Central nervous system Flashcards
What does the left hemisphere control?
Logic, numbers and language
What does the right hemisphere control?
creativity, imagination and rhythm
What is in the forebrain?
- cerebrum
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
What is in the hindbrain?
- medulla
- Pons
- Cerebellum
What is in the brain stem?
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla
What does the midbrain control?
higher function eg eye movement and auditory system
What does the pons control?
consciousness and posture
How is the cerebellum connected to the brain stem, and what are the 3 forms?
Connected by peduncles
- Superior cerebellar peduncle
- Middle cerebellar peduncle
- Inferior cerebellar peduncle
What does the medulla control?
Life-sustaining functions like breathing and heart rate
What does the thalamus in the brain act as?
A relay point where all inputs to the CEREBRUM synapse before ascending to cerebral cortex.
What is the main function of the hypothalamus?
Homeostasis
The brain is made up on white and grey matter. The white matter contains axons which connect to cell bodies in the grey matter. Which of the two makes up the cerebral cortex?
The grey matter
The cerebral cortex (cerebrum) is involved in higher functions. What are these higher functions?
- intelligence
- personality
- interpretation of sensory impulses
- motor function
- planning and organisation
- touch sensation
What is the frontal lobe involved in?
Movement, decision making, problem solving and planning
Within the frontal lobe is the pre-central gyrus, otherwise known as the primary motor cortex. What is this involved in?
Voluntary motor movements
What is the parietal lobe involved in? (hint - it is known as the somatosensory cortex).
receiving and processing sensory information
Within the parietal lobe is the post-central gyrus. What is this involved in?
Detecting sensory modalities such as touch, temperature, pressure and pain.
What is the occipital lobe involved in?
Visual processing
What is the temporal lobe involved in?
memory, emotion, hearing and language
The structures of the limbic system are also located within the temporal lobe. What are these?
- olfactory cortex
- amygdala
- hippocampus
The CNS is covered by meninges which physically seriates the CNS from the rest of the body. What are the 3 layers that make up the meninges?
- Inner layer = Pia matter. This is adherent to the brain itself and dips
down into the sulci - Middle layer = Arachnoid matter
- Outer layer = Dura matter (this is tough)
CSF bathes the CNS within the meninges. What cell is the CSF produced and where?
Choroid plexus in the ventricles
CSF circulates the ventricles and bathes the CNS. CSF is reabsorbed into the venous circulation at specialised points. What are these called?
Arachnoid granulations
How are the 4 ventricles linked together?
Via aqueducts
