Alt CNS

Question 1

What is the function of the spinal cord

Answer 1

Messenger between the peripheral nerves and brain

Question 2

Which cranial nerve nuclei are in the brainstem

Answer 2

III-XII

Question 3

What are the functions of the brainstem

Answer 3

Controls vitals (BP, HR, RR)
Defensive reflexes (sneezing)
Sleeping/consciousness

Question 4

What is the function of the midbrain

Answer 4

Controls the eyes and ears

Consciousness

Question 5

What is the function of the pons

Answer 5

Relays impulses between cerebellum and cerebrum

Controls breathing

Question 6

What is the function of the medulla

Answer 6

Controls complex reflexes (vomiting, cough, sneeze, swallow)
Autonomic centre (baroreceptors)
Substantia nigra

Question 7

What is the substantia nigra

Answer 7

Produces dopamine for the limbic system

Question 8

What happens in Parkinson’s disease

Answer 8

Degeneration of the substantia nigra in the medulla

Question 9

What is the function of the thalamus

Answer 9

Relays signals between cortex and sub-cortical areas

Regulates consciousness, emotional stress and sleep/wake

Question 10

What are the sub-cortical areas

Answer 10

Diencephalon
Pituitary gland
Limbic
Basal ganglia

Question 11

What is the function of the cerebellum

Answer 11

Controls balance, muscle tone and posture

Sends impulses of learned movement to the thalamus and motor cortex

Question 12

What are the 3 connections in the cerebrum

Answer 12

Projection between cortex and spinal cord
Association between same hemispheres
Commissural between two hemispheres

Question 13

What is the corpus callosum

Answer 13

Allows for commissural communication

White matter tract

Question 14

What makes up the basal ganglia

Answer 14

Caudate
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Substantia nigra

Question 15

What makes up the dorsal striatum

Answer 15

Caudate and putamen

Question 16

What makes up the lentiform nucleus

Answer 16

Putamen and globus pallidus

Question 17

What is the function of the basal ganglia

Answer 17

Control movement, inhibits unwanted movement

Question 18

Describe subdural haemorrhage

Answer 18

Venous bleed 
Caused by trauma 
Headaches over a long period
Gradual onset
More common in the elderly

Question 19

Describe epidural haemorrhage

Answer 19

Arterial bleed
Often caused by trauma/fracture
Period of unconsciousness before waking

Question 20

What produces CSF

Answer 20

Choroid plexus in the ventricles

Question 21

How is CSF drained

Answer 21

Leaves via the median aperture

Drained via arachnoid granulations

Question 22

How much CSF is produced a day and how much flows at one time

Answer 22

500ml

150ml

Question 23

What are the functions of the CSF

Answer 23

Buoyancy - suspends brain
Protection - shock absorber
Prevents brain ischaemia - can reduce to decrease pressure and increase perfusion 
Homeostasis
Waste clearance

Question 24

What can hydrocephalus present with

Answer 24

Headache
Vomiting
Blurred vision

Question 25

What is the treatment for hydrocephalus

Answer 25

Shunt in the brain to drain fluid

Question 26

What is the function of the Broca's area

Answer 26

Motor programme for muscles Produce speech Motor association area on the left

Question 27

What is the function of the Wernicke's area

Answer 27

Responsible for recognition of spoken and written language | Primary auditory cortex on the left

Question 28

What is contained in the frontal lobe and what are their functions

Answer 28

Prefrontal cortex - control behaviour and sense of being Motor association area - contraction of muscles for action Primary motor cortex - sends signals for coordinated movement

Question 29

What is contained in the temporal lobe and what are their functions

Answer 29

Primary auditory cortex - receives auditory signals | Auditory association area - recognises signals received as words or music

Question 30

What is contained in the parietal lobe and what are their functions

Answer 30

Primary somatosensory cortex - touch, pain and temp. | Somatosensory association area - interprets the sensory info

Question 31

What is contained in the occipital lobe and what are their functions

Answer 31

Visual association area - Recognises faces and objects | Primary visual cortex - receives visual signals