6. Basics Of The Central Nervous System

Question 1

What structure formed in gastrulation in an embryo goes on to form the brain and spinal chord?

Answer 1

Neural tube formed from an invagination of ectoderm.

Question 2

What structures form the central nervous system?

Answer 2

Cerebral hemispheres.
Brainstem and cerebellum.
Spinal cord.

Question 3

What structures form the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 3

Dorsal and ventral roots.
Spinal nerves.
Peripheral nerves.

Question 4

What are the 3 parts of the brainstem?

Answer 4

Midbrain.
Pons.
Medulla.

Question 5

Can the CNS and/or PNS regenerate?

Answer 5

CNS can’t.

PNS can.

Question 6

What cells myelinated the CNS?

Answer 6

Oligodendrocytes.

Question 7

What cells myelinated the PNS?

Answer 7

Schwann cells

Question 8

Do tumours tend to be benign or malignant in the CNS?

Answer 8

Benign and malignant

Question 9

Do tumours tend to be benign or malignant in the PNS?

Answer 9

Benign

Question 10

What cells are the main immune defence in the CNS?

Answer 10

Microglia (immune privilege)

Question 11

What part of the brain is dorsal, and what is ventral?

Answer 11

Dorsal - superior part of the hemisphere.

Ventral - inferior brain.

Question 12

What is the midbrain of the brainstem responsible for controlling?

Answer 12

Eye movements.

Reflex responses to sound and vision.

Question 13

What is the pons of the brainstem responsible for controlling?

Answer 13

Feeding (trigeminal nerves come from pons and innervate the muscles of mastication).
Sleep.

Question 14

What is the medulla of the brainstem responsible for controlling?

Answer 14

Cardiovascular and respiratory centres.

Contains a major motor pathway - the medullary pyramids (location of descending motor fibres).

Question 15

What is decussation?

Answer 15

The fact that the body is controlled by the collateral side of the brain.

Question 16

What is a sulcus?

Answer 16

Groove or furrow in the brain separating adjacent gyri.

Question 17

What is a gyrus?

Answer 17

A ridge or fold in the brain.

Question 18

What is a fissure?

Answer 18

Large crack or split between adjacent large areas of the brain.

Question 19

What functions is the frontal lobe of the brain responsible for?

Answer 19

(In general motor structures sit anteriorly in brain).
Higher cognition.
Motor function.
Speech.

Question 20

What functions is the parietal lobe of the brain responsible for?

Answer 20

(In general sensory structures sit posteriorly in the brain).
Sensation.
Spatial awareness.

Question 21

What functions is the temporal lobe of the brain responsible for?

Answer 21

Memory.
Smell.
Hearing.

Question 22

What functions is the occipital lobe of the brain responsible for?

Answer 22

Vision.

Question 23

What functions is the cerebellum of the brain responsible for?

Answer 23

Co-ordination of motor control, especially fine motor control.
Posture.
Balance.
Motor learning.

Question 24

What lobe of the brain points anteriorly, helping you to orientate yourself?

Answer 24

Temporal lobe.

Question 25

What is the optic chiasm?

Answer 25

Site where fibres in the visual system cross over.

Question 26

What is the uncus?

Answer 26

Part of the temporal lobe that can herniated, compressing the midbrain.

Question 27

What does the corpus callosum contain?

Answer 27

Fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 28

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 28

Sensory relay station projecting to the sensory cortex.

Question 29

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 29

Essential centre for homeostasis.