Chapter 3.4-3.6 Flashcards
Define CNS and PNS
CNS: brain and spinal chord; a great majority of neuronal cell bodies are found in here
PNS: includes all axons dendrites and cell bodies
Nuclei versus ganglia
Nuclei: bundle of nerve cell bodies in the CNS
Ganglia: bundle of nerve cell bodies in the PNS
What are the three subdivisions of the brain?
Hindbrain ( rhomboencephalon)
Midbrain ( Mesencephalon)
Forebrain ( Prosencephalon)
CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
A clear liquid that the entire CNS floats in. Serves various functions such as shock absorption and exchange of nutrients and waste with the CNS.
Spinal chord : Location, General Function
Spinal chord is connected to the brain and protected by the CSF and the vertebral column. Pathway for info to and from brain. Most sensory data is relayed to brain for info, but the SC is also a site for info integration.
General: Simple reflexes
What is the hindbrain consisted of?
Medulla, pons and cerebellum
Medulla: Location, General Function
Location: Below the pons and is the area of the brain which connects to the spinal chord
General : Involuntary functions
Pons : Location, General Function
Location: Below midbrain and above the medulla , connection point between brain stem and the cerebellum
General: Relay centre and balance
Cerebellum : Location, General Function
Location: behind the pons and below the cerebral hemispheres
General: Movement coordination
Damage to cerebellum
Results in poor hand eye coordination and balance
Midbrain: Location, General Function
Location: Above the pons and below the hypothalamus
General: eye movement
Brainstem consists of :
Medulla, pons, midbrain
Forebrain includes:
Diencephalon and telencephalon
Diencephalon consists of:
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Thalamus : Location, General Function
Location: Near the middle of the brain below the cerebral hemispheres and above the midbrain.
General: Integrating center and relay station
Hypothalamus: General Function
General: Homeostasis and behavior
Telencephalon: what makes it special
-Consists of two separate cerebral hemispheres, which is unlike all of the other parts of the CNS up to and including the diencephalon ( which forms a single symmetrical stalk)
Left and R hemispheres and what they are responsible for
L hemi: primarily controls motor functions of the right side of the body; generally responsible for speech, dominant in most people
R hemi: controls motor functions of L side of the body; generally responsible for visual spatial reasoning and music
Corpus Callosum
A thick bundle of axons which connect the cerebral hemispheres
Cerebrum
Largest region of human brain and consists of the L paired cerebral hemispheres.
Hemispheres of cerebrum consist of:
- cerebral cortex ( outer layer of gray matter) plus an inner core of white matter connecting the cortex to the diencephalon
- gray matter: composed of trillions of somas
- white matter: composed of myelinated axons
Cerebral hemi general function
conscious thought processes and intellectual function
play a role in processing somatic sensory and motor info
The cerebral cortex is divided into 4 lobes:
Temporal, Frontal, Parietal, Occipital
Frontal lobe
initiate all voluntary movement and are involved in complex reasoning skills and problem solving