CNS Flashcards
What is the function of the CNS?
integrate, process and coordinate sensory input and motor output
Why are humans highly intelligent despite not having largest brain?
high number of cerebral cortex neurones
What is the spinal cord?
column of nervous tissue protected and enclosed in vertebral column
spinal nerves emerge from the intervertebral foramen
How many segments/spinal nerves are there?
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)
Where does spinal cord terminate in adults?
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
Diameter changes?
wider at cervical/lumbar level
What is the thalamus?
relay centre for somatic and special sense information and projection to cortex
involved in emotional status, consciousness, motor response
What is the hypothalamus?
integration hub
regulate temp, hunger, thirst, hormone (connected with pituitary) and autonomic function
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
control of movement
facilitate voluntary movement (fine tuning)
inhibit unwanted movement
What is the corpus striatum?
caudate and putamen
What is the lentiform nucleus?
globus pallidus and putamen
Describe the histology of the cerebral cortex?
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
What are fissures?
deeper grooves that divide the cerebral cortex into lobes
What is Broca’s area?
frontal lobe
control muscles for speech
What is Wernicke’s area?
temporal lobe
recognise speech/written language
