle was
with the head bended ventrally with the determined and recorded. Two small pieces
index finger over the middle finger. The of cotton was soaked with anesthetic and
foramen magnum was located using a was placed between the middle portions of
dissection needle. Then the dissection needle the nerve. This was covered with filter paper
was pushed cranially into the foramen moistened with Amphibian Ringer’s
magnum to destroy brain. After the brain solution. The free end of the nerve was
was destroyed, the dissection needle was stimulated using the minimal stimulus
directed caudally and pushed to destroy the previously determined. This stimulation was
spinal cord. repeated at two-minute intervals and the
threshold stimulus at each stage was
Nerve Dissection determined. The cotton was moistened with
The skin from legs and abdomen of the anesthesia periodically. The results were
double-pithed frog was removed by cutting then tabulated. The anesthetic was washed
around the abdomen and peeling the skin away with Amphibian Ringer’s solution and
downward and off the animal. The frog was the minimum stimulus that will give a
kept moist using Ringer’s solution. Next, the response on the gastrocnemius muscle was
urostyle was grasped with forceps and then determined at two-minute intervals. The
cut. The sciatic nerve was then located and results were then tabulated.
lifted using a glass hook. This was cut from
the spinal cord and tied with a piece of B.2 Pressure Blocking
thread. Using the forceps and glass hook, the Another long nerve was prepared. The
nerve was severed from the gastrocnemius minimum stimulus that will elicit a response
muscle, and then placed in a petri dish was determined and then recorded. The
containing frog Ringer’s solution. prongs of a forceps were covered with
rubber tubing and pressure was applied
A. Nerve Function gradually on the middle portion of the nerve.
A muscle nerve was prepared by following The pressure was released immediately. The
the “Nerve dissection procedure” and the minimal stimulus was determined again and
femur was clamped. The nerve was the same procedure was repeated at 1-
stimulated successively by pinching minute intervals. The results were then
(mechanical), touching the free end with a tabulated.
hot glass rod (thermal), cutting a small
portion of the dead end of the nerve and C. Functions of the Central Nervous
applying a few crystals of NaCl to the fresh System
cut (osmotic), dipping the free end in HCl
(chemical), and applying a mild electrical A set of physiological tests was performed
shock using a stimulator (electrical). for a non-pithed, single-pithed and double-
pithed frog. First, the frog was placed in a
B. Signal Blocking dissecting pan and the position of the head,
eyes, and legs were observed. The pulsation
B.1 Anesthetic Solution in the throat area was also noted. Second, in
A long sciatic nerve was isolated and laid on the dissecting pan the frog was placed on its
a moist glass plate. One end of the nerve back and the righting position of the frog
was observed. Third, the frog was placed in improvement in the localization. This was
a pail of water and pulsation in the throat performed twice on other parts of the body.
area was observed. Then the frog was placed
again on the table and a loud noise was Touch Receptors Adaptation
made. The reaction of the frog was noted.
After that, the firmness and flaccidness of With the subject’s eyes closed, a small coin
the frog’s legs were also observed. Next, the was placed on the inside of his forearm. The
hind leg of the frog was pulled and initial perception was measured on how long
resistance to it was noted. The toe of the it lasted. Two more similar coins were added
frog was pinched after, taking note of the when the sensation was no longer felt. The
reaction again. Following this, the eyes of sensation of the extra coins was timed.
the frog were then touched with a piece of
cotton or tissue paper. Lastly, the toes of the
right foot of the frog were soaked in water Temperature Receptors
that was being heated in a beaker. All these The subject’s left hand was placed in a
procedures were done on the non-pithed, 1000-mL beaker filled with ice water and
single and double-pithed frog, taking note of the right hand was placed in a 1000-mL
all the observed reactions or response. beaker with water at 45 degrees Celsius
simultaneously, for two minutes. The
D. Reflex Action in the Frog
The frog was single-pithed by following the sensations felt on each hand were recorded.
