Central Nervous System ( Brain/ Spinal Cord Pathways)

Question 1

What is the function of the somatosensory tract (ascending)?

Answer 1

-Carries general sensory information

Question 2

What is the function of the corticospinal tract (descending)?

Answer 2

-carries motor info from the brain to the spinal cord

Question 3

Where is the location of the primary somatosensory area of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 3

-postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe

Question 4

Where is the location of the corticospinal tract(primary motor area)?

Answer 4

-precentral gyrus

Question 5

The brain stem is divided into what structures (3)?

Answer 5

• midbrain
• pons
• medulla

Question 6

Describe the structures and functions (white vs grey matter) of the Medulla

Answer 6

• transition from the spinal cord into the brains proper
• White Matter:includes somatosensory and corticospinal tracts(90% of Corticospinal tracts cross the midline to the opposite side of the body in the pyramids of the medulla)
• Olive:sensory relay station
• Gray matter: cardiovascular center, respiratory center

Question 7

What is the functions of the pons?

Answer 7

• relay station for info transfer between the cerebellum and cerebrum
• contains sensory tract to thalamus
• respiratory center

Question 8

What is the function of the midbrain (mesencephalon)

Answer 8

• controls eye movement
• integrates auditory info
• contains sensory and motor tracts

Question 9

Where is the location of the diencephalon?

Answer 9

-lies between the brain stem and the cerebrum

Question 10

What are the structures that make up the diencephalon(2)?

Answer 10

-Thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 11

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 11

• sensory relay station (processes and relays sensory info to appropriate cortices
• Regulates the level of awareness
• composed of nuclei

Question 12

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 12

• center of homeostasis
• activates sympathetic nervous system
• maintains body temp
• controls body osmolarity
• controls reproductive functions
• controls food intake
• interacts with limbic system to influence behavior and emotions
• influences cardiovascular control center in medulla oblongata
• circadium rhythm

Question 13

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 13

-processes sensory info and coordinate the execution of precise movement
(Voluntary;skeletal muscles)

Question 14

The cerebrum is the site of what major function?

Answer 14

-higher brain function

Question 15

What connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum?

Answer 15

• corpus callosum (axons passing one side of the brain to the other)
• ensures that the two hemispheres communicate and cooperate

Question 16

What are the structures of the gray matter of the cerebrum?

Answer 16

• cerebral cortex (outer later of the cerebrum)

- cerebral nuclei/ basal ganglia

Question 17

What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 17

-higher brain functions arise here

Question 18

What is the function of the cerebral nuclei/basal ganglia?

Answer 18

-subconscious control of the skeletal muscle movement

Question 19

What is the function of the white matter(lipids form the myelin sheath) of the cerebrum?

Answer 19

-bundles of fibers that allow different regions of the cortex to communicate with one another and transfer info from one hemisphere to the other; primarily through the corpus callosum

Question 20

What are the different lobes of the cerebrum?

Answer 20

1) frontal lobe
2) temporal lobe
3) parietal lobe
4) occipital lobe
5) insula

Question 21

What does the frontal lobe of the cerebrum control?

Answer 21

• primary motor cortex, motor association area; skeletal muscle movement
• prefrontal association area
• coordinates info from other association areas, controls some behaviors

Question 22

What does the parietal lobe of the cerebrum control?

Answer 22

• primary somatic sensory cortex, sensory association area

- sensory info from the skin, musculoskeletal system, viscera, and taste buds

Question 23

What does the occipital lobe of the cerebrum control?

Answer 23

• visual cortex, visual association area

- vision

Question 24

What does the temporal lobe of the cerebrum control?

Answer 24

• auditory cortex, auditory association area

- hearing

Question 25

What does the insula of the cerebrum control?

Answer 25

- Gustatory cortex;taste | - olfactory cortex;smell (doesn’t go to thalamus)

Question 26

Describe the cerebral lateralization of the cerebrum

Answer 26

- functional specialization is not symmetrical across the cerebral cortex - each lobe has special functions not shared by the matching lobe on the other side - “left - right brain dominance

Question 27

What does the left hemisphere of the cerebrum specialize in (functions)?

Answer 27

- Speech and Language - writing - general interpretive center (language and mathematical calculation)

Question 28

What does the right hemisphere of the cerebrum specialize in (functions)?

Answer 28

- cognitive function - analysis by touch - spatial visualization and analysis

Question 29

How is sleep traced and measured? (Patterns)

Answer 29

-EGG (electroencephalography)

Question 30

What are the characteristics of sleep?

Answer 30

- non-REM | - REM (rapid eye movement)=paradoxical sleep

Question 31

What are the characteristics of REM sleep?

Answer 31

- vivid dream state - increased metabolism - major muscle groups paralyzed

Question 32

What are different brain waves and their descriptions?

Answer 32

- Beta: Awake, excited, eyes open - Alpha: Awake, relaxed, eyes closed - Theta: sleep, deep relaxation Delta: Deep sleep, dreamless

Question 33

Describe the cycle/stages of sleep

Answer 33

- 90 minute cycles throughout the night - Stage 1: Alpha - Stage 2: Theta (light) - Stage 3: Theta (deeper) - Stage 4: Delta - Stage 5: Beta (REM stage/high brain activity)

Question 34

List some parasomias (disorders)

Answer 34

- insomnia - sleep walking (occurs in stages 3,4) - night terror (occurs in stages 3,4) - sleep apnea

Question 35

What is memory? It can be divided into what two types?

Answer 35

- ability to retain and recall info | - Short term and long term memory

Question 36

What is short term memory?

Answer 36

-disappears unless an effort is made to make it permanent

Question 37

What is long term memory? What are the 2 types?

Answer 37

- memories that are stored and retrievable | - Reflexive (implicit) memory, Declarative (explicit) memory

Question 38

Describe reflexive (implicit) memory

Answer 38

- recall is automatic, no conscious effort - acquired slowly through repetition - procedural memories can be demonstrated

Question 39

Describe Declarative (explicit) memory

Answer 39

- Recall requires conscious attention - memories can be reported verbally - depends of higher level thinking skills

Question 40

Language is divided into 2 parts in the left temporal lobe, what are their names?

Answer 40

-Wernickes Area and Brocas Area

Question 41

What is the function of Wernickes Area?

Answer 41

- Comprehension of vocal, written, and signed language (receptive) - stores info for arranging learned vocab into meaningful speech

Question 42

What is the function of Brocas Area(expressive)?

Answer 42

- speech production and articulation (motor skills) - stores info needed for speech production (syntax) - programs motor cortex to move tongue, lips, speech muscles

Question 43

What is Aphasia?

Answer 43

-speech and language disorders

Question 44

What are the types of Aphasia? (3)

Answer 44

- Receptive Aphasia - Expressive Aphasia - Mechanical Aphasia

Question 45

Where does damage occur in Receptive Aphasia and what are the effects?

Answer 45

- damage to Wernickes area | - unable to recognize language in written/spoken form > produces meaningless speech

Question 46

Where does damage occur in Expressive Aphasia and what are the effects?

Answer 46

- damage to Broca’s area | - loss of ability to produce spoken/written language

Question 47

Where does damage occur in mechanical aphasia, and what are the effects?

Answer 47

- damage to motor cortex | - mechanical speech is disrupted