Brain Intro Flashcards
What are the principal cellular elements of the nervous system?
- Neurons
2. Glial Cells
What is salutatory conduction?
Charge skips from Node to Node
-conduction of the impulse is accelerated
Describe the following:
- Node
- Internode
- Myelin
- Dendrites
- Axons
- Cell body
- Node - gaps in between myelin sheaths
- Internode - area between two nodes (sheathed in myelin)
- Myelin - GLIAL covering to speed contraction
- Dendrites - site of most synaptic inputs
- Axons - conducts action potentials to other neurons
- Cell body - makes & packages macromolecules
What are the main components of the neuron?
- Cell membrane
- Nucleus
- Nuclear Membrane
- Organelles
What is white matter & gray matter composed of?
white = axons
grey = cell bodies (full of rough Er, protein machinery)
What are the 6 categories of neurons?
- Sensory
- Motor
- Pre-ganglionic autonomic
- Post-ganglionic
- Local Interneurons
- Projection
Which horn processes sensory info?
Dorsal horn / POSTERIOR horn
-> ventral horn(motor)
Which component of the neuron has LONG EFFERENT axons?
Motor component
Where are pre-ganglionic autonomics located for sympathetic? Parasympathetic?
Sympathetic = IML (Lateral horn)
Parasympathetic = next to the organ)
What are projection neurons?
When sensory info is received, it synopsis in spinal chord
- relayed to sensory cortex of brain
What are the 4 types of neurons?
- Multipolar
- Bipolar - cell body in middle
- Pseudo-unipolar -
- Unipolar - no dendrites***
Where are true unipolar axons found? Why are they unique?
Found in the retina
- no dendrites!!
- influenced by environmental change
What is glia?
connective tissue of the CNS
What are oligodendrocytes? What are these called in the periphery?
- mylenate the axons in CNS
- periphral nervous system = SCHWANN cell
What type of cells form a buffer between nerve cell & blood vessels forming the BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER?Which cells provide structural & metabolic support to the BBB?
ENDOTHELIAL CELLS w/ tight junctions
Astrocytes!!!
- offer structural & metabolic support to neurons
- buffer potassium
What are the principle PNS Glial Cells?
CNS?
- Schwann Cells
- Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, microglia**
- help insulate the axons
What are the 2 components of the CNS?
- Brain
2. Spinal Chord
Where does the long axis of the CNS bend? What happens here? Where is dorsal & ventral after this?
Cephalic Flexure
- dorsal and ventral relationship changes (between brainstem & diencephalon)
- DORSAL = behind, to back
Ventral = to belly button
What are the 5 lobes contained in each hemisphere and their primary functions?
- Frontal - motor
- Parietal - somatosensory
- Temporal - auditory areas (hearing, speech, memory)
- Occipital - visual areas
- Limbic - emotion
What is the area of the brain important for movement but NOT part of the Cerebrum?
Cerebellum!!!
- frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal are all part of the cerebrum
What sulcus marks the boundary between sensory and motor cortex? What separates temporal lobe from frontal & parietal?
- Central Sulcus ( between frontal & parietal)
2. Lateral Sulcus
What are the grooves of the brain called? The mountains?
groove = SULCUS
mountain = GYRUS
What is the function of everything in front of the pre-central gyrus? The post-central gyrus? What splits them?
CENTRAL SULCUS splits them
- pre-central = sensory
- post-central = motor
What is the function of the hippocampus? Where is it found?
MEMORY
- deep in TEMPORAL lobe (limbic system)
Where is the Calcarine Sulcus found? What does it do?
strip in the Occipital Lobe
- transmits VISUAL INFO
Where is the Insula found? What is it the “well spring” of?
- deep in the LATERAL (Sylvian) FISSURE
- by parts of frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes
1. social emotions! - lust, disgust, pride, humiliation…etc - some ppl w/ damage to this were able to give up cigarettes - research to treat alcoholism, addiction, anxiety etc….
