35. Nervous System

Question 1

Describe the Human nervous system

Answer 1

1. The nervous system is made up of the CNS and the PNS
2. CNS= consists of the brain and spinal cord
3. PNS= consists of the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system

Question 2

Describe the brain? (2pts)

Answer 2

1. Controls fundamental life processes such as breathing, organ function and movement.
2. Controls complex processes- thoughts, behaviour and emotion, creating memories

Question 3

Describe the spinal cord? (4pts)

Answer 3

1. Carries motor and sensory information
2. Contains motor neurones that allow movement
3. Contains motor tracts that carry information for motor movement down from the brain
4. Spinal cord receives sensory information and creates pathways to transmit that information to the brain.

Question 4

Describe the somatic nervous system?

Answer 4

1. Provides innervation to skin, joints and skeletal muscle

2. Permits voluntary, coherent movement and locomotion

Question 5

Describe the Autonomic nervous system? (5pts)

Answer 5

1. Composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
2. Provides innervation to the cardiovascular system, internal organs and smooth muscle
3. Controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion
4. Sympathetic= fight or flight response- increased heart arte and bp, decreased digestuve functioning
5. Parasympathetic= rest and digest response- decreased heart rate and bp, increased digestive functioning

Question 6

What is the forebrain made up of? (2pts)

Answer 6

1. Cerebrum

2. Diencephalon

Question 7

Describe the cerebrum? (7pts)

Answer 7

1. Is the largest part of the forebrain. It is made up of the cerebral cortex and several subcortical structures.
2. Has a highly convulated surface as it contains bumps calld gryi, grooves called suci.
3. Postcentral gyrus= consists of neurones that control somatic sensation e.g touch.
4. Precentral gyrus= consists of neurones that control voluntary movement.
5. The postcentral gyrus and the precentral gyrus are both seperated by the central sulcus. The postcentral gyris lied posterior to the central sulucs whilst the precentral gryius lies anterior to the central sulcus.
6. Superior temporal gyrus= neurones are involved in hearing
7. The lateral sylvia fissure seperates the superiror temporal gyrus from the precental gryus and the postcentral gyrus.

Question 8

What is the cerebal cortex made up of?

Answer 8

1. Frontal lobe
2. Temporal lobe
3. Parietal lobe
4. Occipital lobe

Question 9

Describe the Frontal lobe? (4pts)

Answer 9

1. Control of voluntary movement
2. Control of behavior
3. Attention, planning and decision making
4. Motivation and emotional regulation

Question 10

Describe the Temporal lobe? (2pts)

Answer 10

1. Controls auditory processing and interpretation

2. Important in the formation of long term memory

Question 11

Describe the parietal lobe?

Answer 11

Important in sensory processing and interpretation

Question 12

Describe the occipital lobe?

Answer 12

Involved in visual processing and interpretation

Question 13

Describe the Hippocampus?

Answer 13

1. Region of the cerebral cortex embedded deep within the temporal lobe
2. Seahorse shaped strcuture
3. Important role in learning
4. Important role in memory formation and retrieval
5. Important in the regulation of the hypothalamus

Question 14

Describe Hippocampal dysfunction?

Answer 14

In 1985 Clive wearing who was a musician contracted a virus that caused damage to his hippocampus which resulted in anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia.

Question 15

Describe anterograde amnesia?

Answer 15

Unable to create new memories

Question 16

Describe retrograde amnesia

Answer 16

Unable to recall past memories

Question 17

Describe the basal ganglia?

Answer 17

1. Refers to a large and functionally diverse set of natural structures embedded deep within the cerebral hemispheres.
2. made up of caudate, putamen and globus palidus.
3. Involved in regulating movement

Question 18

Describe basal ganglia dysfunction?

Answer 18

Damage leads to movement disorders e.g in Huntington disease damage leads to involuntary jerking of the limbs

Question 19

Describe Parkinsons disease?

Answer 19

Damage to dopaminergic neurones leads to a resting tremor

Question 20

Describe the Diencephalon?

Answer 20

Made up of the:

1. Hypothalamus
2. Thalamus

Question 21

Describe the thalamus?

Answer 21

1. Large collection of nuclei located in the dorsal part of the diencephalon
2. The different thalamic nuclei each serve a unique function:
3. They relay between sensory and motor systems and the cerebal cortex
4. Regulate arousal and pain, mood, motivation and cognitive functions

Question 22

Describe synaesthesia?

Answer 22

Refers to the blending of information streams. This can lead to hearing colour or feeling sounds. Changes in the organisation of thalamic activity leads to synaesthesia

Question 23

Describe the hypothalamus?

