Central Nervous System Flashcards
where do the brain and spinal cord lie?
within the skull and vertebral canal
what protects the brain and spinal cord?
it is covered by meninges
- dura mater- outer
- arachnoid membrane
- pia mater- inner
what are the segments of the spinal cord?
- cervical
- thoracic
- lumbar
- sacral
- coccygeal
(top to bottom)
what part of neurons make up grey matter?
neuron cell bodies and some axons
what part of neurons makes up white matter?
axons (myelination has high fat content)
what does the dorsal (posterior) part of the spine contain?
cell bodies of second- order sensory neurons
what does the ventral (anterior) part of the spine contain?
cell bodies of motor neurons
what does the ventral (anterior) part of the spine contain?
cell bodies of motor neurons
how does matter stain appear when STAINED FOR MYELIN?
white matter appears dark, grey matter appears pale
why is there more white matter in cervical and thoratic regions than lumbar and sacral?
caused by the many axons going up to the brain from all levels of the spinal cord AND there are many axons traveling from the brain down to different segments of the spinal cord
which axons enter the spinal cord?
sensory axons
which axons leave the spinal cord?
motor axons
describe the reflex pathway
stimulus
sensory neuron in
interneuron in the spine
motor neuron out
response
what is the set up of matter in the spinal cord?
white matter surrounds grey matter
what is the set up of matter in the brain?
grey matter is on the outside- cerebral cortex
what makes up the forebrain?
- cerebrum
- diencephalon
what makes up the brain?
- forebrain
- midbrain
- hindbrain
what makes up the hindbrain?
- pons
- medulla oblongata
- cerebellum
what is the function of the midbrain?
- visual and auditory reflexes
- pain control
what is the function of the hindbrain?
- ‘vital centres’ regulating breathing, heart, blood vessels etc (medulla)
- control of balance and posture (cerebellum)
what are the parts of the diencephalon?
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
what is the function of the thalamus?
sensory processing
what is the function of the hypothalamus?
- role in homeostasis
- hormone production
- associated with pituitary gland and its hormones
- circadian rhythms
- motivation
- emotional responses, stress
what is the function of the cerebrum?
- sensory and motor functions
- language
- memory
- perceptions
- sensory-motor integration
- emotions
what is the region of grey matter in the brain?
cerebral cortex
what is the region of white matter in the brain?
corpus callosum
what are the 4 lateral surfaces of the brain?
- frontal lobe
- parietal lobe (top/back)
- occipital lobe (back)
- temporal lobe (bottom)
