CNS

Question 1

What is the function of the CNS?

Answer 1

integrate, process and coordinate sensory input and motor output

Question 2

Why are humans highly intelligent despite not having largest brain?

Answer 2

high number of cerebral cortex neurones

Question 3

What is the spinal cord?

Answer 3

column of nervous tissue protected and enclosed in vertebral column
spinal nerves emerge from the intervertebral foramen

Question 4

How many segments/spinal nerves are there?

Answer 4

31 pairs of nerves/segments
emerge below corresponding vertebra (except C1 above vertebra so 7 cervical vertebrae and 8 cervical nerves)

each segment innervates a particular area of the skin (dermatome) and muscle area (myotome)

Question 5

Where does spinal cord terminate in adults?

Answer 5

start of lumbar region
spinal cord is shorter than vertebral column

lumbar puncture safe (less risk of damage to nervous tissue) between L3/4 and L4/5

Question 6

Diameter changes?

Answer 6

wider at cervical/lumbar level

Question 7

What is the thalamus?

Answer 7

relay centre for somatic and special sense information and projection to cortex

involved in emotional status, consciousness, motor response

Question 8

What is the hypothalamus?

Answer 8

integration hub

regulate temp, hunger, thirst, hormone (connected with pituitary) and autonomic function

Question 9

What is the function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 9

control of movement
facilitate voluntary movement (fine tuning)
inhibit unwanted movement

Question 10

What is the corpus striatum?

Answer 10

caudate and putamen

Question 11

What is the lentiform nucleus?

Answer 11

globus pallidus and putamen

Question 12

Describe the histology of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 12

laminar with layers of pyramidal neurones, or layers of white matter

somatotopic organisation - somatosensory/motor cortex has a map related to the part of the body that is controlled by that specific region of the brain

Question 13

What are fissures?

Answer 13

deeper grooves that divide the cerebral cortex into lobes

Question 14

What is Broca’s area?

Answer 14

frontal lobe

control muscles for speech

Question 15

What is Wernicke’s area?

Answer 15

temporal lobe

recognise speech/written language

Question 16

What is the limbic system for?

Answer 16

motivation
instinctive behaviour
memory
emotion

Question 17

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 17

vesticular system - balance
spinal cord- muscle tone
motor cortex - learned movements (speed, force, manual skills)

Question 18

What are the 3 meninges?

Answer 18

dura meter

• periosteal
• meningeal

arachnoid mater

pia mater

Question 19

What is below the arachnoid mater?

Answer 19

subarachnoid space
CSF for cushioning
vessels

Question 20

Where is CSF made?

Answer 20

choroid plexus in ventricles
= bundles of vessels surrounded by ependymal cells
-500ml/day, 150ml at any moment as filtered into venous system by arachnoid villi