CNS Flashcards
What are the fundamental cellular units that form neural circuits?
Neurons
Neurons are specialized cells responsible for transmitting information throughout the nervous system.
What type of glial cell regulates inflammation and forms the blood-brain barrier?
Astrocytes
Astrocytes play a critical role in maintaining the environment around neurons.
What are the immune cells of the central nervous system?
Microglia
Microglia are crucial for the immune defense in the CNS.
What type of glial cell produces cerebrospinal fluid?
Ependymal cells
Ependymal cells line the ventricles of the brain and facilitate the production of cerebrospinal fluid.
What are the major divisions of the central nervous system?
- Telencephalon
- Diencephalon
- Mesencephalon
- Metencephalon
- Myeloencephalon
These divisions organize the brain’s structure and function.
What is the gateway to the cerebral cortex that processes sensory inputs?
Thalamus
The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information.
What structure controls autonomic functions, emotions, and sleep cycles?
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus plays a vital role in homeostasis and behavioral regulation.
Which part of the brain contains the auditory and visual pathways?
Mesencephalon (Midbrain)
The midbrain is involved in processing sensory information and motor control.
What part of the brain connects the cerebellum to the brain and modifies respiratory output?
Pons
The pons serves as a communication hub between different parts of the brain.
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
Controls vital involuntary reflexes (swallowing, breathing, heart rate)
The medulla oblongata is essential for autonomic functions necessary for survival.
What are the three protective layers of the meninges?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid layer
- Pia mater
These layers protect the brain and spinal cord from injury.
What is the role of cerebrospinal fluid?
Allows brain to float within skull
Cerebrospinal fluid provides cushioning and support for the brain.
True or False: Blood-brain barrier controls substance entry into the brain.
True
The blood-brain barrier selectively permits certain substances to enter the brain while blocking others.
What types of neural circuits exist?
- Monosynaptic reflexes
- Multi-synaptic circuits with interneurons
- Complex pathways (ascending and descending)
These circuits facilitate different types of information processing.
What system regulates emotion and memory?
Limbic System
The limbic system is integral to emotional responses and memory formation.
List key components of the limbic system.
- Cingulate gyrus
- Fornix
- Anterior thalamic nuclei
- Hypothalamus
- Amygdaloid nucleus
- Hippocampus
Each component plays a unique role in emotional and memory processing.
What is canine degenerative myelopathy?
Progressive fatal hereditary disease causing fiber degeneration in brain and spinal cord
Symptoms include hind limb weakness, paralysis, and respiratory problems, with no available cure.
What advanced imaging technique is mentioned?
MRI
MRI is widely used for visualizing internal structures of the body, including the brain.
What are some research contributions acknowledged with the Nobel Prize?
- Nervous system structure
- Green fluorescent protein
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Hypothalamus function
- Artificial neural networks
These contributions have significantly advanced the fields of neuroscience and technology.
Where do microglia develop?
Yolk sac
The microglia are like which type of body cell but of the CNS?
Macrophages
How many neurons in the human brain?
100 billion
How is it possible for there to be so many neurons in the human brain?
- gyrus - brain itself
- sulcus - shallow spaces
- fissures - big spaces btw gyrus
Where is stimulus received in the neuron?
Dendrites
Describe the function of the cell body of the neuron
Integration/decision if it will fire
If the cell body fires the signal, what travels down the axon, starting at the axon hillock?
The action potential
Which part of the neuron affects another neuron or effector?
Synaptic terminals at axon
The electrical part of the neuron is in which part?
Axon
Normally, the neuron is +/-
Negative
What happens electrically in the neuron when there is a stimulus?
It becomes positive
The chemical part of the neuron involves what?
Neurotransmitters
How do neurons communicate ?
Electrochemical neurotransmission
Where are neurotransmitters released?
Synaptic cleft
Describe epilepsy
When too much Action potential is being transmitted at the same time
List some signs of epilepsy in dogs
- leg paddling
- excessive drooling / foaming
- uncontrollable shaking
- frenzied barking/whining
List the 2 simple sensorimotor circuits
- monosynaptic
- multi synaptic with interneuron
In which division of the nervous system are sensory and motor neurons?
PNS
Which part of the cortex is involved with desires, cravings, and addiction?
Insula
Which structures are associated with the telencephalon?
Cerebrum, basal ganglia
The thalamus and hypothalamus are associated with which division of the CNS?
Diencephalon
Mesencephalon has the ________
Midbrain
Which CNS division has pons and cerebellum?
Metencephalon
Medulla oblongata is part of which CNS division
Myeloencephalon
Describe the midbrain location
Small section Rostral to the pons
What is the highest center for sensorimotor integration in lower vertebrates?
Midbrain
Which colliculus is part of the auditory pathway in the midbrain?
Caudal colliculus
Describe integration of Rostral colliculus
Visual and sensory pathway
What is the center of dopamine production?
Substantia nigra
The rounded brainstem region between the midbrain and medulla oblongata is the ?
Pons
What is the origin of some Cranial nerves and has sleep/respiratory centers?
Pons
Define the cerebellum
Connected to brainstem and is the center of body movement and balance
Which structure merges with the spinal cords, creating the base of the brainstem?
Medulla oblongata
Define the meninges
Layers of tissue that separate skull and brain
Where are the ependymal cells?
Ventricles
