Bear et al: Chapter 7 Flashcards
Why does the human brain appear complicated when compared to the brains of other mammals?
It is distorted as a result of the selective growth of some parts within the confines of the skull
What brain structure is unique to mammals and proportionately largest in humans?
Cerebral neocortex
What are the two divisions of the nervous system of all mammals?
- Central Nervous System (CNS)
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Anterior
Anatomical reference meaning toward the nose or rostral
Rostral
From the Latin for “beak”
Anatomical reference meaning toward the nose or anterior
Posterior
Anatomical reference meaning toward the tail, or caudal
Caudal
From the Latin for “tail”
Anatomical reference meaning toward the tail, or posterior
Dorsal
From the Latin for “back”
Anatomical reference meaning toward the back
Ventral
From the Latin for “belly”
Anatomical reference meaning toward the belly
Bilateral symmetry
Property where the right side of the brain and spinal cord is a mirror image of the left side
Midline
An invisible line that bissects the nervous system into right and left halves
Medial
An anatomical reference meaning toward the midline
Lateral
An anatomical reference meaning away from the midline
Ipsilateral
An anatomical reference meaning on the same side of the midline
Contralateral
An anatomical reference meaning on opposite sides of the midline
In the language of anatomists, what is a slice called?
Section
In the language of anatomists, how would you say ‘to slice’?
To section
What is the standard approach to cut into a brain?
Parallel to one of the three anatomical planes of section
What are the three anatomical planes of section?
- Midsaggital plane
- Horizontal plane
- Coronal plane
Midsaggital plane
An anatomical plane of section
through the midline that is perpendicular to the
ground. A section in the midsagittal plane divides
the nervous system into right and left halves.
Saggittal plane
An anatomical plane of section that is
parallel to the midsagittal plane
Horizontal plane
An anatomical plane of section
that divides the nervous system into dorsal and
ventral parts
Coronal plane
An anatomical plane of section
that divides the nervous system into anterior and
posterior parts
Central nervous system (CNS)
- The brain (including
the retinas) and spinal cord - Consists of parts of the nervous system that are encased in bone (i.e. the brain lies entirely within the skull)
What three parts of the brain are common to all mammals?
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Brain stem
Cerebrum
- Largest part of the forebrain; also called telencephalon
2. Rostral-most and largest part of the brain
Cerebral hemispheres
The two sides of the cerebrum,
derived from the paired telencephalic
vesicles
What structure separates the two cerebral hemispheres?
Deep sagittal fissure
What is the function of the right cerebral hemisphere?
Receive sensations from and control movements of the LEFT side of the body
What is the function of the left cerebral hemisphere?
Receive sensations from and control movements of the RIGHT side of the body
Cerebellum
- Derived from the Latin for “little brain”
- A structure derived from the rhombencephalon,
attached to the brain stem at the pons; an important movement control center
What are the two primary functions of the cerebellum?
- Movement control center
2. Extensive connections with the cerebrum and spinal cord
Does the cerebrum or the cerebellum have more neurons?
Cerebellum contains as many as both cerebral hemispheres combined
What is the function of the left side of the cerebellum?
Concerned with movements of the LEFT side of the body
What is the function of the right side of the cerebellum?
Concerned with movements of the RIGHT side of the body
Brain stem
- The diencephalon, midbrain, pons, and medulla. (Some anatomists exclude the diencephalon.)
- Complex nexus of fibers and cells that forms the stalk from which the cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum sprout
From what view is the brain stem best observed?
Midsagittal view
What are the two main functions of the brain stem?
- Site where vital functions are regulated, such as breathing, consciousness, and the control of body temperature
- Relay information from the cerebrum to the spinal cord and cerebellum,
and vice versa
What is considered the most primitive part of the mammalian brain?
Brain stem
What part of the mammalian brain is most vital to life and why?
