Chapter 7 - The structure of the nervous system

Question 1

What is meant by anterior?

Answer 1

The direction pointin towards the nose.

Question 2

Rostral?

Answer 2

The direction pointing towards the tail.

Question 3

Posterior or caudal?

Answer 3

The direction pointing up

Question 4

Ventral?

Answer 4

The direction pointing down.

Question 5

What is the midline?

Answer 5

The invisible line running down the middle of the nervous systms.

Question 6

Medial?

Answer 6

Structures close to the midline.

Question 7

Lateral?

Answer 7

Structures far away from the midline.

Question 8

Ipsilateral?

Answer 8

On the same side of the midline.

Question 9

Contralateral?

Answer 9

On opposite sides of the midline.

Question 10

Coronal plane?

Answer 10

A section splitting the brain into front and back.

Question 11

What is the cerebrum?

Answer 11

The rostral-most part of the brain. It is split down the middle.

Question 12

Rostral hemispeheres

Answer 12

The two parts of the rostral part of the brain.

Question 13

Cerebellum?

Answer 13

Lying behind the cerebrum. Near the neck

It is primarily a movement control center.

Question 14

The brain stem?

Answer 14

In the very middle of the brain. Most vital functions such as breathing, consciousness and the control of body temperature.

Damage to the brain stem usually leads to death.

Question 15

Spinal cord?

Answer 15

Encased in the body vertebral column. The spinal cord gathers information from the skin, joints and muscles.

Question 16

What is the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 16

All parts of the nervous system apart from the brain and spinal cord.

Question 17

Somatic PNS

Answer 17

All the spinal nerves that innervate the skin, the joints and the muscles that are under voluntary control.

Question 18

The visceral PNS

Answer 18

The involuntary , vegetative or autonomic nervous system. Consists of neurons that innervate the internal organs., blood vessels and glands.

Question 19

Afferent axons

Answer 19

Axons transporting information to the nervous system.

Question 20

Efferent axons

Answer 20

Axons transporting information from the nervous system.

Question 21

Cranial nerves

Answer 21

Nerves that innervate the head.

Question 22

The ventricular system

Answer 22

The fluid filled canals and caverns inside the brain.

Question 23

Gray matter

Answer 23

A generic term for a collection of neuronal cell bodies in the CNS. When freshly dissected brain is cut open, neurons appear gray.

Question 24

Cortex

Answer 24

Any collection of neurons that form a thin sheet. Usually at the brain’s surface. Cortex is Latin for “bark”. example: cerebral cortex, the sheet of neurons found just under the surface of the cerebrum.

Question 25

Nucleus

Answer 25

A clearly distinguishable mass of neurons, usually deep in the brain (not to be confused with the nucleus of a cell). Nucleus is from the Latin word for "nut". Example: lateral genculate nucleus, a cell group in the brain stem that relays information from the eye to the cerebral cortex.

Question 26

Substantia

Answer 26

A group of related neurons deep within the brain, but usually with less distinct borders than those of nuclei. Example: substantia nigra (from the latin word "black substance"), a brain stem cell group involved in the control of voluntary movement.

Question 27

Locus

Answer 27

A small, well-defined group of cells. Example: locus coeruleus (Latin for "blue spot"), a brain stem cell group involved in the control of voluntary movement.

Question 28

Ganglion

Answer 28

A collection of neurons in the PNS. Ganglion is from the Greek for "knot". Example: the dorsal root ganglia, which contain the cells of sensory axons entering the spinal cord via the dorsal roots. Only one cell group in the CNS goes by this name: the basal ganglia, which are structures lying deep within the cerebrum that control movement.

Question 29

Nerve

Answer 29

A bundle of axons in the PNS. Only one collection of the CNS axons is called a nerve: the optic nerve.

Question 30

White matter

Answer 30

A generic term for a colelction of CNS axons. When a freshly dissected brain is cut open, axons appear white.

Question 31

Tract

Answer 31

a collection of CNS axons having a common site of origin and a common destination. Example: Corticospinal tract, which originates in the cerebral cortex and ends in the spinal cord.

Question 32

Bundle

Answer 32

A collection of axons that run together but do not necessarily have the same origin and destination. Example: medial forebrain bundle, which connects cells scattered within the crebrum and brain stem.

Question 33

Capsule

Answer 33

A collection of axons that connect the cerebrum with the brain stem. Example: interanl capsule, which connects the brain stem with the cerebral cortex.

Question 34

Commisure

Answer 34

Any collection of axons that connect one side of the brain with the other side.

Question 35

Lemniscus

Answer 35

A tract that meanders through the brain like a ribbon. Example: medial lemniscus, which brings touch information from the spinal cord through the brain stem.

Question 36

What is differentiation?

Answer 36

The process by which structures become more complex and functionally specialized during development.

Question 37

What is the role of the forebrain?

Answer 37

It is the seat of perceptions, conscious awareness, cognition and voluntary action.

Question 38

What is the role of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 38

Receives information from perceptions of the outside world and commands voluntary movements. Part of the forebrain.

Question 39

What is the role of the midbrain?

Answer 39

Contains neurons that contribute to sensory systems, the control of movement and several other functions.

Question 40

What are sucli?

Answer 40

Grooves on the surface of the cerebrum.

Question 41

What are gyri?

Answer 41

Bumps on the surface of the cerebrum.

Question 42

Where is the temporal lobe located?

Answer 42

On the sides of the cerebrum.

Question 43

Where is the occipital lobe located?

Answer 43

On the back of the cerebrum.

Question 44

Where is the parietal lobe located?

Answer 44

On the top-back of the cerebrum above the occipital lobe.