Central Nervous System Flashcards
3 Main Components of the Brain
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Cerebrum
The largest part of the brain
Divided into the left and right hemispheres
Divided into two layers = white and gray matter
Corpus Callosum
Part of the cerebrum
Nerve axons that link the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum so that the two hemispheres can communicate
Cerebral Cortex
The outer layer of the gray matter of the cerebrum
4 lobes make up the cerebral cortex
Functions: sensory perception, motor control, language, cognitive functions
Frontal Lobe
Functions in personality, emotions, control of movement
Parietal Lobe
Mediates skin and muscle sensation
Occipital Lobe
Vision
Temporal Lobe
Hearing and memory functions
Forebrain
Comprises the cerebrum and diencephalon
Cerebellum
Controls balance and voluntary movement
Brainstem
composed of the: midbrain pons medulla oblongata controls: respiration locomotion cardiovascular functions
Basal Ganglia
functions: movement inhibition, inhibition of muscles antagonistic to the desired movement
Thalamus
functions: sensory switchboard which selects and relays sensory signals to the cortex
Hypothalamus
functions: homeostasis, emotions
Spinal Cord
locomotor pattern generator
Limbic System Structures
Includes: thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, olfactory bulbs in the nose, and septal nuclei
Limbic System Functions
Involved in learning, emotion, appetite, sex functions, and endocrine integration
Meninges
3 layers of membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord
Dura Mater
Tough outer layer
Arachnoid Mater
Spidery intermediary mesh
Pia Mater
Delicate inner layer
Meningitis
infection of the meninges
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Produced in brain ventricles
Reabsorbed into the blood in the venous system at the same rate it is produced
Cerebrospinal Fluid Function
Maintain an appropriate electrolyte balance around neurons
Bathe and support neural tissue
4 Types of Glial Cells
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Ependymal Cells
Microglia
Astrocytes
Physically supports neurons Form the blood-brain barrier Form scar tissue which inhibits regeneration of axons Recycling of neurotransmitter molecules Maintain electrolyte balance
Oligodendrocytes
cells with relatively few branches that form the myelin sheath around neuronal axons
Ependymal Cells
Produce the cerebrospinal fluid
Microglia
scavengers
ingest bacteria and cellular fluid
Do Neurons Form Tumors?
No
neurons cannot divide so brain tumors do not develop from neuronal cells
Types of brain tumours
Arise from glial cells = gliomas
Arise in the meninges = meningioma
Hydrocephalus
Occurs when the reabsorption of CSF is blocked and CSF builds up
Treated with drainage tubes
Blood-Brain Barrier
Capillaries of the BBB are less porous than in the rest of the body
Protects neurons from chemical fluctuations and large molecules
Provides oxygen and glucose
Selectively transports molecules needed by the brain while excluding harmful molecules
CNS
the brain and spinal cord
Afferent Neurons
sensory input conveyed to the CNS by the peripheral nervous system
Efferent Neurons
motor commands conveyed from the CNS to the peripheral nervous system
Somatic Nervous System
Voluntary movement
Vertebra Column
Boney structure that supports the trunk and the head on the legs. Inside the vertebrae is where the spinal cord is found
Spinal Cord
Conveys signals from sensory receptors to the brain and signals from the brain to the effector organs
Each spinal nerve innervates a specific area of skin (dermatome) and a specific set of muscles (myotome)
Dorsal Root Ganglion
A cluster of neurons in a dorsal root of a spinal nerve
cell bodies of sensory neurons are located in the dorsal root ganglion
PNS and CNS interface
Sensory afferent axons enter the spinal cord through the dorsal roots
Sensory afferent axons bifurcate (split) into ascending and descending axons
Motorneurons are located in the ventral horn
The efferent axons of motorneurons leave the spinal cord through the ventral roots and innervate the muscles
Central Gray Matter
comprised of motoneurons, interneurons, dendrites, and axons
Surrounding White Matte
Comprised of bundles of axons (tracts) that convey sensory signals
Dermatomes
The 31 spinal nerves on each side of the body provide sensory innervation to skin areas
Cervical Nerves
mediate sensory input from the arms
Thoracic Nerves
mediate sensory information from the abdomen
Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccygeal Nerves
mediate sensory information from the legs and feet
Spinal Cord Injury
When the spinal cord is damaged at a particular level, sensation and motor functions below that level are absent or abnormal depending on how severe the damage is
Spinal Damage at C6 or C7
Quadriplegia
Spinal Damage at L1 or L2
Paraplegia
You can only control what you see
Sensory information is important in the control of movement
Everything that is controlled requires sensory input
Modality
The structure of a sensory receptor determines which modality of stimulus it responds to
The modality activating a given receptor is called the receptor’s adequate stimulus
Different modalities are processed in different brain regions
Meissner’s Corpuscles
responds to light touch of the skin
Merkel’s Corpuscles
responds to touch
Free Nerve Ending
responds to pain
Pacinian Corpuscles
distributes and amplifies the mechanical deformation of the nerve endings that are right in the middle of the receptor - respond vigorously to vibrations
How Pacinian Corpuscles Work
slippery layers called lamellae slide over each other as the pressure of the corpuscles rises
Ruffini Corpuscles
slow adapting mechanoreceptors that respond to skin stretch and also function as thermoreceptors
Warm receptors
Increase firing rate as their temperature rises
Cold receptors
Increase firing rate as their temperature falls
Sensory receptor A
Specialized endings of afferent axons that project directly to the spinal cord
Sensory receptor B
Separate cells that respond to stimulus and transmit signals via synapses with afferent neurons
Examples of sensory receptor B
Cochlear hair cells, retinal photoreceptor cells
Examples of sensory receptor A
Skin and muscles receptors
Somatosensory receptors
cover the surface of the body and signal a variety of sensory modalities to the CNS