ROUND 1
ONE EIGHTH CONTEST 2026
Prempeh College - 66 points
West Africa SHS - 30 points
Kumasi Girls’ SHS - 19 points
ONE EIGHTH CONTEST 2026
Keta SHTS - 56 points
Kadjebi-Asato SHS - 28 points
Anum Presby SHS - 19 points
ONE EIGHTH CONTEST 2026
Ghana National College - 38 points
St. Monica’s SHS - 22 points
Presby SHS, Suhum - 16 points
PREAMBLE
State the number of pairs of nerves in the given location of the spinal column of humans.
1. Cervical nerves
ANSWER: 8 pairs
2. Thoracic nerves
ANSWER: 12 pairs
3. Lumbar nerves
ANSWER: 5 pairs
ROUND 2 - SPEED RACE
ONE EIGHTH CONTEST 2026
Pope John SHS & Min. Sem - 72 points
Sonrise Christian High School - 30 points
Sogakope SHS - 25 points
ONE EIGHTH CONTEST 2026
Osei Tutu SHS - 44 points
Presby SHTS, Osino - 33 points
Ahantaman Girls' SHS – 29 points
ONE EIGHTH CONTEST 2026
Ofori Panin SHS - 45 points
St Peter’s SHS - 41 points
Winneba SHS - 33 points
QUESTION
Which part of the brain controls unconscious (involuntary) activities?
ANSWER: Medulla oblongata
EXPLANATION
It's part of the brainstem, and controls involuntary/autonomic functions such as heartbeat, breathing rate, blood pressure, swallowing, and vomiting/coughing reflexes.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. How many pairs of spinal nerves do humans have?
ANSWER: Thirty-one.
2. How many pairs of sacral nerves are there?
ANSWER: Five.
3. How many pairs of coccygeal nerves are there?
ANSWER: One.
4. How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
ANSWER: Twelve.
5. How many cervical vertebrae do humans have?
ANSWER: Seven.
6. Name three structures that protect the spinal cord.
ANSWER: The vertebral column, the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid.
7. Which root of a spinal nerve carries sensory fibres?
ANSWER: The dorsal root.
8. Which root of a spinal nerve carries motor fibres?
ANSWER: The ventral root.
9. What is the swelling on the dorsal root?
ANSWER: The dorsal root ganglion.
10. Describe the arrangement of grey and white matter in the spinal cord.
ANSWER: Grey matter forms an H-shape in the centre, with white matter around it.
11. Name the three parts of the brainstem.
ANSWER: Midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata.
12. Are spinal nerves sensory, motor or mixed?
ANSWER: Mixed.