Ch. 9 Central Nervous System Flashcards
Neural Plate
Flat cluster of cells that will become neural tube
Neural Tube
Formed from folding neural plate
- Neural crest cells become neurons of PNS
- Outer layer becomes neurons and glia of CNS
- Inner layer becomes epithelial ependyma or stem cells
Spina Bifida
When neural tube fails to close
-Folate deficiency
Protective Mechanisms of CNS (5)
- Skull
- Meninges
- Blood/brain barrier
- Cerebral Spinal Fluid
- Vertebrae
Fontanels
Spaces where parts of skull have not fused
Chiari Malformation
Too large of opening at brainstem or too small skull
Vertebrae
33
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx
Meninges
Cushion the brain
Dura Mater
Arachnoid membrane
Pia Mater
Dura Mater
Outermost layer of meninges
-drainage of excess fluid
Arachnoid membrane
Middle layer of meninges
Pia Mater
Attached to surface of brain
-arterial blood supply
Meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges
Cerebrospinal fluid
- Synthesized by the choroid plexus
- Physical protection (brain floats)
- Chem protection (lower K and higher H)
- Waste removal
Blood brain barrier
capillaries in brain are more selective
-tight junctions b/w epithelial cells (induced by astrocytes)
Blood brain barrier transport
Requires transport proteins in cell membranes and lipid soluble molecules that can diffuse
Exceptions to blood brain barrier
Hypothalamus that secretes hormones
Vomiting center that detects toxins
Spinal Nerves
Delivery of info b/w spine and PNS
- Enter spine in pairs b/w vertebrae
- Dorsal Root (sensory info)
- Ventral Root (efferent info)
Tracts
Communication bundles b/w parts of CNS
Ascending tracts
receive info from sensory neurons and send to brain
Descending tracts
Send info from brain to motor neurons
Spinal reflexes
Interneurons signal a response w/out sending info to the brain
Cranial Nerves
Nerves that arise directly from the brain NOT spinal cord
- Olfactory enters forebrain
- Others enter brainstem
Brain Stem
Oldest most primitive region
- Medulla Oblongata
- Pons
- Midbrain
Medulla Oblongata
Controls blood pressure, breathing, swallowing, vomiting
Pons
Communication b/w cerebellum and cerebrum
- helps control breathing
- Brain stem
Midbrain
Primary function in eye movement
- Auditory and visual reflexes
- Brain stem
Cerebellum
Processing of sensory info
- Speech, movement, and balance
- effected by alcohol
Diencephalon
Center of homeostasis
Thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland
Hypothalamus
Major control center
- Thirst, hunger, body temp, sympathetic NS, cardiovascular control
- Influences behavior and emotion
- Hormone release from anterior pituitary
Pituitary gland
- Anterior: secretion of true hormones
- Posterior: secretion of neurohormones
Thalamus
Processing and integration of sensory info
Pineal Gland
secretion of melatonin
Cerebrum
Largest portion in charge of higher brain functions
2 hemispheres
4 lobes
Regions of Cerebrum
- Cerebral cortex
- Basal ganglia
- Limbic system
Cerebral Cortex
outermost layer in charge of higher functions
Basal Ganglia
Control of movement
Limbic System
Emotion, learning, and memory