1 - Overview of the Nervous System Flashcards
What 2 systems is the nervous system divided into?
Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What is the central nervous system made up of?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral system made up of?
Somatic and autonomic nervous system
The subdivisions of autonomic system?
Sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous system
State the 4 functions of the nervous system
- Gather sensory information from the external environment (this includes the 5 main senses and balance)
- Integrate information for assessment and meaning
- Produce a motor response for other reaction
- Regulate body homeostasis for optimal performance
Define Rostral and Caudal.
Rostral = frontal, Caudal = tail
State the 3 divisions in primary vesicles
Prosencephalon (forebrain (cerebrum)), Mesencephalon (midbrain) and Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
State the 5 divisions in secondary vesicles
- Telencephalon: cerebral cortex, caudate nucleus, putamen, amygdala
- Diencephalon: thalamus, hypothalamus, retina, pineal gland
- Mesencephalon: midbrain
- Metencephalon: pons, cerebellum
- Myelencephalon: medulla
What is the brainstem made up of?
What happens if it is damaged?
Pons, midbrain and medulla oblongata
- Coma
State the emotion process and memory function components
Amygdala, Hippocampus, Mamillary body and fornix
State the 5 lobes and its functions
Frontal = motor and personality Parietal = sensory Temporal = memory and motion Occipital = vision Limbic = emotion
Define cerebral ventricles
Complex series of linked chancers in the brain surrounding and deep brain structures and consist of cerebrospinal fluid
Define Gyri and sulci
Gyri = ridges of folded cerebral cortex SUlci = grooves between ridges of folded cerebral cortex
State the primary and secondary cortical areas and its functions
- Primary and secondary cortical areas - divided into areas e.g. Area 1,2,3 = primary somatosensory cortex
- Primary motor cortex = voluntary movement
- Primary sensory cortex = somatic sensations
- Primary auditory cortex = hearing
- Primary visual cortex = vision
- Broca’s area = language expression
- Wernicke’s area = language comprehension
Define motor and somatosensory homunculus
Senses for different areas of the body
What does the Thalamus do?
Receives input from all areas of the nervous system + it distributes it around the cortex
State the 3 major tracts and its functions
- Corpus callosum = between 2 lobds. 250 million fibres found here.
- Anterior commissure = between 2 temporal lobes
- Internal capsule = carries both ascending and descending axons of the corticospiunal tract
State the 7 components of CNS
Cerebral hemisphere, Diencephalon (thalamus and hypothalamus), midbrain, pons, cerebellum, medulla oblongata and spinal cord
What is the function of the cerebral hemisphere?
Cerebral hemisphere (cerebrum) - Conscious thought process, intellectual functions, memory storage and processing and conscious and subconscious regulation of skeletal muscle contractions
What is the function of the Diencephalon?
Diencephalon
- Thalamus = relay and processing centers for sensory information
- Hypothalamus = centers controlling emotions, autonomic function and hormone production
What is the function of the Midbrain?
Midbrain (Mesencephalon)
- Processing of visual and auditory data and maintenance of consciousness
What is it function of Pons?
Pons
- Relays sensory info to cerebellum and thalamus; subconscious somatic and visceral motor centers
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Cerebellum
- Coordinates complex somatic motor patterns; adjusts output of SM centers in brain and spinal cord.
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
Medulla oblongata
- Relays sensory info to thalamus and other portions of brainstem; autonomic centers for regulation of visceral functions (CR, digestive system)
What are Glial cells?
Support cells associated with neurons
What are the 3 neurons found in CNS?
- Astrocytes
- Oligodendrocyres
- Microglia
What are the functions of astrocytes?
Astrocytes = provides physical and nutritional Clean up debris Transport nutrients to neurons Hold neurons in place Digest parts of dead neurons Regulate content of extracellular space
What is the function of oligodendrocytes?
Oligodendrocytes = provide insulation (myelin) to neurons in CNS
Each cell can myelinate many neurons
What is the function of Microglia?
Microglia = specialised macrophages and important phagocytosis for neurons
Clean up the brain by phagocytosis of neurons
Which 2 cells are found in the PNS?
Schwann cells (peripheral nerves) = provide insulation (myelin) to neurons in PNS
Peripheral equivalent of oligodendrocytes
Myelin to peripheral nerves
Insulate just 1 neuron each
Satellite cells (ganglia) = physical support to neurons in PNS - such as dorsal root ganglion
State the 5 functions of Glial Cells
Most tumors of brain are gliomas because neurons cannot divide (undergo mitosis whereas glial cells can
Epilepsy = malfunction of glial cells in region where an infarct or other neuronal insult (contusion, impact, infection has occurred.
Normal working (producing action potentials) of nerves require glial cells
Myelination of neurons requires glial cells
What matters is the nervous system made of and what are included in the matters?
Grey matter = neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, axon terminals, synapses glial cells and highly vascular
White matter = myelinated axons, oligodendrocytes, white colour imparted by myelin
Other names of groupings of neuronal cell bodies
Nucleus, ganglion, lamina, body, cortex, center, formation or horn
Special names for bundle of nerve fibres
Tract, fasciculus, brachium, peduncle, lemniscus, commissure, ansa and capsule
