Short Answer Assessment 2 XXXXXX NURS 6630: Psychopharmalogical Approaches to Treat Psychopathology XXXXXXXXX Assignment: Short Answer Assessment XXXXX Short Answer Assessment 1. Axon consists of elongated fibers that extend from the cell body to the terminal endings and aids in transmitting signals. Some axons have a fatty substance called myelin, which acts as an insulator and can transmit signals much faster than other neurons. Axon elongated fibers connect with other cells in the body through the synapses (Stern, Fava, Wilens, & Rosenbaum, 2016) 2.The major components that make up the subcortical structures include the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and the thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary, and brainstem. The frontal lobe is involved in functions such as planning, attention, problem-solving, judgment, and initiative. The following components play a role in learning, memory, and addiction. The cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and learning. The ventral striatum plays a vital role in emotion and learning via connections with the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. The two critical neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal region of the brain that plays a significant role in motor control is Dopamine and GABAergic neurons (Sonne, 2020) 3.Glia cells are non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system and do not produce electrical impulses. Glia cells maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons. Glia cells are divided into two groups, microglia cells and macroglia cells; Macroglia cells can be further divided into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Microglia cells act as a primary immune defense of the central nervous system, travel and remove damaged substances, pathogens, or other foreign substances. Glia cells also play a role in neurotransmission and synaptic connections and the physiological processes of breathing. Astrocytes are star-shaped glia cells with many functions, including providing nutrient support to the neurons, helping repair damaged nervous system tissue, regulating communication between neurons, and maintaining blood-brain barriers. Oligodendrocytes are responsible for axonal regulation and the generation and maintenance of the myelin sheath that surrounds axons (Hooper & Pocock, 2020) 4. A neuron, referred to as the pre-synaptic cell, releases a neurotransmitter or other neurochemical from special pouches clustered near the cell membrane called synaptic vesicles into space between cells. Those molecules will then be taken up by membrane receptors on the post-synaptic or neighboring, cell hence changing the cell's behavior. Chemicals from the pre-synaptic neuron may excite the post-synaptic cell, for example, telling it to slow down signaling or stop it altogether. Synapses offer the possibility of bi-directional communication; as such, post-synaptic cells can send back their messages to pre-synaptic cells, telling them to change how much or ...

1. Short Answer Assessment 2
XXXXXX
NURS 6630: Psychopharmalogical Approaches to Treat
Psychopathology
XXXXXXXXX
Assignment: Short Answer Assessment
XXXXX
Short Answer Assessment
1. Axon consists of elongated fibers that extend from the cell
body to the terminal endings and aids in transmitting signals.
Some axons have a fatty substance called myelin, which acts as
an insulator and can transmit signals much faster than other
neurons. Axon elongated fibers connect with other cells in the
body through the synapses (Stern, Fava, Wilens, & Rosenbaum,
2016)
2.The major components that make up the subcortical structures
include the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and the thalamus,
hypothalamus, pituitary, and brainstem.
The frontal lobe is involved in functions such as planning,
attention, problem-solving, judgment, and initiative. The
following components play a role in learning, memory, and

2. addiction.
The cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and
learning. The ventral striatum plays a vital role in emotion and
learning via connections with the hippocampus, amygdala, and
prefrontal cortex.
The two critical neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal
region of the brain that plays a significant role in motor control
is Dopamine and GABAergic neurons (Sonne, 2020)
3.Glia cells are non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system
and do not produce electrical impulses. Glia cells maintain
homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection
for neurons. Glia cells are divided into two groups, microglia
cells and macroglia cells; Macroglia cells can be further divided
into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Microglia cells act as a
primary immune defense of the central nervous system, travel
and remove damaged substances, pathogens, or other foreign
substances. Glia cells also play a role in neurotransmission and
synaptic connections and the physiological processes of
breathing. Astrocytes are star-shaped glia cells with many
functions, including providing nutrient support to the neurons,
helping repair damaged nervous system tissue, regulating
communication between neurons, and maintaining blood-brain
barriers. Oligodendrocytes are responsible for axonal regulation
and the generation and maintenance of the myelin sheath that
surrounds axons (Hooper & Pocock, 2020)
4. A neuron, referred to as the pre-synaptic cell, releases a
neurotransmitter or other neurochemical from special pouches
clustered near the cell membrane called synaptic vesicles into
space between cells. Those molecules will then be taken up by
membrane receptors on the post-synaptic or neighboring, cell
hence changing the cell's behavior. Chemicals from the pre-
synaptic neuron may excite the post-synaptic cell, for example,
telling it to slow down signaling or stop it altogether. Synapses
offer the possibility of bi-directional communication; as such,
post-synaptic cells can send back their messages to pre-synaptic
cells, telling them to change how much or how often a