Brain stem–because one can survive damage to the cerebrum and cerebellum, but damage to the brain stem is usually fatal
Spinal cord
The part of the central nervous system encased in the bony vertebral column and attached to the brain stem
What is the primary function of the spinal cord?
It is the major conduit of information from the skin, joints, and muscles of the body to the brain, and vice versa
What does a transection of the spinal cord result in?
Anesthesia (lack of feeling) in the skin and paralysis of the muscles in parts of the body caudal to the cut. Paralysis in this case does not mean that the muscles cannot function, but they cannot be controlled by the brain.
The spinal card communicates with the body via the _____?
The spinal card communicates with the body via the SPINAL NERVES
Spinal nerves
A nerve attached to the spinal cord
that innervates the body
How do spinal nerves exit the spinal cord?
Through notches between each vertebra of the vertebral column
How does each spinal nerve attach to the spinal cord?
By means of two branches:
- Dorsal root
- Ventral root
Dorsal root
A bundle of sensory neuron axons that emerges from a spinal nerve and attaches to the dorsal side of the spinal cord. Dorsal root axons bring information
into the spinal cord.
Ventral root
A bundle of motor neuron axons that
emerges from the ventral spinal cord and joins sensory fibers to form a spinal nerve. Ventral root axons carry information away from the spinal cord.
Through which branches do axons enter and exit the spinal cord respectively?
Enter via the dorsal root
Exit via the ventral root
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The parts of the nervous system other than the brain and spinal cord. The PNS includes all the spinal ganglia and nerves, cranial nerves III–XII, and the auto- nomic nervous system.
What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system?
- Somatic PNS
2. Visceral PNS
What commands muscle contraction?
Somatic motor neurons
Where do the somatic motor axons derive from?
Motor neurons in the ventral spinal cord
Where do the cell bodies and axons of motor neurons lie?
The cell bodies of motor neurons lie within the CNS but their axons are mostly within the PNS
What is the function of somatic sensory axons?
Innervate and collect information from the skin, muscles, and joints
Through what branch do sensory somatic axons enter the spinal cord?
Via the dorsal roots
Where do the cell bodies of somatic sensory neurons lie?
Outside the spinal cord in clusters called dorsal root ganglion
There is _____ dorsal root ganglion for each spinal nerve
There is ONE dorsal root ganglion for each spinal nerve
Dorsal root ganglion
A collection of cell bodies of the sensory neurons that are part of the somatic PNS. There is one dorsal root ganglion for each spinal nerve.
Visceral peripheral nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that innervates the internal organs, blood vessels, and glands; also called autonomic nervous system.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A system of central and peripheral nerves that innervates the internal organs, cardiovascular system, and glands; also called visceral PNS. The ANS consists of sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric divisions.
What are three other names for the visceral peripheral nervous system?
- Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
- Involuntary nervous system
- Vegetative nervous system
What do visceral sensory axons do?
Bring information about visceral functions to the CNS, such as the pressure and oxygen content of the blood in arteries
What do visceral motor fibers do?
Command the contraction and relaxation of muscles that form the walls of intestines and blood vessels (called smooth muscles), the rate of cardiac muscle contraction, and the secretory function of various glands
For example, the visceral PNS controls blood pressure by regulating heart rate and the diameter of blood vessels
What part of the nervous system mediates emotional responses beyond voluntary control (i.e. “butterflies in the stomach”, blushing)?
Visceral PNS (the ANS)
Afferent
Derived from Latin “carry to”
An axon coursing toward and innervating a given structure
Efferent
Derived from the Latin “carry from”
An axon originating in and coursing away from a given structure
Cranial nerves
Twelve pairs of nerves that arise from each side of the brain stem, innervate (mostly) the head) and are numbered from anterior to posterior. Cranial nerve I is actually the olfactory tract, and cranial nerve II is the optic nerve; both are parts of the central nervous system. Cranial nerves III–XII, which are in the peripheral nervous system, perform many diverse functions.
Who were the cranial nerves originally numbered by and how long ago?
Galen, 1800 years ago