Central nervous system Flashcards
What is the diencephalon composed of?
The thalamus and hypothalamus
What are the 4 main lobes in the brain and what is their function?
Frontal - Regulating and initiating motor function, language, cognitive functions
Parietal - Sensation, sensory aspects of language, spatial orientation, self perception
Temporal - Processing auditory information
Occipital - Processing visual information
What does the limic lobe compose of and what is its function?
Contains:
Amygdala, hippocampus, mamillary body and cingulate gyrus
Function:
Learning, memory, emotion, motivation and reward
What is the insular cortex’s function?
Visceral sensation, autonomic control, interoception, auditory processing, visual vestibular integration
What are the 3 layers of the meninges and their characteristics?
Dura - thick, 2 layers:
Periosteal - layer or periosteum
Meningeal - durable, dense fibrous membrane
Arachnoid - thin, transparent, fibrous membrane
Pia - thin, translucent & mesh like
Where is the CSF produced and found?
Produced in the choroid plexus of the lateral, 3rd and 4th ventricles
Occupies ventricular system in brain and sub-arachnoid space and spine
Where is CSF reabsorbed?
In the arachnoid villi into the superior sagittal sinus
What are the different regions of the spine?
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, Coccygeal
How many of each type of vertebrae are there?
Cervical - 7 Thoracic - 12 Lumbar - 5 Sacral - 5 Coccygeal - 1
Where do the spinal nerves C1-C7 emerge?
Above the corresponding vertebrae
Where do the spinal nerves C8-Co1 emerge?
Below the corresponding vertebrae, with spinal nerve C8 coming out underneath vertebrae C7
What is the major pathway for voluntary movement?
The corticospinal tract
What is the corticospinal tract comprised of?
Upper motor neurons in the primary motor cortex, lower neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord
What are the major pathways for sensation?
The dorsal column pathway and the spinothalamic tract
What is the dorsal column pathway used to detect?
Fine touch, vibration and proprioception
What is the spinothalamic tract used to detect?
Pain, temperature and crude touch, all from the skin
What is the difference between an upper motor neuron and a lower motor neuron
Upper motor neuron - Nerve cell body in the brain
Lower motor neuron - Nerve cell body in brainstem or spine
What is decussation?
When nerve fibres cross over to the opposite side of the body in comparison to the hemisphere they originate from
What is the meaning of contrilateral and ipsilateral?
Contrilateral - Nerve fibre dessucates to opposite side of the body
Ipsilateral - Nerve fibre remains on teh same side of teh body, no crossing over
What is the corticobulbar tract?
The pathway for voluntary movement for facial muscles, nerve goes from cortex -> brainstem -> facial muscles
