2. Anatomy Flashcards
What is a neuraxis?
An imaginary line that runs the length of the spinal cord to the front of the brain
What is the midline?
An imaginary line dividing the body into two equal halves
What does ipsilateral mean?
a directional term referring to structures on the same side of the middle.
What does contralateral mean?
A directional term referring to structures on opposite sides of the midline.
What does medial mean?
A directional term meaning towards the midline
What does lateral mean?
A directional term meaning away from the midline
What does proximal mean?
A directional term that means closer to centre; usually applied to limbs; opposite of distal.
What does distal mean?
A directional term meaning farther away from another structure, usually in reference to limbs.
What is the meninges and what is it’s function?
The layers of membranes that cover the nervous system. It functions to protect and contain the NS.
What is the dura mater?
The outermost of the three layers of meninges
What are the layers of the meninges?
Dura Mater, Arachnoid membrane, subarachnoid space, pia mater
What is the arachnoid layer?
The middle layer of the meninges
What is the pia mater?
the innermost layer of the meninges.
What is subarachnoid space and what is it’s function?
A space filled with cerebrospinal fluid that lies between the arachnoid and pia mater layers of the meninges. This fluid filled cavity suspends the elements of the nervous system in it in order to cushion and protect it.
What is Cerebrospinal fluid and what is it’s function?
CSF is a plasma-like fluid circulating within the ventricles of the brain, the central canal of the spinal cord and the subarachnoid space. The CSF cushions and protects the parts of the nervous system.
What is a ventricle?
One of four hollow spaces in the brain that contain CSF.
What is the choroid plexus and what is it’s function?
The choroid plexus is the lining of the ventricles which secretes CSF.
What is the central canal and where is it?
The small midline channel in the spinal cord that contains CSF.
What is the function and location of the Carotid arteries?
One of the two major blood vessels that travel up the sides of the neck to supply the brain.
What is the function and location of the vertebral artery?
One of the important blood vessels that enter the brain from the back of the skull.
What systems are included in the central nervous system?
The brain and the spinal cord.
What is the function peripheral nervous system?
The nerves exiting the brain and spinal cord that serve sensory and motor function for the rest of the body.
What are the subsystems of the peripheral nervous system and what are their function?
The somatic nervous system which includes the cranial and spinal nerves which serve sensory and motor function to the rest of the body. And the autonomic nervous system which includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve systems which control fight or flight response and resting and digesting respectively.
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
The division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal (fight or flight).
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
The division of the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for rest and energy storage. (rest and digest)
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
The division of the peripheral nervous system that brings sensory input to the brain and spinal cord and returns commands to the muscles.
Where is the spinal cord located and what is it’s function?
A long cylinder of nervous tissue extending from the medulla to the first lumbar vertebra. It’s function is to carry information about touch, position, pain and temperature to and from the brain.
What is the vertebral column?
The bones of the spinal column that protect and enclose the spinal cord.
What are the two divisions of the nervous system?
Central and peripheral.
What is the differences between the CNS and PNS (3 points)?
The central nervous system is protected by bone and CSF.
The CNS has three layers of membrane but the PNS only has two.
Damage to the CNS is permanent where the PNS can recover.