Brain and spinal cord Flashcards
What are the main components of the CNS
neuron cell bodies, myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers, glial cells
part of the CNS that contains most of the neuron cell bodies, “thinking” part of the CNS
gray matter
part of the CNS that contains most of the myelinated nerve fibers, the “wiring” that connects various components of the brain, makes up a network of some 100,000 miles of nerve fibers
white matter
four sections of the brain
cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, brainstem
made up of gray matter in the outer most, superficial layer and white matter beneath
cerebrum
the outer most, superficial layer of the brain
cerebral cortex
a set of fibers that connects the two halves of the cerebral cortex
corpus callosium
largest part of the brain, responsible for those functions most commonly associated with higher order behaviors - learning, reasoning, intelligence
receives and interprets sensory info, initiates conscious (voluntary) nerve impulses
cerebrum
wrinkled appearance of the cerebrum is made up of folds called
gyri (gyrus plural)
deep grooves that separate the gyri
fissures
more shallow grooves that separate the gyri
sulci (sulcus plural)
most prominent groove in the cerebrum, divides into right and left hemispheres
longitudinal fissure
each cerebral hemisphere is divided by sulci into
lobes
different lobes of the cerebral hemispheres specialize in
certain functions
located just caudal to the cerebrum, second largest component of the brain, also has wrinkly surface, gray matter cortex with white matter beneath it
allows the body to have coordinated movement, balance, posture, and complex reflexes
cerebellum
damage or disease involving the cerebellum, a condition in which voluntary movements become jerky and exaggerated
hypermetria
cats with distemper have what kind of cerebellum damage
hypermetria
serves as a nervous system passageway between the primitive brainstem and the cerebrum, common name “between brain”
diencephalon
three major structures in the diencephalon
thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary
acts as a relay station for regulating sensory inputs to the cerebrum
thalamus
an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system
hypothalamus
the endocrine “master gland” that regulates production and release of hormones through the body
pituitary
also plays major roles in temperature regulation, hunger, thirst and components of rage and anger responses
hypothalamus
the connection between the rest of the brain and the spinal cord
maintains basic support functions of the body, operates at the subconscious level
heavily involved in autonomic control functions related to the heart, respirations, blood vessel diameter, swallowing and vomiting
brainstem
the most primitive part of the brain and is composed of what there parts
medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain
many of the cranial nerves originate here and damage almost always results in rapid death so it is well protected by the skull
brainstem
set of connective tissue layers that surround the brain and spinal cord
meninges
three layers of the meninges
dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater
tough, fibrous layer of meninges
dura mater
delicate, spider web like layer of meninges
arachnoid
very thin layer of meninges
pia mater
supply nutrients and oxygen to the superficial tissues of the brain
fluid, fat and tissue between provide cushioning and distribution of nutrients for the CNS
meninges
inflammation of the meninges from viral or bacterial infection
menigitus
fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord, protects from the hard inner surfaces of the skull and spinal column
circulates between layers of the meninges and through cavities inside the brain and the spinal cord
may be involved in the regulation of certain autonomic functions like respiration and vomiting
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
if the pH of the CSF becomes more acid, what happens
the respiratory center in the brainstem will increase respiratory rate
taking a sample of CSF to diagnose certain nervous system or cancers to examine for certain cells or for specific changes in composition
CSF tap
functional barrier separating the capillaries in the brain from the nervous tissue
made of glial cells
blood - brain barrier
the cells that make up the capillary walls in the brain are aligned tightly together and do not have what openings
fenestrations
prevents many drugs, proteins, ions and other molecules from readily passing to the brain
blood - brain barrier
anesthetic is injected into the space between the dura mater and the surrounding bone, without anesthetizing the brain
epidural
special set of 12 nerve pairs in the peripheral nervous system that originate directly from the brain
may contain motor neurons, sensory neurons or a combo of both
cranial nerves
caudal continuation of the brainstem outside the skull that continues down the bony spinal canal formed by the vertebrae
conducts sensory info and motor instructions between the brain and the periphery of the body
spinal cord
a considerable amount of processing and modification of nerve impulses between the brain and the peripheral nerves takes place here - this is why it’s important to remember when we are trying to prevent or treat severe pain
spinal cord
gray matter of the spinal cord is located here
medulla (inner part)
in the spinal cord, takes the shape of a butterfly
medulla (inner part)
contains CSF in the spinal cord
central canal
white matter of the spinal cord is located here, surrounds the gray matter
cortex (outer part)
this part of the spinal cord contains many neuron cell bodies
gray matter
this part of the spinal cord contains myelinated nerve fibers
white matter
what links the spinal cord to the peripheral nerves
dorsal and ventral roots
dorsal ventral roots contain what kind of fibers
sensory (afferent) fibers
ventral nerve roots contain what kind of fibers
motor (efferent) fibers
sensory info comes into the spinal cord by which roots
dorsal nerve roots
motor instructions go out to the body by which roots
ventral nerve roots
this part of the spinal cord gray matter has neurons that process and carry sensory (afferent) nerve impulses to the brain or other parts of the spinal cord
dorsal horns
this part of the spinal cord gray matter has neurons that process and carry motor (efferent) nerve impulses to spinal nerves
ventral horns