What are the two components of the Diencephalon? What is their function?
- Thalamus - conveys sensory/motor info to the cerebral cortex = RELAY SYSTEM
- Hypothalamus - controls autonomic nervous system (Homeostasis = hypo)
What are the 3 sections of the Brainstem? What are their functions?
Where is the brainstem found?
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla
- Brainstem is BELOW the diencephalon
What structure connects both hemispheres?
Corpus Callosum
- connects left and right brain
What is the area within the Ventricle that makes the CSF?
Choroid Plexus
What are the 3 major Basal Ganglia structures?
The 2 limbic structures?
- Caudate Nucleus
- Putamen
- Globus Pallidus
Limbic:
- Amygdala (emotion)
- Hippocampus (memory)
What are the 3 components of the lateral ventricles? How does CSF leave the brain? What cells make CSF?
Ventricles are fluid filled comprosed of 1. Posterior 2. Inferior 3. Anterior Horns
CSF leaves the brain via MEDIAL & LATERAL apertures
- EPENDYMAL CELLS make sf
What connects the 3rd ventricle to the fourth ventricle?
Cerebral Aqueduct
What lies medial to the internal capsule? Lateral?
Medial = Thalamus
Lateral = Putamen & Globus Pallidus
Where is the caudate nucleus found?
Lateral Wall of the Lateral Ventricle **
What is found above the internal capsule? Below?
- Caudate Nucleus
2 & 3 - Putamen + Globus Pallidus
What is found in closest proximity to the Caudate Nucleus? What is its function?
STRIA TERMINALIS (basically follows Caudate’s path)
- major EFFERENT pathway (motor)
What are the 3 components of the basal ganglia? Where are they found?
- Caudate
- Putamen
- Globus Pallidus
- found deep in the brain
(collections of cells)
What is found wedged between the basal ganglia? (C-shape) What is at the end?
- Thalamus
2. At the end of caudate = Amygdala!!!
What are the 4 major parts of the cerebellum? What is its function?
- Anterior Lobe
- Posterior Lobe
- Flocculondular lobe
- Vermis - center
Function: play a role in planning and execution of MOVEMENT!
How is the cerebellum connected to the brainstem?
Inferior, Middle & Superior Cerebellar peduncles!
What are the 4 bumps on the back of the BRAINSTEM called? What is the function of the superior and inferior sections?
Superior Colliculi & Inferior Colliculi
together = Corpora Quadrigemina
Superior = Vision Inferior = Hearing
Which lobe is Broca’s area found? What is it responsible for?
Broca’s area is in the FRONTAL lobe
- responsible for motor aspects of speech
Which lobe is the PRE-central gyrus found in? Post-central gyrus? Function of each?
- Pre-central = FRONTAL lobe
- voluntary movement of muscles of body & head - Post-Central = PARIETAL
- somatosensory sensation
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
Auditory perception, detection of moving bodies, recognition of faces
What is the function of the OCCIPITAL lobe?
Visual Perception
Which lobe is is Wernicke’s area found? Function?
PARIETAL lobe
- receptive INTEGRATION of speech!
(broca’s = motor aspects of speech)
What are the 3 ventricles of the brain? What connects them? What is their function?
- Lateral
- Third
- Fourth Ventricle
Lateral connected to 3rd by INTERVENTRICULAR FORAMEN of Monroe
3rd connected to 4th by the CEREBRAL AQUEDUCT
- flow of CSF throughout CNS
(provide electrolytes & metabolites)
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
Balance, coordination, integrates motor function of CNS
What is the midbrain, pons, and medulla or the brainstem responsible for? (which cranial nerves falls in each?)
Transmission & regulation of sensory, motor, & AUTONOMIC function for the following cranial nerves?
- Midbrain - 3 & 4
- Pons - 5, 6, 7
- Medulla - 8, 9, 10, 12
