14. Nervous System II Flashcards
What does the CNS consist of?
Brain
Spinal cord
What is the spinal cord protected by?
Vertebral column
Meninges
What are meninges?
Layers of connective tissue
What is the brain protected by?
Cranium
Cranial meninges
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Blood brain barrier (BBB)
What are the three layers of meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord?
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
What is the dura mater?
Tough outer layer
What is the dura mater in the brain made up of?
Two layers
What do the two layers of dura mater in the brain do?
Create venous sinuses
What do venous sinuses do?
Allow blood to drain out of the brain into the jugular veins
What is the arachnoid mater made up of?
Collagen and elastic fibres
What is the subdural space between the dura mater and arachnoid mater filled with?
Interstitial fluid
What is the pia mater?
Thin transparent layer
What is the pia mater made up of?
Blood vessels that supply the spinal cord
What is the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater filled with?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What is a subdural haematoma?
Venous bleed in space below the dura mater
Slowly develops
What is a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Arterial bleed in the space below the arachnoid mater
Rapid development
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
Clear liquid that protects the brain and spinal cord from mechanical and immunological injury
What does CSF consist of?
Filtered blood
Water with ions and glucose
Why is CSF colourless?
Blood cells are too large to filter through
Where can you find CSF?
Subarachnoid space
Ventricles in brain
Central canal of spinal cord
What is CSF produced from?
Ependymal cells
How much CSF is produced a day?
500ml
How much CSF can be found in the brain?
150ml
What happens to excess CSF that can’t fill around the brain?
Gradually absorbed back into blood
What are the functions of CSF?
Supports/protects the brain and spinal cord
Shock absorber
Keeps them moist
Circulates nutrients and waste
Maintains uniform pressure around brain
Maintains optimal chemical environment for nerve signalling
Where does blood flow to the brain from?
Vertebral arteries
Carotid arteries
What percentage of the body’s oxygen and glucose does the brain use at rest?
20%
What does the blood brain barrier do?
Protects brain from toxins, harmful substances and bacteria
How does the BBB protect the brain from toxins, harmful substances and bacteria?
Maintaining tightness of capillaries
Maintaining junctions between cells
What maintains the BBB?
Astrocytes
What substances can transport across the BBB?
Lipid soluble substances - alcohol, anaesthetics
Glucose
Gases
Ions
What substances can’t transport across the BBB easily?
Proteins
Some drugs
What are the four areas of the brain?
Brainstem
Diencephalon
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
What are the parts of the brainstem?
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
What are the parts of the diencephalon?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
Where can you find the brainstem?
Top of the spinal cord
What does the brainstem pass through?
Foramen magnum (large hole)
Which centres are located in the medulla oblongata?
Respiratory
Cardiac
What does the medulla oblongata control?
Vomiting reflex
Coughing reflex
Hiccupping reflex
Which cranial nerves are located in the medulla oblongata?
9-12
Which tract is located in the medulla oblongata?
Corticospinal tract (motor)
What does the pons control?
Breathing
Which cranial nerves are located in the pons?
5-8
Which tract does the pons relay?
Motor
What does the midbrain contain?
Substantia nigra
What is the substantia nigra?
Large, darky-pigmentated area
Contains dopamine releasing hormones
What does the midbrain do?
Controls eye reflexes and tracking
Controls head and neck movements
Which cranial nerves are located in the midbrain?
3-4
Which tract does the midbrain transfer?
Motor
What is the thalamus?
Relay centre of the brain
What percentage of the diencephalon is made up of the thalamus?
80%
What does the thalamus do?
Relays sensory information to the cerebrum
Integrates sensory and motor information
What does the epithalamus do?
Connects limbic system to other parts of the brain
Which gland is located in the epithalamus?
Pineal gland
Which hormone does the pineal gland secrete?
Melatonin
What does the hypothalamus do?
Regulates hormones and homeostasis Controls body temperature Regulates emotional/behavioural patterns Regulates appetite/satiety Regulates circadian rhythm
What type of information does the hypothalamus receive?
Sensory
Which nervous system does the hypothalamus control?
Autonomic nervous system
Where is the cerebellum located?
Inferior and posterior aspect of the cranium
How many neurons can be found in the cerebellum?
50 billion