22 - Central Nervous System Flashcards
What organs does the central nervous system contain?
The brain and spinal cord
What are the directional terms unique to the CNS?
- Rostral – toward the nose (anterior)
- Caudal – toward the back (posterior)
- Dorsal – superior
- Ventral – inferior
What plane divides the brain into right and left sides?
Sagittal plane
Where does the brain lie?
Within the cranial cavity in the skull
Where is the spinal cord placed?
It continues from the brain and rests within the vertebral canal in the vertebral column
What structures protect the brain and spinal cord?
Bone, fluid, and meninges
What are meninges?
Three layers located between the bone and the soft tissues of the nervous system, protecting the brain and spinal cord
What is the largest part/divison of the brain?
Cerebrum
What does the diencephalon consist of?
The thalamus and the hypothalamus
T or F: the diencephalon is not part of the cerebrum
True
The brain stem is continuous with what? And what does it consist of?
It is continuous with the spinal cord and consists of medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain
Describe the position of the cerebellum relative to the brain stem?
The cerebellum is posterior to the brain stem
How is the cerebrum divided?
Into two hemispheres, which are also divided into four lobes.
What connects the different divisions of the brain?
Corpus callosum
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outermost layer of gray matter making up the superficial aspect of the cerebrum
What are the four lobes of the brain? Describe their positions
- Frontal lobe – located deep to the frontal bone of the skull
- Parietal lobe – located deep to the parietal bone of the skull
- Occipital lobe – located deep to the occipital bones of the skull
- Temporal lobes – located on the sides of the brain, deep to the temporal bones of the skull
What are the features of the cerebrum?
Gyri, sulci, and fissures
What are gyri?
Elevated ridges winding around the brain
What separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe?
Central sulcus
What are sulci?
Small groves dividing the gyri
What are fissures?
Deep grooves that generally divide large regions/lobes of the brain
What are the different fissures? Describe them
- Longitudinal fissure – divides the two cerebral hemispheres (along sagittal plane)
- Transverse fissure – separates cerebrum from cerebellum
- Sylvian/lateral fissure – divides temporal lobe from parietal and frontal lobes