“Pithing procedure”. The frog was
suspended through the jaw with a wire hook F.2 Hearing
attached to a clamp on a stand. The long toe Watch Tick Test for Auditory Acuity
was immersed with 10% Sodium The subject’s ear was plugged with cotton
Bicarbonate and tap water. Then, it was and had his eyes closed. The watch was held
immersed in 10% Hal. The time before the
against the auditory canal of the unplugged
reflex action obtaining the reflex action was
noted. The procedure was repeated after 2 ear and was slowly moved until the subject
minutes using a different concentration of was not able to hear it. The distance was
the acid. Another trial was made after measured. The watch was moved closed
obtaining a reflex action in a specific until the subject heard it again, and any
concentration. difference was noted. The procedure was
repeated with the other ear.
F. Specific Sensory Systems
Table 2-10: Somatic Senses: Temperature The Watch Tick Test is a simple test that
Receptors determines the patient’s ability to hear high-
Water pitched sounds and screen for high
Sensation
Temperature tone hearing loss. In table 2-11, the results
Ice Water While hands were immersed in show that the left ear can hear better as
the ice water, a tingling compared to the right ear. From this, it can
sensation was felt. Numbness be said that auditory acuity is not the same
takes over as time progresses. for both ears, and this may be due to many
45 C Water Temperature gets higher as the factors such as a build-up of wax in one ear
hand is held in water longer; more than the other, or infection. Auditory
eventually feels like hot wax acuity is lost with age, and it may not be lost
poured on the hand; numb equally bilaterally, explaining a significant
when removed. difference between the acuity in the two ears
in older people. Hearing aids can be used to
Thermoreceptors, which are found in the assist hearing, which are available for people
dermis layer of the skin, are receptors that with conduction deafness.
of the relative positions of their own bodies
Table 2-12 Hearing: Auditory Adaptation and objects around them.
Sensation
Normal Startling sensation on both ears; Visual acuity refers to the sharpness of our
somehow painful (momentary) vision. This is measured by our ability to
Rubber Startling sensation only on the identify letters or numbers on a standardized
tubing ear where rubber tubing was not eye chart from a specific viewing distance.
pressed pressed The Visual acuity test is the most common
clinical measurement of visual function This
Auditory Adaptation is transient loss of is performed one eye at a time and the
hearing sensitivity to tones of certain results are recorded as 20/#. The first
frequencies after prolonged exposure to number (20) denotes the patient’s distance
unchanging sounds. When the sound that (in feet) from the chart, the second number
causes the effect is loud and the hearing loss denoting the distance (in feet) an eye can
is more than transient, it is usually called read with perfect vision can read the same
auditory fatigue. The results in table 2-12 line.
shows that there was a tingling station felt
on both ears when the rubber tubing was not CONCLUSION
pressed. On the other hand, the tingling
sensation was only felt on the ear where the Stimulating the nerves in different ways
rubbing tubing was not pressed. (mechanical, thermal, osmotic, chemical and
electrical) or subjecting it to signal blocking
F.3 Vision has observable corresponding responses.
A. Binocular Vision and Sense Perception Single pithing and double pithing of a frog
Notes: When the left eye is open and the affects the reflexes because damaging the
right eye is closed, the coin is seen to be brain or both brain and spinal cord damages
slightly positioned to the right side. When the control center for these reflexes.
the right eye is open and the left eye is
closed, the coin is seen to be positioned Brain and spinal cord (CNS) are both
slightly to the left side. primarily responsible for processing sensory
information and sending signals to the
B. Visual Acuity peripheral nervous system (PNS) for action.
Notes: Two members of the group with poor
eyesight were able to read only up to line 7. GUIDE QUESTIONS
One member of the group with 20/20 vision
was able to read up to line 9 of the chart. 1) Why must the nerve be kept moist?