3. neurotransmitter is released (Penttila, 2019).
5. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to recognize itself by
forming new neural connections throughout. Neuroplasticity
allows neurons in the brain to compensate for injury and disease
and adjust their activities to respond to new situations or
changes in their environment. For example, if one hemisphere
of the brain is damaged, the intact hemisphere takes over some
of its functions hence compensating for the damaged
hemisphere (William C. Shiel Jr., 2017)
References
Hooper, C., & Pocock, J. M. (2020, November 25). The
functions of glia in the CNS. Retrieved December 06, 2020,
from https://www.abcam.com/neuroscience/the-functions-of-
glia-in-the-cns
Penttila, N. (2019, August 26). What Happens at The Synapse?
Retrieved December 06, 2020, from
https://www.dana.org/article/qa-neurotransmission-the-synapse/
Sonne, J. (2020, November 08). Neuroanatomy, Substantia
Nigra. Retrieved December 06, 2020, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536995/
Stern, T. A., Fava, M., Wilens, T. E., & Rosenbaum, J. F.
(2016). Chapter 1. In Massachusetts General Hospital
psychopharmacology and neurotherapeutics (pp. 13-316).
London: Elsevier.
William C. Shiel Jr., M. (2017, January 24). Definition of
Neuroplasticity. Retrieved December 06, 2020, from
https://www.medicinenet.com/ neuroplasticity/definition.htm
Introduction to Neuroanatomy

4. Introduction to Neuroanatomy and Adherence
When building a house, contractors and architects rely on a
blueprint to help determine what features and structures are
needed to support the house and provide those features sought
after by potential buyers. If a potential error occurs in the
construction of a support beam, for example, it is likely that the
house will sustain damage and, possibly, crumble.
In much the same way, the features and structures of your brain
provide a blueprint that help to support your body and provide
the mechanisms with which to sustain your well-being.
Individuals who suffer from mental illness, according to the
fundamental premise of psychiatric neuroscience, are a result of
abnormal brain function. Yet, as advancements in neuroimaging
and genetics emerge, a whole new understanding of how to
address mental illness remains for the psychiatric nurse
practitioner (PNP). Neuroimaging and genetic techniques help
provide insights, such as a blueprint of the brain, for detailing
how the brain’s structure and wiring is functioning.
By determining what functions and structures of the brain or
central nervous system are implicated in psychopathologies
observed PNPs are able to synthesize biological explanations
into treatment protocols for sustained, positive patient
outcomes. A solid foundation and understanding of the
functions and structures of the central nervous system is the
first pillar of solidifying your understanding of
psychopharmacology.
The human brain is organized into the cerebral cortex,
brainstem, subcortical structures, and the cerebellum. These
anatomical structures are made of inter-connected elements that
create distributed and highly inter-connected circuits. It is in
these circuits where cognition, behavior, and affect are
processed.
—Camprodon, J. A., & Roffman, J. L. (2016, p. 6)
By using a combination of psychotherapy and medication
therapy, psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNP) are positioned to

5. provide a very unique type of care to patients with psychiatric
disorders. To be successful in this role, you must have a strong
theoretical foundation in pathophysiology,
psychopharmacology, and neuroscience. This foundation will
help you assess, diagnose, and treat patients as you relate
presenting symptoms to theoretical neuronal functioning.
As you study psychopharmacology, you will explore the basic
functional unit of the nervous system, the neuron. You will
review the structure of the neuron and you will examine the
anatomy of the central nervous system and consider the
functionality of the different structure and outward (phenotypic)
expression of their activities. You will analyze these concepts
as you complete your short answer assessment.
· Describe the functions and structures of the central nervous
system
· Describe the different structures that make up the neuron
· Explain the function of neurons in intracellular
communication
Assignment: Short Answer Assessment
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, before you can recommend
potential pharmacotherapeutics to address a patient’s condition
or disorder, you must understand the basic function and
structure of the neuron and central nervous system. For this
Assignment, you will review and apply your understanding of
neuroanatomy by addressing a set of short answer prompts.To
Prepare:
· Review the Learning Resources for this week in preparation to
complete this Assignment.
· Reflect on the basic function and structure of the neuron in
relation to the central nervous system.
· Reflect on the inter-connectedness between neurons and the
central nervous system, including the pathway and distribution
of electrical impulses.
· Reflect on how neurons communicate with each other and

6. review the concept of neuroplasticity.
To complete:
Address the following Short Answer prompts for your
Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning
Resources for this week.
1. In 4 or 5 sentences, describe the anatomy of the basic unit of
the nervous system, the neuron. Include each part of the neuron
and a general overview of electrical impulse conduction, the
pathway it travels, and the net result at the termination of the
impulse. Be specific and provide examples.
2. Answer the following (listing is acceptable for these
questions):
· What are the major components that make up the subcortical
structures?
· Which component plays a role in learning, memory, and
addiction?
· What are the two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra
striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor
control?
3. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain how glia cells function in the
central nervous system. Be specific and provide examples.
4. The synapse is an area between two neurons that allows for
chemical communication. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain what part
of the neurons are communicating with each other and in which
direction does this communication occur? Be specific.
5. In 3–5 sentences, explain the concept of “neuroplasticity.” Be
specific and provide examples.