1 - Overview of the nervous system

Question 1

Planes of View of the Brain

Answer 1

sagittal, coronal, transverse

Question 2

2 major divisions of the nervous system

Answer 2

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Question 3

central nervous system

Answer 3

brain and spinal cord

Question 4

peripheral nervous system

Answer 4

cranial and peripheral nerves

Question 5

sensory function

Answer 5

Detect internal and external changes

Question 6

Integrative function

Answer 6

analyses & makes decisions based on voluntary and involuntary responses

Question 7

motor function

Answer 7

initiates motor movement & glandular secretions

Question 8

gross anatomy of the brain

Answer 8

cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem

Question 9

cerebrum (LCS)

Answer 9

largest part of the brain. It contains the cerebral cortex and subcortical regions

Question 10

Cerebellum (PBC)

Answer 10

located in the posterior region of the brain, it is mainly responsible for balance and coordination

Question 11

Brainstem (MPMC)

Answer 11

contains the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata. It communicates with the PNS to control involuntary processes such as breathing and heart rate.

Question 12

cerebral cortex

FCC

Answer 12

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.

Question 13

corpus callosum

Answer 13

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Question 14

4 cortical lobes of the brain

Answer 14

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

Question 15

frontal lobe (HDPLV)

Answer 15

higher cognitive functions, such decision-making and problem-solving.

It is also responsible for some features of language and voluntary movement

Question 16

parietal lobe (ICI)

Answer 16

integrates information from the visual pathway, coordinates motor movement and interpretation of sensory information

Question 17

temporal lobe (IOE)

Answer 17

interpreting speech and hearing, object recognition and emotion

Question 18

occipital lobe

Answer 18

processing primary visual information

Question 19

subcortical regions of the brain (RMEMS)

Answer 19

Brain regions that lie underneath the cortex

• Responsible for many functions including memory, emotions, motor movement & processing of sensory information

Question 20

Important subcortical structures (HAHTB)

Answer 20

Hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and basal ganglia

Question 21

Hypothalamus

Answer 21

brain region controlling the pituitary gland

Question 22

amygdala (LMEFA)

Answer 22

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Question 23

Hippocampus (NLP)

Answer 23

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Question 24

Thalamus (RLC)

Answer 24

relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex

Question 25

basal ganglia (FC)

Answer 25

structures in the forebrain that help to control movement

Question 26

Midbrain (CCTC)

Answer 26

Serves as a connection between the brainstem and subcortical regions consists of: colliculi, tegmentum, cerebral peduncle

Question 27

colliculi (EO)

Answer 27

directs eye movement towards objects of interest

Question 28

Tegmentum (CA)

Answer 28

coordination of movement, alertness/sleep

Question 29

cerebral peduncle

Answer 29

control of ocular muscles

Question 30

Pons (BRB)

Answer 30

- A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain - forms bridge between midbrain and medulla

Question 31

spinal cord

Answer 31

* Critical link between the CNS and PNS | * Nerves that branch off from the spinal cord form the PNS and innervate the rest of the body.

Question 32

5 Sections of the spinal cord

Answer 32

``` cervical (neck) thoracic (chest) lumbar (lower back) sacral (hip) coccygeal (tail) ```

Question 33

Divisions of PNS (Peripheral Nervous System)

Answer 33

somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system

Question 34

somatic (VCP)

Answer 34

Voluntary - controls the skeletal muscles and provides sensory information from the body and from the outside world

Question 35

autonomic (IESP)

Answer 35

involuntary functions. divided into enteric, sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 36

enteric

Answer 36

Regulates movement of water & solutes between gut and tissues

Question 37

sympathetic

Answer 37

responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ reaction that occurs in response to a stressful stimulus

Question 38

Parasympathetic

Answer 38

balances the sympathetic response by stimulating ‘rest and digest’ pathways

Question 39

afferent pathway

Answer 39

carry sensory information from the periphery up to the brain via ascending nerve tracts

Question 40

efferent pathway

Answer 40

The brain sends signals down to peripheral nerves along efferent descending nerve tracts to control motor output

Question 41

2 cell groups in CNS

Answer 41

neurons and glia

Question 42

4 glial cells in CNS

Answer 42

astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells

Question 43

neurons

Answer 43

* Specialised cells that receive and send electrical signals within the CNS and between the CNS and PNS * Input from other cells is received via dendrites, which relay info to the cell body * The neuron may choose to then send a signal down the length of its axon, where chemicals will be released onto another neuron, muscle cell or other cell types at the synapse

Question 44

bipolar neurons

Answer 44

one axon and one dendrite | Retina of the eye, inner ear, olfactory area of brain

Question 45

unipolar neuron

Answer 45

Just 1 process from the cell body, part way down the axon | • Always sensory neurons (pain, temperature, touch, pressure)

Question 46

multipolar neuron

Answer 46

A neuron with a single axon and multiple dendrites; the most common type of neuron in the nervous system.

Question 47

Microglia

Answer 47

* Immune cells that survey the CNS and respond to signs of infection or damage * Exist in a wide-range of morphologies depending on activation state - either activated or surveillant

Question 48

surveillant microglia

Answer 48

smaller, with multiple processes

Question 49

activated microglia

Answer 49

larger, with rounded cell body & shorter processes

Question 50

Astrocytes

Answer 50

* Small, star-shaped cells that support the development and homeostatic maintenance of the NS and cerebral blood vessels * Heterogeneity (morphology, protein expression) across different brain regions * Form ‘glial scar’ after severe injury

Question 51

Ogliodendrocytes

Answer 51

* Cells that form the myelin sheath that wraps around some neurons to increase the speed of information transmission by the neuron * In the PNS, these cells are called Schwann cells

Question 52

White and grey matter in the brain

Answer 52

* Myelin increases the speed of axon potentials * unmyelinated axon conduction velocities range from about 0.5 to 10 m/s * myelinated axons can conduct at velocities up to 150 m/s - white matter = myelinated areas - grey matter = unmyelinated areas

Question 53

Fluids of the CNS – cerebral blood vessels

Answer 53

* Neuronal health is critically dependent on adequate blood supply * Blood vessels in the brain are made up the neurovascular unit * Endothelial cells of the brain express form tight junction proteins, allowing the brain to create the blood-brain barrier (BBB) * This gives the brain a high degree of selectively, thereby protecting it against entry by potentially harmful substances in the blood

Question 54

neurovascular unit

Answer 54

- neurons - endothelial cells - pericytes (capillaries) - astrocytes - smooth muscle cell (arteries)

Question 55

Fluids of the CNS – cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 55

* Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is contained within ventricles and in the subarachnoid spaces of the brain and spinal cord * CSF provides buoyancy for the brain and cushions from injury, as well as waste removal * CSF is produced from filtered blood by the choroid plexus in the ventricles * Because CSF is shared between the brain and spinal cord, samples of CSF collected from the spinal cord are used to provide a ‘snapshot’ of the brain environment