Central Nervous System (CNS) Flashcards
Cerebrum
Largest and most superior portion of the brain
Cortex
Outer Layer of gray matter. Deep under this gray matter is white matter and some deep areas of gray matter called basal nuclei
Gyrus
Elevated ridges on the surface separated by sulci and fissures
Sulci
Shallow grooves, sulcus is the singular
Fissures
Deep grooves
Frontal Lobe
Large region on anterior
Primary Motor Cortex
Lies in the precentral gyrus
Premolar Cortex
Anterior to the primary motor cortex, motor planning
Prefrontal Cortex
Involved with intellect, reasoning, judgments concern for others, personality traits, and management of emotions
Parietal Lobe
Superior region posterior to frontal and deep to parietal bone
Primary Somotosensory Cortex
Lies is postcentral gyrus, Receives impulses involved in touch, pain, pressure, stretch
Somatosensory Association Cortex
Lies posterior to the primary somotosensory, integrates sensory input into understanding based on past experiences
Temporal Lobe
Lateral inferior region deep to temporal bone
Primary Auditory Cortex
Receives sensory for sense of hearing
Where is the primary auditory cortex located?
Temporal Lobe
Auditory Association Cortex
Interprets sound into context
Where is the auditory association cortex located?
Temporal Lobe
Olfactory Cortex
Sensory input for sense of smell
Where is the olfactory cortex located?
Temporal Lobe
Hippocampus
Functions important for memory formation
Where is the hippocampus located?
Temporal Lobe
Limbic System
Functions important for emotions and memories
Occipital Lobe
Most posterior region
Primary Visual Cortex
Receives sensory input for vision
Where is the primary visual cortex located?
Occipital Lobe
Visual association
Surrounds the primary visual cortex, more complex visual processing
Insular Lobe
Region Found hidden within the lateral sulcus
Primary Gustatory Cortex
Receives sensory input for taste (gustation)
Where is the primary gustatory cortex?
Insular Lobe
Tracts
White matter in the CNS, consisting of bundles of axons
Corpus Callosum
Largest tract in the brain connects the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum
Language areas of the cerebral cortex are located:
In the left hemisphere only
What are the language areas of the cerebral cortex
Bocca’s area (Frontal Lobe)
Wernick’s area (Temporal Lobe)
Bocca’s area
Controls muscles involved in speech production
Wernick’s area
Important for language comprehension
Basal Nuclei (AKA: Basal Ganglia)
Gray matter deep in the cerebrum
Striatum
Includes caudate nucleus and putamen
Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease is a result from dysfunction of: _______?
Dysfunction of the striatum
Globus Pallidus
Works with the striatum to regulate motivation
Amygdala
Almond shaped, deep in temporal lobe, important for negative emotions
Diencephalon
Superior to brain stem, surrounded by cerebral hemispheres, and encloses the third ventricle
Thalamus
Forms the lateral walls of the 3rd ventricle deep to cerebrum in the center of the brain
What is the function of the thalamus
It is the relay station for all incoming sensory impulses/less except olfaction
Intermediate Mass
Connects left and right halves of thalamus
Hypothalamus
Slightly anterior and inferior to the thalamus
What are the responsibilities of the hypothalamus
Feeding, Fornication, and fight or flight
Autonomic Control Center
Emotional Responses
Hunger
Water balance and thirst
Control body temperature
>Connects to pituitary through INFUNDIBULUM and regulates endocrine system
Mammary Bodies
Small round projections from the inferior surface of hypothalamus that connects to the medial temporal lobe through the fornix (projection tract)
What are the mammary bodies important for?
Important for memory-damage causes impaired memory
Pineal Gland
Secretes melatonin which regulates your day-night cycles
Midbrain
Superior portion of brain stem directly inferior to diencephalon
Pons
Bulging region of brain stem between the midbrain and the medulla
Medulla
Base of the brain stem, contains vital reflex centers that regulate the cardiovascular, digestive, and respiratory center
Medullary Pyramids
Longitudinal ridges on the ventral surface, contains motor tracts that cross over before they continue down the spinal cord
Medullary Olives
Relay information to the cerebrum & cerebellum
Cerebellum
Located posterior to the pons and medulla, densely packed with small neurons. Fine tunes motor commands based on sensory feedback and learning from previous experiences
Cerebellar Cortex
Outer gray matter forms horizontal folds called Folia
Arbor Vitae
Inner white matter, branches “tree of life.”
Dura Mater
Superficial layer, consists of two layers of fibrous CT
Dural Septa
Inner extensions that secure and limit the movement of the brain
Falx Cerebri
Extends into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres, anchors to the crista galli and internal occiptal crest
Tenorium Cerebelli
Extends into the transverse figure separating the cerebrum and cerebellum
Arachnoid Mater
Loose Middle Layer
Pia Mater
Deepest, clings tightly to the brain following every sulcus
Ventricles of the brain
Cavitites within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Right and left lateral ventricles
C shaped cavities within cerebrum
Septum Pellucidum
Thin membrane at midline separating right and left lateral ventricles
Third Ventricle
Formed by the medial walls of the thalamus
Cerebral Aqueduct
Connects third and fourth ventricle, runs through the midbrain
Fourth Ventricle
Inferior to the thirdhand is continuous with the central canal of spinal cord
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Fluid found in and around brain and spinal cord
Choroid Plexus
Cluster of capillaries found on the roof of ventricles
What is the choroid plexus responsible for?
The formation of CSF
Ependymal Cells
They selectively transport material between the blood and CSF
Cervical enlargement
Expanded superior end of spinal cord is larger because there are numerous nerves going to/from the upper limbs
Lumbar Enlargement
Expanded inferior end is larger because there are numerous nerves supplying the lower extremities
Conus Medullaris
Cone shaped tapered end of the spinal cord located at the level of the L1/L2 vertebrae
Filum Terminale
Meninges extending inferior from conus to anchor spinal cord to coccyx
Cauda Equina
“horse tail”: Lower lumbar & scrap spine nerves travel past the conus through vertebral foramen before exiting the spinal column
Anterior Median Fissure
Deep crease along the ventral surface
Posterior Median Sulcus
Shallow groove along the dorsal surface
White Matter
Contains myelinated axons located superficial to gray matter
Tract
Axons in the CNS
Nerve
Bundles of axons in the PNS
Gray Matter
Non-myelited (cell bodies, dendrites, axon terminals)
Nerve
Bundles of axons in the PNS
Dorsal Horns
Contains sensory axon terminals and interneurons
Ventral Horns
Contains somatic motor neuron cell bodies
Lateral Horns
Contains preganglionic autonomia motor neuron soma
Dorsal root
Contains axons of sensory neurons entering spinal cord
Ventral Root
Contains axons of motor neurons leaving the spinal cord
White matter
Outer region, tracts traveling up or down the spinal cord
Ascending Tracts
Axons carrying sensory info to the brain
Posterior White Columns
Contains major ascending tracts carrying the somatosensory information
Descending tracts
Axons carrying motor commands from the brain to the periphery
Anterior & Lateral White Columns
Contains the major descending tracts that regulate the motor neurons of the ventral gray horn
