Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Question 1

Brain lobes and their functions

Answer 1

Frontal - reasoning, motor control, emotion, Broca
Parietal - sensory processing
Temporal - hearing, memory, emotions, Wernicke
Occipital - vision

Question 2

What is the cortex

Answer 2

Outer layer of neural tissue - grey matter
Covers white myelinated matter
Forms connections between the cerebral cortex => brainstem, spinal cord, deep brain nuclei

Question 3

Describe the pathway of the

• corticospinal tract
• optic tract

Answer 3

Corticospinal
Motor cortex => internal capsule => medulla
Medulla decussation => Lateral CST => limbs
SC decussation => Anterior CST => axial, girdle muscles

Optic tract
Temporal visual field => nasal retina
Temporal optic nerves => no decussation
Nasal visual field => temporal retina
Nasal optic nerve fibres => decussation
Optic chiasm => optic tract => LGN thalamus => optic radiations => primary visual cortext

Question 4

Key structures in the basal ganglia

Answer 4

Group of deep brain nuclei - motor control, executive functions, emotional behaviour,

Striatum
Globus pallidus
Subthalamic nucleus
Substantia nigra PC, PR

PD - PNpc alpha synuclein
HD - neuronal death in caudate, putamen

Question 5

Key structures and functions of the thalamus

Answer 5

Relay station between the deep brain structures and the cerebral cortex
Sensory input
-visual => LGN => occipital
-auditory => MGN => primary auditory cortex
-proprioceptive => VPN => somatosensory cortex

Question 6

Key structures and functions

• midbrain
• pons
• medulla
• cerebellum

Answer 6

Midbrain - III-IV
-Colliculi => process visual, auditory signals => occipital, temporal lobes
Pons - V-VIII
Medulla - IX-XII

Balance and coordination of eye, head and body movement

Question 7

Levels of the spinal cord structures

• levels of each type of nerve
• areas of enlargement
• conus medullaris location

Answer 7

Cervical nerves - C1-8
Thoracic nerves - T1-12
Lumbar nerves - L1-5
Sacral nerves - S1-4

Cervical enlargement - C5-T1 => upper limbs
Lumbosacral enlargements - T11-L2 => lower limbs

Conus medullaris - L1-2
-tapering of the spinal cord

Question 8

Peripheral nervous system structures

• somatic nerves and associated pathologies
• autonomic sympathetic nervous system

Answer 8

Afferent sensory => CNS => efferent motor

• GBS
• MG
• nerve entrapments
• trigeminal neuralgia
• plexopathies

Sympathetic nervous system - ACh, NA
C2-8 => head, neck, arms, thorax
T1-L2 => organs, abdo wall
L3 => legs
-nerves run parallel to spinal cord => ganglia => hitchhike along arteries

Parasympathetic nervous system - ACh, ACh
C3, 7, 9, 10 => pupils, salivary, tears, vagus
S2-4 => organs
-nerves run parallel to spinal cord => ganglia => hitchhike along arteries