Central Nervous System

Question 1

Telencephalon

Answer 1

Part of the forebrain (prosencephalon). Consists of cerebrum, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and amygdala

Question 2

Cerebrum

Answer 2

Divided into R and L hemispheres connected by corpus callosum. Outer surface is gray matter and inner surface is white matter

Question 3

Left Hemisphere

Answer 3

Language, sequence and perform movements, logical, rational, express positive emotions, process verbally coded information

Question 4

Right Hemisphere

Answer 4

Non-verbal processing and communication, concept comprehension, hand-eye coordination, spatial relationships, kinesthetic awareness, negative emotions, body image awareness

Question 5

Hippocampus

Answer 5

Within lower temporal lobe. Responsible for process of forming and storing new memories. Possesses importance in learning language.

Question 6

Basal Ganglia

Answer 6

Gray matter masses located deep within the white matter of the cerebrum and include the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nuclei.
Responsible for voluntary movement, regulation of autonomic movement, posture, muscle tone, and control of motor responses.
Basal ganglia dysfunction associated with Parkinsons’ disease, Huntington’s, Tourette’s syndrome, ADD, OCD, and addictions.

Question 7

Amygdala

Answer 7

Nucleus located within the temporal lobes of each hemisphere. Responsible for emotional and social processing. Involved with fear and pleasure, arousal, processing of memory, and formation of emotional memories.

Question 8

Diencephalon

Answer 8

Part of the forebrain. Located beneath cerebral hemispheres and contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus, and epithalamus.
Major motor and sensory tracts synapse here. Acts as an interactive site between CNS and endocrine system; complements limbic system.

Question 9

Thalamus

Answer 9

Relay or processing station for majority of info that goes to cerebral cortex. Receives info from cerebellum, basal ganglia, and all sensory pathways except for olfactory tract. Thalamus relays info to appropriate associated cortex. Damage can produce thalamic pain syndrome where there is spontaneous pain on contralateral side of body.

Question 10

Hypothalamus

Answer 10

Receives and integrates info from ANS and regulates hormones. Controls hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and sleep. Regulates body temp, adrenal glands, pituitary glands, and other vital activities. Lesions may produce obesity, sexual disinterest, poor temp control, and diabetes.

Question 11

Subthalamus

Answer 11

Located between thalamus and hypothalamus. Regulates movements produced by skeletal muscles. Associated with basal ganglia and substantia nigra.

Question 12

Epithalamus

Answer 12

Primarily represented in pineal gland, which secretes melatonin and is involved in circadian rhythms, regulation of motor pathways, and emotions. Associated with limbic system and basal ganglia.

Question 13

Midbrain (Mesencephalon)

Answer 13

One of three components of the brainstem. Connects forebrain to hindbrain and functions as a relay area for info passing from cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Reflex center for visual, auditory, and tactile responses. Includes tectum (superior and inferior colliculi) and tegmentum (cerebral aqueduct, periaqueductal gray, reticular formation, substantia nigra, red nucleus)

Question 14

Hindbrain (Rhombencephalon)

Answer 14

Consists of cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata. Pons and medulla oblongata are part of brainstem and control vital functions.

Question 15

Cerebellum

Answer 15

Responsible for fine tuning movement and maintaining posture and balance by controlling muscle tone and positioning of extremities in space. Controls ability to perform rapid alternating movement. Consists of 2 hemispheres and divided into anterior, posterior, and flocculonodular lobes. Damage to cerebellum will produce ipsilateral symptoms. Symptoms include ataxia, nystagmus, tremor, hypermetria, poor coordination, and poor postural reflexes, balance, and equilibrium.

Question 16

Pons

Answer 16

Regulates respiration rate and orientation of head in relation to visual and auditory stimuli. CN V-VIII originate from pons.

Question 17

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 17

Influences autonomic nervous activity and regulation of respiration and heart rate. Reflex centers for vomiting, coughing, and sneezing in medulla. Damage to motor tracts within medulla produces contralateral impairment. Responsible for relaying somatic sensory info from internal organs and control of arousal and sleep. CN IX-XII originate from here.

Question 18

Brainstem

Answer 18

Consists of midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. Acts as a relay center, sending messages between cerebral cortex and body. Regulates HR and RR. Majority of CN originate in this area.

Question 19

Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)

Answer 19

Supply: Anterior frontal lobe and medial surface of frontal and parietal lobes.
Expected Impairments: Contralateral LE motor and sensory involvement, loss of behavioral inhibition, neglect, aphasia, apraxia

Question 20

Middle cerebral artery (MCA)

Answer 20

Most common site of CVA
Supply: Outer cerebrum, basal ganglia, internal capsule, putamen, pallidum, lentiform nucleus.
Expected Impairments: Contralateral motor and sensory loss of face and UE with less involvement of LE, Wernicke’s aphasia in dominant hemisphere, homonymous hemianopsia, apraxia.

Question 21

Posterior cerebral artery (PCA)

Answer 21

Supply: Portion of midbrain, subthalamic nucleus, thalamus, basal nucleus, inferior temporal lobe, occipital and occipitoparietal cortices.
Expected Impairments: Contralateral pain and temperature sensory loss, contralateral hemiplegia, ataxia, athetosis or choreiform, thalamic pain syndrome, homonymous hemianopsia, visual agnosia, memory impairment.

Question 22

Vertebral-basilar artery

Answer 22

Supply: Midbrain, superior cerebellum, thalamus, occipital cortex.
Expected Impairments: Hemiplegia or tetraplegia, loss of consciousness, inability to speak or swallow, locked-in syndrome, vertigo, nystagmus, ataxia.

Question 23

Meninges

Answer 23

Consists of 3 layers of connective tissue that protect the brain from contusion and infection. There are blood vessels and CSF within meninges.
Dura mater – outermost layer
Arachnoid mater – impermeable, surrounds brain in loose manner
Pia mater – covers the contours of brain; forms the choroid plexus in the ventricular system

Question 24

Meningitis Symptoms

Answer 24

Fever, headache, vomiting; stiff/painful neck; pain in lumbar area and posterior thigh; Brudzinski’s sign (flexion of neck facilitates flexion of hips and knees); Kernig’s sign (pain with hip flexion combined with knee extension); sensitivity to light. Lumbar puncture to diagnose.

Question 25

Ventricular System

Answer 25

Protects and nourishes brain
Comprised of 4 fluid-filled cavities
Each ventricle contains choroid plexus that makes CSF
Excess fluid in ventricles is termed hydrocephalus and excess fluid in spinal cord called syringomyelia
CSF provides cushion and mechanical buoyancy/support. Helps remove metabolites.

Question 26

Blood Brain Barrier

Answer 26

Consists of meninges, protective glial cells, and capillary beds of the brain. Exchanges nutrients between the CNS and vascular system. Protects the brain by restricting certain molecules from crossing.