B3.1 The Nervous System - Brain & Nervous System Damage Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the brain?

A
  • Process information collected by receptor cells about changes in your internal and external environment
  • Recieves and processes information from your hormonal system
  • Produces a coordinated response to all of the information it recieves
  • Speeds up neuronal communication by providing a centralised control centre
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2
Q

Approximately how many neurones does the adult brain contain?

A

86 billion

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3
Q

How is the delicate nervous tissue of the brain protected?

A

Protective membranes and the skull.

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4
Q

Describe and state the function of the cerebrum?

A
  • The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, made of the cerebral cortex (the two folded hemispheres).
  • The cerebral cortex is involved with consciousness, language, thought, perception, memory and attention.
  • There are several structures underneath the cerebrum, including the hippocampus which is involved with memory.
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5
Q

Describe and state the function of the cerebellum?

A
  • The cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain. It does not initiate movement, but contributes to coordination & precision.
  • The cerebellum receives input from sensory systems of the spinal cord and from other parts of the brain, and integrates these inputs to fine-tune motor activity.
  • Cerebellar damage produces disorders in movement, balance, posture, and motor learning in humans
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6
Q

Describe and state the function of the medulla oblongata?

A
  • The medulla oblongata is part of the brainstem and is involved with unconscious activities
  • The medulla oblongata controls heartbeat, the gut, rate and depth of breathing, vomiting and blood pressure.
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7
Q

Describe and state the function of the pons?

A
  • The medulla oblongata is part of the brainstem and is involved with unconscious activities
  • The medulla oblongata controls heartbeat, the gut, rate and depth of breathing, vomiting and blood pressure.
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8
Q

Describe and state the function of the pituitary gland?

A
  • The pituitary gland is a โ€˜pea-sizedโ€™ gland often referred to as the โ€˜master gland which stores and releases hormones.
  • Secretes hormones that act both directly and indirectly
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9
Q

Describe and state the function of the hypothalamus?

A
  • The hypothalamus is a small area of the brain that has many functions, including โ€˜thermoโ€™ and โ€˜osmoโ€™ regulation.
  • The hypothalamus โ€˜talksโ€™ to the pituitary gland
  • Links the nervous system to the hormonal system
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10
Q

How can you investigate brain function?

A
  • Worked out what different areas of the brain do based on what happens when those areas were damaged e.g. stroke victims provide evidence to map the brain.
  • Stimulation with electrodes internally or externally to electrically stimulate the brain while the patient is awake.
  • Computed tomography (CT) scans use X-rays to create 3D images of the brain to detect abnormalities.
  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) uses powerful electromagnets to generate real-time images of the brain.
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11
Q

Who was involved in an explosion resulting in and iron pole going through his skull in 1848 providing some of the first evidence of the consequences of brain damage?

A

Phineas Gage (1823-1860)

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12
Q

Which part of the brain did Phineas Gage (1823-1860) damage and what were the consequenses.

A
  • The pole removed parts of the cerebral cortex involved with social inhibition.
  • He suffered behavioural changes including a loss if inhibition
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13
Q

This gentelman had large parts of his hippocampus removed on both sides of his brain to try and treat his epilepsy.

A

Henry Gustav Molaison (1926-2008).

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14
Q

What were the affects of Henry Gustav Molaisonโ€™s epilepsy surgery?

A
  • After the sugery, Molaison suffered profound memory loss
  • He was able to learn new motor skills after the surgery but not able to learning new information
  • He only remembered past events
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15
Q

Which frenchman nicknamed โ€œTanโ€ because that was the only word he could say?

A

Victor Leborgne (1824-1880)

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16
Q

Which neurologist studied Victor Leborgneโ€™s brain after he died discovering the Brocaโ€™s area that controls our ability to talk?

A

Paul Broca

17
Q

State the four possible causes of nervous system damage?

A
  1. Injury
  2. Disease
  3. Inheritance
  4. Toxins
18
Q

Explain the possible effects of PNS damage.

A
  • In ability to detect pain
  • Numbness
  • Loss of coordination
19
Q

What is the main difference of a PNS injury over a CNS injury?

A
  • The PNS has limited abiliy to regenerate with minor nerve damage often self0healing
  • The CNS cannot regenergate
20
Q

State the effects of CNS damage?

A
  • Loss of control of body system
  • Partial or complete paralysis
  • Memory loss or processing difficulties
21
Q

Why is it almost impossible to repair damage to the spinal cord?

A
  • The spinal cord consists of 31 pairs of nerves, each of which contains many nerve fibre.
  • The spinal cord is only 1.5 com in diameter therefore it is very difficult to identify abd repair an individual nerve
22
Q

What treamtents are available for damage to the brain?

A
  • Radiotherapy & chemotherapy for tumours
  • Surgery to remove damaged brain tissue
  • Deep brain stimulation to stimulate brain function
23
Q

Label the parts of the brain.

A
  1. Cerebrum
  2. Cerebellum
  3. Medulla
  4. Pons
  5. Pituitary gland
  6. Hypothalamus