Ringer’s solution is used to keep the nerve
Binocular vison is the state of simultaneous moist at all times. The main purpose of
vision, which is achieved by the coordinated moistening is to create an isotonic solution
use of both eyes, so that separate and relative to the body fluids of the frog for it
slightly dissimilar images arising in each eye contains sodium bicarbonate and calcium
are appreciated as a single image by the chloride.
process of fusion. Space perception, on the
other hand, is a process through which 2) Nerves transmit signals due to
humans and other organisms become aware electrical potentials. How can stimuli,
other than electrical produce impulses in It has something to do with the procedure
the nerve? that was done on these frogs. As mentioned,
Aside from electrical, nerves transmit pithing is the destruction of the central
impulses across the synapse by means of nervous system of an experimental animal in
chemicals called neurotransmitters. They are preparation for physiological research
released from the synaptic vesicles inside (Medical Dictionary, 2009). This procedure
the synapse into the synaptic cleft, and is done by inserting a blunt probe through
received by the target cells through a the foramen. Single pithing a frog destroys
neurotransmitter receptor. the brain. The frog is brain-dead but its
spinal cord is still functional. The frog can
3) Does impulse decrease with time? If so, still crouch or move, but is not in pain.
why? These actions are neural reflexes that are
There are factors affecting the decrease of controlled by the motor senses in the spinal
impulse such as synapses and graded cord. Here the corneal reflex is destroyed,
potentials. Firstly, synapses slows down the but not the reflex withdrawal response that
passage of nerve impulses for there is no the spinal cord is responsible for. Without
physical connection between the adjacent the brain, sensory perception is not possible
neurons. Secondly, graded potentials travel so to confirm if the sensory perception has
at short distances and there is a decrement in been destroyed, test for corneal reflex is
the conduction of nerve impulses. done. This involves touching the eyes, and
no response should be observed. Double
4) Is the effect of anesthesia physical or pithing a frog destroys both the brain and
chemical? spinal cord therefore the frog has no reflex
The effect of anesthesia is chemical. Local actions at all. This time, not only is the
anesthesia inhibits depolarization of the corneal reflex damaged but also the reflex
nerve membrane by interfering with Na+ withdrawal response. To confirm spinal cord
and K+ currents. This interference seem to damage, test for this reflex withdrawal
increase the threshold voltage needed to response is made. This involves pinching of
elicit response as time goes by. The loss of the frog’s legs and no movement or response
feeling or sensation part may be felt should be observed.
physically, but it is the chemical
mechanisms, which is causing it. 7) What conclusions can you make about
the functions of the brain? Of the spinal
5) Why can pressure stop an electrical cord?
signal along the nerve? The brain is where all the processing and
The electrical signal along the nerve can be interpreting happens. It process and
stopped by pressure because the nerve interprets sensory information sent from the
diameter can be reduced until such time that spinal cord. Now, the spinal cord acts as the
no signals can pass through it. In addition, main pathway for information that relays
the influence of pressure in blocking messages between the brain and PNS. It is
conduction is entirely dependent upon made up of nerves that transmit information
deformation of the tissue due to its from body organs and external stimuli to the
unbalanced action (Causey, 1949). brain and send information from the brain to
6) In the experiment on the functions of other areas of the body. It also acts as a
the CNS, explain the differences in minor coordinating center responsible for
observations between the procedures. some simple reflexes.
Pithing. (n.d.) Mosby's Medical Dictionary,
8) In the reflex action of the frog, what is 8th edition. (2009). Retrieved March 3
the relation between the concentration of 2018 from https://medical dictionary.
acids and the time of response to acids? thefreedictionary.com/pithing
As the concentration of acids increase, the
time of response to acids decreases. This is Ringer's solution. (n.d.) The American
because as the concentration level goes Heritage® Medical Dictionary. (2007).
higher, the chances of collision between two Retrieved March 3 2018
particles are greater. from https://medical-dictionary.
thefreedictionary.com/Ringer%27s+sol
9) What is near point accommodation? ution
It is defined as the point nearest the eye at What Is Central Nervous System?
which an object is clearly focused on the Definition, Function & Parts. (n.d.).
retina when accommodation of the eye is at Retrieved March 03, 2018, from
a maximum. https://www.emedicinehealth.com/anato
my of_the_central_nervous_system/
10) Is auditory acuity same for both ears? article_em.htm#what_is_the_cns_centra
The normal auditory acuity for both ears is l_nervous_system
the same. However, it varies depending on
many factors such as a build up of wax or
infection. Auditory acuity is lost with age,
and it may not be lost equally bilaterally,
explaining a difference between the acuity in
the two ears in older people.
REFERENCES