CNS Flashcards
Functions of the spinal cord?
- sensory and motor innervation
- two way conduction pathway between body and brain
- major center for reflexes
Location of the spinal cord?
- runs through vertebral canal
- extends from magnum foramen to L1-L2
What makes up the grey matter? What are the divisions?
- neuron cell bodies, neuroglia, unmyelinated axons
- somatic sensory, visceral sensory, visceral motor, somatic motor
What makes up white matter? Function?
myelinated axons
-allows communication between spinal cord and brain
Layers of meninges?
Dura mater- surrounds spinal cord (outermost)
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
Functions of the brain?
- intelligence
- consciousness
- memory
- sensory-motor integration
What is the home of our conscious mind?
cerebral cortex
Our cerebral cortex enables us to….
- be aware of ourselves and our sensations
- initiate and control voluntary movements
- communicate, remember, and understand
Transverse fissure of the cerebrum vs longitudinal fissure?
TF- separates cerebrum and cerebellum
LF- separates hemispheres
Lobes of the cerebrum
frontal, temporal, occipital, parietal
Primary motor cortex (postcentral gyrus) of the cerebrum is involved with conscious awareness of ____________
general somatic senses
-touch, pain, pressure, temp, proprioception
-involves with spatial discrimination to precisely locate stimulus
Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus) is involved with controlling ___________
somatic motor functions
-voluntary movements of body
Sensory homunculus
amount of somatosensory cortex devoted to a body region is related to the sensitivity of that region
Somatosensory association cortex function
integrates sensory inputs into comprehensive understanding of what is being felt
-draws upon stored memories of past experiences
______ and ______ are the most sensitive body parts and largest parts of the sensory homunculus
lips and finger tips
Motor homunculus
amount of motor cortex devoted to a body region is related to the ability for precise and skilled movements
Premotor cortex function
plans and coordinated complex movements to relay to primary motor cortex
-visual, auditory, general somatic sensory info
Aphasia
damage to the left side of cerebrum leads to inability to use/ comprehend words
What happens when you damage the right side of the cerebrum?
you produce speech with little emotional inflection
What 3 structures make up the diencephalon?
thalamus
hypothalamus
epithalamus
Role of the thalamus
to act as a relay station for incoming sensory message
_______ impulses converge on the thalamus
afferent
Every part of the brain communication with the cerebral cortex relays signals through __________
thalamus
What is the main visceral control centre of the body?
hypothalamus
Functions of the hypothalamus
- control ANS and emotional responses
- regulate temp, hunger, and thirst
- regulate sleep cycles
- control endocrine system
- formation of memory
Fever
- body temp increases in response to infection
- body’s perception of hypothermia
- hypothalamus sends signal to warm up
Body changes caused by a fever
- blood vessels constrict
- muscle tone increases
- heart rate increases
Role of the epithalamus
includes pineal gland
- secretes melatonin
- under influence of hyopthalamus
Sleep: children vs teenagers
children- melatonin levels rise early in the evening making them tired at night
teenagers- levels rise much later at night making it harder to fall asleep
What structures make up the brainstem?
medulla oblongata
pons
midbrain
Main function of the brain stem
produces automatic behaviours responsible for survival
What centers does the medulla oblongata house?
contains cardiac, vasomotor and respiratory centers
Role of the pons
coordinated voluntary movements
-bridge between brainstem and cerebellum
Role of midbrain
relay info from cerebrum to spinal cord
-integrates auditory and visual reflexes
Functions of the cerebellum
smooths and coordinated body movement and maintains posture
- equilibrium
- proprioceptors
- primary motor cortex
higher cognitive functions
-muscle memory
What cells line the ventricles of the brain?
ependymal cells
Functions of CSF
- nourish brain and spinal cord
- removes waste produced by neurons
- carries chem signals between CNS
Where is CSF formed?
choroid plexuses in the ventricles
