Exam 3 Nervous System 4 Flashcards
what does the CNS consist of?
the brain and spinal cord
what does the spinal cord contain?
- all the neurons for the reflex arc
- all of the ascending pathways (afferent sensory pathways)
- all of the descending pathways (efferent motor pathways)
what is the brain stem made up of?
medulla oblongata
pons
mesencephalon
what does the brain stem function as?
- relay station that sends signals from the spinal cord to various parts of the brain (and vice versa)
- relays sensory info to higher parts of the brain and relays motor info back down to spinal cord
what is the medulla oblongata?
swelling of the upper most level of the spinal cord
what does the medulla oblongata function in?
controlling the vital reflexes (reflexes that keep you alive)
what are the vital reflexes?
cardiovascular control (HR and BP regulation)
respiratory regulation (rate and depth of breathing)
swallowing
coughing
sneezing
vomiting
damage to the medulla oblongata
debilitating and almost always fatal (happens a lot in elderly people… serious stroke = usually bleeder in brain stem that deprives medulla oblongata of blood supply)
what is the pons?
the relay station between two or more areas of the brain
what is the most common function of the pons?
relays signals from the cerebellum to the cerebrum and back
what is the mesencephalon involved in?
motor and sensory function; (visual and auditory processing, helps regulate movement of eyes)
what is the cerebellum involved in?
processing multiple sensory info (vision, balance, proprioception, etc.) to control balance, movement, and posture
how does the cerebellum control balance, movement, etc.?
relays signals to pons up to the cerebral cortex where motor cortex is which then activates proper muscles to maintain balance, posture, linear movements, etc.
