brain and spinal cord Flashcards
what does the brain receive sensory input from?
the spinal cord
what are the four major regions of the brain?
the cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon (thalamus and hypothalamus) and brain stem (midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata).
what are the ventricles filled with?
cerebrospinal fluid
where is cerebral fluid produced?
in the choroid plexus of each ventricle, and flows downward through the ventricular system from the lateral ventricle into the spinal cord.
what does the cerebrospinal fluid do?
supports the central nervous system by absorbing impacts and exchanging nutrients and waste with the bloodstream. CSF circulates through the ventricles and into the meninges and spinal cord.
state
lateral ventricles are located in each cerebral hemisphere. The lateral ventricles are separated by a thin membrane, the septum pellucidum and connected to the third ventricle in the diencephalon by the interventricular foramen. In the midbrain, the cerebral aqueduct links the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle which begins between pons and cerebellum. The fourth ventricle continues down into the medulla oblongata, eventually merging into the central canal of the spinal cord
how does the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) support the central nervous system?
CSF supports the central nervous system by absorbing impacts and exchanging nutrients and waste with the bloodstream
where is the CSF produced?
in choroid plexuses on the ventricle walls
what does the brain stem consist of?
It consists of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain
what are meninges
the three layers of connective tissue that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
how is blood supplied to the brain?
Blood is supplied to the brain through the internal carotid and vertebral arteries and drained through the dural venous sinuses and internal jugular vein.
Capillary walls in the brain and astrocytes that surround these capillaries form a blood-brain barrier that prevents harmful substances from entering brain tissue.
what is the brain stem?
The region of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord
what does the brain stem consist of?
It consists of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain
state
Motor and sensory neurons that connect the CNS and the PNS pass through the brain stem
what does the brain stem control?
The brain stem controls involuntary functions of the respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems and contributes to hearing, balance and gustation.
what do the medulla and pons contain that regulate autonomic functions such as respiration and heartbeat.
nuclei (a collection of neuron cell bodies in the CNS)
state
the pons contain tracts and nuclei that link parts of the brain together.
what does the midbrain control and what is it made of?
Contains nuclei, called colliculi, that control visual and auditory reflexes. It also contains nuclei for cranial nerves III and IV.
what is the function of the cerebellum?
The region of the brain that fine tunes body movements and manages balance and posture.
it subconsciously evaluates body movement and sends signals to the cerebral cortex of the cerebrum to adjust skeletal muscles as needed.
where is the cerebellum located?
posterior to the brain stem and inferior to the occipital lobe of the cerebrum
what are the two lobes of the cerebellum?
the vermis, tracts of white matter called arbor vitae, and cerebellar peduncles that relay information to other parts of the brain
what does the diencephalon consist of?
the hypothalamus, thalamus and epithalamus (composed mostly of the pineal gland and replated structures).
what is the function of the thalamus?
plays a role in learning and memory.
state
the thalamus consists of several nuclei that pass sensory information to different regions of the cerebral cortex.
what determines what sensory information is important enough to send to the cerebral cortex to allow for conscious awareness of the sensory input.
the thalamus
what regulates autonomic nervous functions, emotions and behaviour, food consumption, circadian rhythms, and body temperature.
the hypothalamus
what do the hormones that the hypothalamus produce influence?
influence the pituitary gland and regulate endocrine functions.
what is the pituitary gland?
Is an endocrine gland functionally linked to the hypothalamus. Hormones secreted by the hypothalamus activate hormone secretion by the pituitary. These hormones drive endocrine functions by targeting glands and tissues.
limbic system
Includes a number of structures located above the diencephalon that create a functional classification of the brain. Limbic structures are associated with emotions, smell and memory.
what is the cerebrum region of the brain responsible for?
Region of the brain responsible for higher intellectual functions and conscious though
what does the cerebral cortex process?
The cerebral cortex processes sensory and motor information, and the basal ganglia coordinate learned movement.
The cerebral cortex, the outermost part of the cerebrum, consists of a left and right hemisphere. what does each hemisphere consist of?
Each cerebral hemisphere consists of a frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobe.
state
The cerebral cortex folds into gyri, which are separated by grooves called sulci.
what are basal ganglia?
they are nuclei inside the cerebrum that influence body movement and muscle tone.
what part of the cerebral cortex are motor signals transmitted from?
the anterior cortex
what part of the cerebral cortex are sensory signals received and processed?
in the posterior regions of the cortex.
what areas are responsible foe the complex coordination and integration of sensory and motor functions?
association areas
state
Motor areas of the cerebral cortex are located in the frontal lobe and precentral gyrus. Sensory areas are located mainly posterior to the central sulci
The left and right hemispheres are responsible for different functions. what is the left hemisphere typically responsible for?
for language and calculation
The left and right hemispheres are responsible for different functions. what is the right hemisphere typically responsible for?
visual, emotional, and artistic awareness
what does the peripheral nervous system coordinate?
The peripheral nervous system coordinates involuntary functions like heart rate and respiration. It controls voluntary and sensory functions, including the sensation of special sensory information
state
All nerves involved in the voluntary control of skeletal muscles are part of the somatic system of the peripheral nervous system. Body functions that are mainly involuntary, and controlled by signals that pass from the brain to glands and organs throughout the body, are part of the autonomic systems of the peripheral nervous system
what coordinate movement of skeletal muscles.
The basal ganglia and cerebellum coordinate movement of skeletal muscles.
