Anatomy of the brain + spinal cord Flashcards
What does the nervous system consist of?
central nervous system (CNS)
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
What is the basic functional unit of the nervous system?
neurone
What is the basic structural unit of the nervous system?
neuroglia
What does grey matter consist of?
collection of cell bodies
What does white matter consist of?
myelinated axons
Cell bodies with similar functions form groups. What are these called in the CNS and PNS?
CNS = nucleus
PNS = ganglion
What do processes (axons) of nerves with similar functions group together in?
tracts
Name some components of the CNS
cerebral hemispheres
diencephalon
cerebellum
brainstem
spinal cord
Name the ventricles of the brain
2 lateral ventricles
3rd ventricle
aqueduct
4th ventricle
Where is CSF produced and where does it flow?
produced in the ventricles (choroid plexus)
flows out of 4th ventricle into the subarachnoid space
Functions of the CSF
brain and spinal cord float in CSF:
- supports and cushions structures
- provides nutrition
- removes waste products
What are the 4 main arteries that deliver blood to the brain?
2 internal carotid arteries
2 vertebral arteries
form the circle of Willis
What divides the 2 cerebral hemispheres?
great longitudinal fissure
What joins the 2 cerebral hemispheres in the midline?
corpus callosum
What is the cortex?
superficial layer of grey matter
What is beneath the grey matter cortex?
white matter - axons running to and from the cells of the cortex
sub-cortical nuclei
brainstem + spinal cord
What are the 3 types of axon nerve fibres in the white matter?
association fibres (in 1 hemisphere only)
commissural fibres (between hemispheres)
projection fibres (project to different areas, eg. brainstem)
What are the 3 main sulci of the cerebral hemispheres?
central
lateral
parieto-occipital
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
movement + higher order functions
primary motor area - execution of movement
pre-motor area - receives sensory input, stores patterns of movement gained from prior experience
Motor speech (Broca’s area)
prefrontal area - personality, behaviour regulation, planning and reasoning
Parietal lobe functions
integrates sensory info
associated with movement orientation, recognition + perception of stimuli
language, reading + taste
Temporal lobe functions
primary auditory area - auditory perception
secondary auditory area - interpreting sounds
balance + coordination
Wernicke’s area
Occipital lobe functions
primary visual area
secondary visual area - relates info from primary area and links it to past experience
Limbic system functions
generation of certain emotional and visceral responses
homeostatic control
coordinates instinctive behaviours with higher cortical functioning
hippocampus + amygdala convert recent memories to long-term memories and learning
Diencephalon components
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Subthalamus
Components of the basal ganglia
caudate nucleus
lentiform nucleus
amygdaloid body
substantia nigra
stabilising + coordinating slow and fine movements
Thalamus functions
receives, integrates + transmits sensory info to cerebral cortex + areas controlling movement
every sensory system (apart from olfactory) includes a thalamic nucleus that receives sensory signals and sends them to associated primary cortical area
Where is the hypothalamus?
below the thalamus, linked to the pituitary gland
What functions is the hypothalamus involved with?
regulation of body temperature
emotional behaviour
hunger and thirst
sexual activity and procreation
autonomic and endocrine activities and biorhythms
How is the cerebellum connected to the brainstem?
3 cerebellar peduncles
- superior, middle and inferior
Cerebellum functions
responsible for coordination and fine adjustment of:
movement, balance, posture
What does the brainstem consist of?
midbrain
pons
medulla oblongata
What type of neurons do dorsal horns contain?
sensory neurons
What type of neurons do ventral horns contain?
motor neurons
Anterior lobe of cerebellum functions
muscle tone
Flocculonodular lobe of cerebellum functions
posture (proprioceptors), balance (inner ear)Ps
Posterior lobe of cerebellum functions
coordination of movement
How many of each spinal nerve do we have?
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
