functional anatomy of the cns Flashcards
central nervous system
part of the nervous system that consists of the brain + spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
1) part of the nervous system that is outside the central nervous system
2) made up of the somatic nervous system + autonomic nervous system
What 3 distinct parts does the brain consist of?
1) brainstem
2) cerebrum
3) cerebellum
brainstem
stalk-like part of the brain consisting of the medulla oblongata, midbrain, and pons, which joins the brain to the spinal cord
cerebrum
largest portion of the brain, which is divided into two hemispheres
cerebellum
portion of the brain between the cerebrum + brainstem
What is the cerebellum important for?
learning + coordinating complex movements
sulcus
shallow furrow on the surface of the brain
lobe
a subdivision of the cerebral cortex
gyrus
ridge on the surface of a cerebral hemisphere caused by the infolding of the cerebral cortex
spinal cord
tube-shaped structure that runs from the base of the brain down through a series of bony rings (vertebrae)
Which way does information flow in the CNS?
both ways
afferent
neuron that conveys sensory information to the central nervous system
efferent
neuron that conveys information from the CNS to an organ of response
ventral
front/lower side of something (bottom of the brain)
dorsal
back/upper side of something (top of the brain)
What does the somatic nervous system control?
the skeletal muscles of the body
What does the autonomic nervous system do?
supplies nerves to the cardiac muscle of the heart, smooth muscle + glands
What are the 3 divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
1) sympathetic nervous system
2) parasympathetic nervous system
3) enteric nervous system
What is the enteric nervous system involved with?
control of the digestive tract + associated structures
What are the 2 types of basic cell types found in the mammalian nervous system?
1) neurons
2) glia
soma
cell body
Where is the nucleus found in neurons?
soma
dendrite
a projection that conducts the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body of a neuron
axon
a projection that extends from the cell body of a neuron to the terminal endings + transmits the neural signal
Which neurons in the human peripheral nervous system have the longest axons?
sciatic nerves
What is at the end of an axon?
synaptic terminal
neurotransmitter
a chemical that is released by a neuron + travels across the synapse to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic terminal of another neuron to charge the electrical activity of the target cell
tract
bundle of neurons
What is grey matter mostly made up of?
1) somata
2) dendrites
3) terminals
What is white matter mostly made up of?
axons
Why is white matter a lighter colour?
many of the axons of the CNS are wrapped in a pale-coloured lipid substance called myelin
myelin
a white fatty material that insulates the neurons + permits the rapid transmission of electrical signals along the neuron
What are the major types of glia found in the human brain?
1) oligodendrocytes
2) astrocytes
3) microglia
histology
the study of body tissue at microscopic level
oligodendrocyte
type of glial cell that produces myelin
astrocyte
star-shaped glial cell of the CNS that limits the exchange of substances between the blood + brain
microglia
very small cells found throughout the brain that are mostly inactive
What is the frontal lobe associated with?
1) thought
2) reasoning
What is the parietal lobe associated with?
1) sensory perception
2) spatial relations
What is the occipital lobe associated with?
vision
What is the temporal lobe associated with?
1) memory
2) emotion
3) hearing
What is the brainstem associated with?
1) body temperature
2) heart rate
3) breathing
What is the cerebellum associated with?
1) balance
2) coordination
phospholipid bilayer
sack that contains liquid known as cytosol/cytoplasm which contains a wide range of signalling molecules
synapse
the junction between two neurons where neurons communicate by chemical means
synaptic plasticity
alteration in the strength of a synapse (the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron being activated by presynaptic activity)
