Central Nervous System Flashcards
What are the two main components of the central nervous system?
The brain and central nervous system.
Name the four major lobes of the brain and one primary function.
Frontal lobe: Decision-making, motor control, speech production.
Parietal lobe: Sensory perception, spatial orientation.
Temporal lobe: Hearing, memory, language comprehension.
Occipital lobe: Visual processing.
What are the three layers of the meninges, from outermost to innermost?
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater.
What is the role of the cerebellum?
The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements, balance, posture, and motor learning.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, controlling body temperature, hunger, thirst, and the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
What is the role of the corpus callosum?
The corpus callosum connects the left and right hemisphere of the brain, allowing communication between them.
What are the divisions of the spinal cord, and how many pairs of spinal nerves are in each?
Cervical: 8 pairs.
Thoracic: 12 pairs.
Lumbar: 5 pairs.
Sacral: 5 pairs.
Coccygeal: 1 pair.
What is the role of the dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord?
Dorsal roots carry sensory information to the CNS.
Ventral roots carry motor commands from the CNS to muscles and glands.
What is the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and where is it produced?
CSF cushions and protects the CNS, delivers nutrients, and removes waste. It is produced in the choroid plexus of the ventricles.
What is hydrocephalus, and what causes it?
Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of CSF in the brain, often caused by blockage of CSF flow, overproduction, or impaired absorption.
What is the resting membrane potential of a neuron, and how is it maintained?
The resting membrane potential is approximately -70mV, maintained by the sodium potassium pump and selective permeability to potassium ions.
What is action potential, and what triggers it?
An action potential is a rapid electrical impulse that travels along a neuron, triggered when the membrane potential reaches the threshold due to Depolarization.
What is a stroke, and what are the two main types?
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted. The two main types are ischaemic (due to a blood clot) and hemorrhagic (due to ruptured blood vessel).
What is the difference between an upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion and a lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion?
UMN lesion: Results in spasticity, hyperreflexia, and weakness.
LMN lesion: Results in flaccidity, hyporeflexia, and muscle atrophy.
What is multiple sclerosis (MS), and what part of the CNS does it affect?
MS is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath of the CNS neurons, impairing electrical signal conduction.
