05/31/2023 Notes Flashcards
What are nerves?
A cable-like bundle of parallel axons that can be seen with the naked eye
What are sensory nerves?
Nerves that convey sensory information to the CNS; all axons travel unidirectionally
What are motor nerves?
Nerves that convey motor information to the muscles/glands; all axons travel unidirectionally
What are mixed nerves?
A combination of sensory and motor nerves that travel in opposing directions
When does nervous tissue begin to develop?
3rd week of embryo development
How does nervous tissue develop?
Formation of the neural groove which eventually fuses into the neural tube; the opening near the head (cranial) forms the brain while the opening towards the buttocks (caudal) forms the spinal cord
Is brain size correlated with intelligence? What determines intelligence?
No, active synapses determine intelligence
What is the typical size of the human brain?
1300 cc; 3 lbs
What are the four major regions of the brain?
Cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and diencephalon
How many lobes are located in each hemisphere of the cerebrum?
5
What are gyri?
Folds located on the surface of the brain
What are sulci?
Shallow depressions located between gyri
What 5 regions of the brain will have developed by the 5th week of development?
Telencephalon (headend), diencephalon (through the brain), mesencephalon (midbrain), metencephalon (afterbrain), and myelencephalon (medulla and brain)
What does the telencephalon form?
Cerebrum
What brain region forms the hypothalamus, epithalamus, and thalamus?
Diencephalon
What is the mesencephalon?
Region that forms a short section of the brainstem between the diencephalon and pons
What brain region forms the pons and cerebellum?
Metencephalon
What does the myelencephalon form?
Medulla oblongata
Why does the telencephalon folds its surface and develops sulci and gyri?
Determines the boundaries of the brain’s cavities and are needed to fit the entire brain in the cranial cavity
What does the fetal brain resemble at birth?
An adult brain
What two tissues exist in the brain and spinal cord?
White and gray matter
What composes gray matter?
Motor neurons, dendrites, branching axon terminals, and unmyelinated neurons
What gives white matter a white color?
Myelin in myelinated neurons
What is the cortex?
Outer, superficial layer of gray matter that covers most of the adult brain
What is the medulla?
An inner layer of white matter that is found deep to the cortex