CH. 9 The Nervous System: Central Nervous System Flashcards
What is downstream and upstream referring to in regard to an action potential?
upstream: towards soma/cell body
downstream: towards axonal ending
What is the importance of the blood-brain barrier?
necessary to protect brain and part of lymphatic system
What are the five types of glial cells?
- astrocytes
- ependymal cells: line cavities
- microglia: phagocytes (ingest bacteria)
- oligodendrocytes: form myelin
- schwann cells: form myelin
What are the functions of astrocytes?
connect nervous and non-nervous tissue
- forms blood-brain barrier
- communicate to neurons through chemical messengers
- remove neurotransmitters from synaptic cleft
- maintain normal electrolyte composition of interstitial fluid in CNS
- protect neurons against toxic substances and oxidative stress
- glycogen synthesis
What are the functions of microglia?
works with astrocyte to protect neurons from toxic substances
- protect CNS from foreign matter through phagocytosis
What are the three meninges of the CNS?
- dura mater
- arachnoid mater
- pia mater
What secretes cerebral spinal fluid?
ependymal cells of the choroid plexus
What can be used as energy in extreme conditions in the brain?
ketones
What are capillaries?
sites of exchange between blood and interstitial fluids
What are projection fibers?
connect cerebral cortex with lower levels of brain or spinal cord
What are association fibers?
connect two areas of cerebral cortex on same side of brain
What are commissural fibers?
connect same cortical regions on two sides of brain?
What is the primary location of commissural fibers?
corpus callosum
What functions does the dorsal gray matter serve?
sensory functions
What functions does the ventral gray matter serve?
motor functions
What is the function of the cerebellum?
- motor coordination and balance
- coordination of eye and body movements
What are the three parts of the brainstem?
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla oblongata
What is the function of the trigeminal nerve?
motor control of chewing; somatic sensations of face, nose, and mouth
What is the function of the vagus nerve?
motor and visceral afferent of thoracic and abdominal viscera; motor control of larynx and pharynx
What accounts for the highest level of neural processing?
cerebral cortex
How is the cerebral hemisphere divided?
- frontal
- parietal
- occipital
- temporal
What is the function of broca’s area?
speech formation
What is the function of wernicke’s area?
language comprehension
Where is the primary motor cortex?
in frontal lobe