Answer 23

1. Small, almond-sized collection of nuclei located directly above the brainstem
2. Smaller collection of nuclei with various functions
3. Homeostatic, reproductive and other diverse functions
4. Involved in the fight or flight response.

Question 24

Describe the brainstem?

Answer 24

The brainstem is the portion of the brain that lies between the diencephalon and the spinal cord. It contains the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata.

Question 25

Describe the midbrain?

Answer 25

1. Contains several nuclei each with diverse functions | 2. Includes the control of eye movement's, auditory and visual processing

Question 26

Describe pons?

Answer 26

Relay of motor information from the cerebral hemisphere to the medulla, spinal cord and the cerebellum

Question 27

Describe the medulla oblongta?

Answer 27

1. Vital for cardiovascular and respiratory homeostasis. | 2. Reflective actions including vomiting, swallowing, coughing and sneezing

Question 28

What is brainstem dead?

Answer 28

1. Occurs when an individual is unable to regain consciousness or breath without the support of an artificial life support machine 2. Loss of blood circulation occurs to all brainstem regions

Question 29

Describe the locked-in syndrome? (2pts)

Answer 29

1. Occurs when an individual is awake and conscious but has no means of producing speech, limb or facial movement's 2. Loss of blood circulation to pons occurs

Question 30

Describe the cerebellum?

Answer 30

1. Is a prominent hindbrain structure- it accounts for 10% of the human brains volume 2. The cerebellum is a continuous layer of tissue which is very tightly folded 3. The cerebellum does not initiate movement but detects differences in motor error between an intended movement and the actual movement. This aids the motor cortex to produce precise and co-ordinated movement. 4. The cerebellum is important in the synchronisation of movement with musical rhythm.

Question 31

Describe the spinal cord?

Answer 31

1. The spinal cord is situated within the vertebral column with spinal nerves communicating with the cord via notches between the vertebrae. 2. Vertebra are named in accordance with locations: 1. Cervical vertebrae- located in the neck and named C17-C7 2. Thoracic vertebrae are attached to the ribs and named T1-T12 3. Lumbar vertebrae- located in the lower back and numbered L1-L5. 4. Sacral vertebrae- located within the pelvic area and numbered S1-S5. 3. A spinal nerve passes into the vertebral notch and splits into 2 roots- Dorsal roots and ventral root 1. Dorsal root= describes a bundle of sensory neuron axons that carry sensory information into the spinal cord 2. Ventral root= describes a bundle of motor neurone axons that carry information away from the spinal cord to the striated muscle. 4. Spinal cord consists of grey matter and white matter. Grey matter is comprised of neuronal cell bodies and can be divided into horns. Whiter matter is comprised of axon bundles and can be divided into columns. 5. Spinal cord allows for complex motor movement such as playing a musical instrument and simple reflex movement such as the knee-jerk reflex.

Question 32

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 32

1. Contains motor neurones that innervate skeletal muscle and allow for movement 2. Contains motor tracts that carry information for motor movement down from the brain 3. Receives sensory information which it transmits to the brain.

Question 33

What is tetraplegia

Answer 33

1. Spinal cord dysfunction 2. Refers to the full or partial loss of sensation and movement in all four limbs and torso 3. Caused by damage in the cervical (C1-C7) area

Question 34

What is Paraplegia?

Answer 34

1. Spinal cord dysfunction 2. Refers to the full or partial loss of sensation and movement in both legs 3. caused by damage in the thoraic lumbar or sacral areas.

Question 35

What is meninges?

Answer 35

1. The 3 membranous layer composed of dura matter, arachnoid membrane and pia matter that cover the brain and the spinal cord. 2. 3 functions: 1. Protection of the brain and the spinal cord 2. Passsage of cerobospinal fluid 3. Support of cerebral and spinal blood vessels.

Question 36

Describe the ventricular system?

Answer 36

1. Comprises of a series of interconnected, cerebopsinal fluid filled spaces that lie at the core of the forebrain and brain stems. 3. Made up of lateral ventricls, third ventricles and the forth centricle. Each ventricle contains a speical tissue which is resoinsvle for produing cerebospinal fluid which fills the ventricular spaces. 4. Ventricular system function: 1. protection of the brain 2. Transport e.g nutrients, waste products 3. Regulation of buoyancy

Question 37

Describe the vasculature of the brain?

Answer 37

1. 2 pairs of arteries supply blood to the brain: 1. The internal cartoid arteris 2. The vertebrate arteries 2. Anterior circulation is derived from the internal carotid arteries- they supply the forebrain. 3. Posterior circulation is derived from the vetebral arteries- supplies the brainstem, cerebellum and upper spinal cord 3. Function: 1. Delivery of oxygen 2. Removal of carbon dioxide 3. Transport