Anatomical Organisation of the Nervous System Flashcards
What is ectodermal tissue?
One of the first 3 layers of cells that are formed in the early embryo.
What are the first 3 layers of cells formed in the embryo?
Ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal.
What is a neural tube?
A hollow structure that develops to form the brain and spinal tube.
What is CSF?
Cerebrospinal fluid.
What does CSF do?
Mechanically and immunologically protects the brain and spine.
What happens to the neural tube after 28 days?
It splits into three chambers.
Which three sections does the neural tube develop into?
The forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.
What is the prosencephalon?
The forebrain
What is the mesencephalon?
The midbrain
What is the rhombencephalon?
The hindbrain.
How many ventricles are there in the ventricular system?
4
Which ventricles are in the prosencephalon/forebrain?
The left and right lateral ventricle.
Which ventricles are in the mesencephalon/midbrain?
Third ventricle
Which ventricles are in the rhombencephalon/hindbrain?
Fourth ventricle
What is the dura mater?
A bag of fibrous tissue that carries the central nervous system.
What is the choroid plexus?
Network of small blood vessels within the ventricles in the brain.
Choroid = blood-related
Plexus = branching network of vessels/nerves
What does the cerebral aqueduct do?
Connects the 3rd ventricle to the 4th ventricle.
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
What is necrosis?
Unprogrammed cell death, caused by infection, injury, cancer or inflammation.
What do neurotrophic factors do?
- Support the growth and survival of neurons.
- Decide and keep which neurons are the most useful.
What are the two sections of the forebrain?
Telencephalon and the diencephalon
Which part of the brain contains the telencephalon?
Forebrain
Which part of the brain contains the diencephalon?
Forebrain
What does the telencephalon contain?
Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and the limbic system.
What does the diencephalon contain?
Thalamus and hypothalamus. (and 3rd ventricle)
What is the basal ganglia involved in?
Movement and co-ordination
What does the thalamus do?
Relays sensory information. (centre for pain perception)
What does the hypothalamus do?
Controls the autonomic nervous system.
What are the two sections in the midbrain?
Tectum and tegmentum.
Which region of the brain contains the tectum?
Midbrain / mesencephalon
Which region of the brain contains the tegmentum?
Midbrain / mesencephalon
What does the tectum contain?
Superior colliculus and periaqueductal grey.
What does the tegmentum contain?
Periaqueductal grey.
What does the superior colliculus do?
Simple visual processing.
What does the periaqueductal grey do?
Handles pain information
Which 3 sections does the hind brain contain?
Cerebellum, pons and medulla.
Which section of the brain is the cerebellum found?
Hindbrain
Which section of the brain are the pons found?
Hindbrain
Which section of the brain is the medulla found?
Hindbrain
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Balance and movement
What is the function of the pons?
Links the medulla and the thalamus.
What is the function of the medulla?
Basic processes such as breathing and cardiac control.
What is the median longitudinal fissure?
A deep groove that separates the two hemispheres in the brain.
(also called the cerebral fissure)
What is the central sulcus?
A groove that separates the frontal and parietal lobes.
What is the parieto-occipital fissure?
A groove that separates the parietal and occipital lobes.
What is the lateral fissure?
A grove that separates the temporal and frontal lobes.
What are the two main cortices in the frontal lobe?
Motor cortex and prefrontal cortex.
What is the parietal lobe responsible for?
Touch
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
Hearing and the limbic system.
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Vision
What are the functions of the prefrontal cortex?
- Executive functioning
- Planning
- Response inhibition
What does the limbic system deal with?
- Emotion
- Memory
Which sections of the brain make up the limbic system?
Hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus.
What does the CNS consist of?
The brain and spinal cord
What does the PNS consist of?
Axons which run from the spine/brain to the body/head.
What are viscera?
Your main internal organs
What is the ANS?
Autonomic nervous system
What is the ANS controlled by?
Limbic system, esp Hypothalamus
What are the two divisions of the ANS?
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
What is the critical neurochemical of the sympathetic division of the ANS?
Noradrenalin (NA)
What is the critical neurochemical of the parasympathetic division of the ANS?
Acetylcholine (Ach)
