8.3: The Central Nervous System Flashcards
What does the central nervous system consist of and what does it do?
- Consists of the brain and spinal cord
- Integrates and processes information sent by nerves
What does the grey matter consist of and where is it located?
- Consists of unmyelinated neurons
- Located on the periphery of the brain
What does the white matter consist of and where is it located?
- Consists of bundles of myelinated neurons
- Located on the inner sections of the brain
What does the cerebrospinal fluid do and where is it located?
- Cushions the brain and spinal cord
- Located in the central canal of the spinal cord and ventricles of the brain
What are the meninges and what are they?
Elastic tissue in the skull and spinal cord, which directly encloses the brain
Describe the function of the dura mater
Tough, outer membrane which adheres to the skull
Describe the function of the arachnoid
Web-like middle layer which reabsorbs cerebrospinal fluid
Describe the function of the pia mater
Innermost layer which contains many blood vessels and covers the brain and spinal cord
What are the parts in the hindbrain and what is it responsible for?
- Responsible for coordination and homeostasis
- Contains 3 parts: cerebellum, medulla oblongata, pons
What does the medulla oblongata do and where is it located?
- Located at the base of the brain stem, which connects the brain and spinal cord
- Controls autonomic and homeostatic functions
What does the cerebellum do?
Important for coordination error checking of motor, cognitive, and perceptual functions
What does the pons do and where is it located?
- Located above and in front of the medulla oblongata
- Relays information to and from higher brain centres
- Acts as a bridge between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and rest of the body
What is the midbrain responsible for and where is it located?
- Responsible for the integration of sensory information
- Located below the cerebral cortex
What is the forebrain
responsible for and what are the parts of it?
- Responsible for learning, emotions, and thoughts
- Contains the cerebellum, thalamus, and hypothalamus
What does the cerebrum do?
- Contains the L and R hemisphere and corpus callosum, which is the main connection for the two hemispheres
- L Hemisphere: Language, critical thinking, math
- R Hemisphere- Pattern recognition, emotional processing
What does the thalamus do?
- Main input centre for sensory information entering the cerebrum
- Main output centre for motor information leaving the cerebrum
What does the hypothalamus do?
-Regulates homeostasis, emotions, and coordinates hormone production
What does the frontal lobe do?
- Is the primary motor area
- Controls reasoning, critical thinking, language, and personality
What does the parietal lobe do?
- Primary somatosensory and primary taste area
- Touch, temperature, taste, reading, interpreting speech, and emotions
- Processes information about the body’s orientation and position
What does the occipital lobe do?
- Contains primary visual area
- Can help process auditory information
- Needed for object recognition
What does the temporal lobe do?
- Contains primary auditory area
- Can help process visual information
- Linked with understanding speech
What is the difference between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area?
Broca’s Area: Located in the frontal lobe and active when speech is generated
Wernicke’s Area: Located in the temporal lobe and is active when speech is heard
What is the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems?
Sympathetic: Fight/Flight
Parasympathetic: Rest/Digest
